title: Influence of exercise intensity on the decision-making performance of experienced and inexperienced soccer players.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the decision-making performance of experienced and inexperienced soccer players at four exercise intensities (rest, 40%, 60%, and 80% maximal aerobic power). The decision-making performance of inexperienced players was expected to demonstrate an inverted-U shape with increasing levels of exercise. For the experienced players, decision making was predicted to show no change in performance with increased exercise intensity. Thirty-two adult soccer players (16 experienced, 16 inexperienced) were asked to answer seven decision-making questions as quickly and accurately as possible for each exercise intensity. Results indicated that exercise does not affect the accuracy of decision making; however, the speed of decision making for experienced and inexperienced players improved with increased exercise intensity. These results suggest that physiologically induced arousal only affects speed of decision making.
authors.affiliation: Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services Department, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Fabio E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.forename: Oldemar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mazzardo
authors.forename: Comfort
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mokgothu
authors.forename: Ovande
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Furtado
authors.forename: Jere D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Gallagher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013334:Students; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult