Reactive Task Performance Under Varying Loads in Division I Collegiate Soccer Athletes

Abstract

This study was conducted to identify whether team-wide or positional differences exist in simple or choice reactivity of collegiate soccer athletes when completed under various loads. Much research exists surrounding the assessment of reaction time in the general population, but given variations in training, little insight exists surrounding how unique and elite populations may differ based upon performance demands and task translatability to training. Reactive performance was assessed using the Dynavision D2 in 24 female soccer players (19.73 ± 1.05 years old) from a team within a power five conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Evaluated loads included two conditions of simple reactivity (no additional load and with a concurrent lower body motor task) and three conditions of choice reactivity (no additional load, with a concurrent lower body motor task, and prolonged durations). Paired t-tests and ANOVAs were used to identify differences in task performance based upon load and positional group. No significant load-based or positional differences existed in measured simple reaction times. Performances in choice reaction tasks across the team were found to be slower when completed across extended durations (p < 0.0001) and faster when completed concurrent with an added balance task (p = 0.0108), as compared to performance under normal conditions. By assessment of positional differences, goalkeepers tended to be slower than other positions in reactivity during choice tasks, despite no differences existing in simple task performance. Given the unique population utilized herein, measured reactivity in different tasks suggests a strong relation to the training demands of soccer, as well as those of goalkeepers as compared to field positions. Findings suggest that sport and positional demands may be substantial contributors to population- and individual-based reactivity performance.

Keywords: athletes; choice reaction time; load-bearing; performance; simple reaction time; soccer; training demands.

Figure 1

Physical conditions during balance tasks. Participants were positioned in front of the Dynavision D2 board atop a Bosu Ball for two of the five tasks.

Figure 2

Average reaction times by location. The figure demonstrates the average reaction times for all participants in the five rings of the Dynavision board across all three proactive tasks. Ring 1 is the innermost ring of the board, with each ring progressing outward toward the outermost ring, Ring 5. All pairwise comparisons indicated significant differences except between Ring 1 and Ring 2, which is denoted by n.s.

Figure 3

Total proactive reaction time by position. It demonstrates positional means in total reaction time, in seconds, by position during each of the three proactive tasks.

Figure 4

Average reaction time by region during the Endurance task. The figure demonstrates the average reaction time in seconds for each of the five rings of the Dynavision board across positions during the Endurance task.

Figure 5

Hits during each minute of the Endurance task. The figure demonstrates the mean number of hits recorded for each position during each of the 4 min of the Endurance task.