A Comparative Study of Span of Attention between Elite and Sub-elite Male Soccer Players
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29070/1qrnc312Abstract
The objective of the present study was to comparatively assess the span of attention in elite and sub-elite male soccer players. To conduct the study, 50 elite male soccer players were selected. These elite players were chosen based on specific criteria: they had to be part of the top three ranked teams in the national level tournament. The age range for the selection of elite male soccer players was set between 18 and 25 years old. Similarly, 50 sub-elite male soccer players were selected from the bottom three ranked teams in the same tournaments. The process of selecting these players involved purposive sampling. The span of attention in male soccer players was evaluated through a Falling Door Tachistoscope. reveals that elite male soccer players got higher mean score on span of attention as compared to sub-elite male soccer players. The mean difference between two groups is 0.98 and the t-value was 2.29 giving evidence that elite male soccer players possess significantly (p<0.05) longer span of attention as compared to sub-elite male soccer players. Based on results, it was concluded that the span of attention in elite male soccer players was significantly greater as compared to sub-elite male soccer players, thereby enabling elite male soccer players to keep track of movements in the field more meaningfully and able to execute tactical measures smoothly.
Downloads
References
1. Ghasemzadeh, A. and Saadat, M. (2023). Cognitive Mastery in Sports: Exploring Cognitive Psychology's Influence. Health Nexus, 1(3), 41-49.
2. Gumusdag, H., Egesoy, H. and Sahbudak, E. (2025). Decision Making in Sport: The Role of Attention, Prioritisation and Memory. Psychol Psychology Res Int J., 10(1): 000454.
3. James, W. (1890). The principles of psychology. retrieved from https://psychclassics. yorku.ca/James/Principles.
4. Lopez, J.S., Silva-Pereyra, J. and Fernandez, T. (2016). Sustained attention in skilled and novice martial arts athletes: a study of event-related potentials and current sources. Peer J.; 4: e1614.
5. Lundgren, T., Reinebo, G., Löf, P.O., Näslund, M., Svartvadet, P. and Parling, T. (2018). The Values, Acceptance, and Mindfulness Scale for Ice Hockey: A Psychometric Evaluation. Front. Psychol., 9, 1794.
6. Moran, A.P. (1996). The psychology of concentration in sport performers. Exter, UK: Psychology Press.
7. Prinz, W. (1990). A Common coding approach to perception and action. In: Neumann, O., Prinz, w. (Eds.) Relationships Between Perception and Action Springer, Berlin.
8. Roca, A., Ford, P.R. and Memmert, D. (2018). Creative decision making and visual search behavior in skilled soccer players. PLoS ONE, 13, e0199381.
9. Schefke, T. and Gronek, P. (2010). Improving attentional processes in sport; defining attention, attentional skills, and attention types. Studies in Physical Culture and Tourism. 17, 4, 295- 299.
10. Singh and Anil Kumar (2024). A survey study on cognitive skills among university level football players. International Journal of Yogic, Human Movement and Sports Sciences 2024: 9(2): 50-54.
11. Taghizadeh, F., Dehghani, F. and Daneshfar, A. (2015). The effect of focus of attention in imagery on the static balance of young girls. Sports Science, 8(2), 75-80.
12. Wulf, G. (2013). Attentional focus and motor learning: a review of 15 years. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, Vol. 6, No. 1, 77-104.
This work is licensed under a 