Articles In Press / Online First
Back to the articles list |
Back to browse issues page
1- College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Anbar, Anbar, Iraq.
2- General Directorate of Education in Anbar, Anbar, Iraq. ,pe.w_ma1978@uoanbar.edu.iq
2- General Directorate of Education in Anbar, Anbar, Iraq. ,
Abstract: (211 Views)
Background. Neurobics techniques have been suggested as a training tool to improve the athlete's cognitive and motor performance. These exercises may enhance coordination, brain dominance, and performance in footballers, particularly with non-preferred feet.
Objectives. This study aimed to examine the effect of Neurobics exercises on motor satisfaction and the performance of basic skills using the non-preferred foot among football players.
Methods. The experimental study was conducted on 24 male players, purposively selected from the southern training center affiliated with the General Directorate of Education in Anbar. Players were divided based on brain dominance, and Neurobics exercises were incorporated into the main section of the training unit for 12 weeks, with two training sessions per week. The primary outcome variables included motor satisfaction, passing accuracy, and shooting accuracy using the non-preferred foot. These variables were assessed before and after the training period.
Results. Experimental groups participating in the exercises demonstrated improved motor satisfaction and enhanced basic football skills. Post-test improvements were statistically significant in motor satisfaction (mean difference = 7.30, t=3.93, p<0.05), passing (mean difference = 1.70, t=7.98, p<0.05), and shooting (mean difference = 2.20, t=6.14, p<0.05), indicating the effectiveness of the Neurobics training on the non-preferred foot.
Conclusion. The study demonstrates that Neurobics exercise methods effectively improve motor coordination while supporting the development of fundamental football skills. The exercises, implemented by the team coaches, are recommended in combination with additional training methods to enhance performance across different sports activities and age groups.
Objectives. This study aimed to examine the effect of Neurobics exercises on motor satisfaction and the performance of basic skills using the non-preferred foot among football players.
Methods. The experimental study was conducted on 24 male players, purposively selected from the southern training center affiliated with the General Directorate of Education in Anbar. Players were divided based on brain dominance, and Neurobics exercises were incorporated into the main section of the training unit for 12 weeks, with two training sessions per week. The primary outcome variables included motor satisfaction, passing accuracy, and shooting accuracy using the non-preferred foot. These variables were assessed before and after the training period.
Results. Experimental groups participating in the exercises demonstrated improved motor satisfaction and enhanced basic football skills. Post-test improvements were statistically significant in motor satisfaction (mean difference = 7.30, t=3.93, p<0.05), passing (mean difference = 1.70, t=7.98, p<0.05), and shooting (mean difference = 2.20, t=6.14, p<0.05), indicating the effectiveness of the Neurobics training on the non-preferred foot.
Conclusion. The study demonstrates that Neurobics exercise methods effectively improve motor coordination while supporting the development of fundamental football skills. The exercises, implemented by the team coaches, are recommended in combination with additional training methods to enhance performance across different sports activities and age groups.
Full-Text [PDF 572 kb]
(41 Downloads)
APPLICABLE REMARKS
APPLICABLE REMARKS
- Coaches should incorporate Neurobics exercises into regular training sessions to stimulate underutilized neural pathways, particularly for movements involving the non-preferred foot. This approach improves bilateral coordination, technical skill execution, and motor satisfaction.
- Implementing Neurobics exercises can help reduce performance imbalances between dominant and non-dominant sides, leading to more adaptable and confident players during high-pressure situations.
- Training programs for youth athletes should emphasize non-preferred foot activities supported by cognitive engagement. This dual-task method enhances motor planning and execution, as supported by the significant improvements observed in passing and shooting accuracy.
- Sports science practitioners are encouraged to assess athletes' brain dominance before designing individualized Neurobics routines, optimizing their effectiveness, and ensuring targeted skill development.
- These exercises apply especially to team sports like football, where decision-making and precision using both limbs are critical for competitive success.
- Finally, the Neurobics protocol used in this study can serve as a model for developing training interventions across other age groups and sports that require high-level neuromuscular coordination.
Type of Study: Original Article |
Subject:
Sport Psychology and its Related Branches
Received: 2025/02/14 | Accepted: 2025/05/5
Received: 2025/02/14 | Accepted: 2025/05/5
References
1. 1. Hötting K, Röder B. Beneficial effects of physical exercise on neuroplasticity and cognition. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2013;37(9, Part B):2243-57. [DOI:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.04.005] [PMID]
2. Tomporowski PD, Pesce C. Exercise, sports, and performance arts benefit cognition via a common process. Psychological bulletin. 2019;145(9):929. [DOI:10.1037/bul0000200] [PMID]
3. Miller K, Dye R, Kim J, Jennings J, O'Toole E, Wong J, et al. Effect of a computerized brain exercise program on cognitive performance in older adults. The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. 2013;21 7:655-63. [DOI:10.1016/j.jagp.2013.01.077] [PMID]
4. Narnavre ND, Suthar N. Effect of Neurobic Exercises on Cognitive Function in Older Adults. International Journal of Science and Healthcare Research. 2024. [DOI:10.52403/ijshr.20240329]
5. Lojovich J. The Relationship Between Aerobic Exercise and Cognition: Is Movement Medicinal? Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. 2010;25:184. [DOI:10.1097/HTR.0b013e3181dc78cd] [PMID]
6. Hacker S, Banzer W, Vogt L, Engeroff T. Acute effects of aerobic exercise on cognitive attention and memory performance: An investigation on duration-based dose-response relations and the impact of increased arousal levels. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2020;9(5):1380. [DOI:10.3390/jcm9051380] [PMID] []
7. Nair RM, Selvam DPS. Effectiveness of Neurobic Exercises on Cognitive Function among Ischemic Stroke Patients. Conference Proceedings. 2024:23-4. [DOI:10.18311/DSUPHY/9788195874873/2024/012] []
8. Balgaonkar AV. 493 - Effect of Neurobics on Cognition of Student. European Psychiatry. 2013;28:1. [DOI:10.1016/S0924-9338(13)75810-3]
9. Zhang W, Wang X, Li X, Yan H, Song Y, Li X, et al. Effects of acute moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on cognitive function in E-athletes: A randomized controlled trial. Medicine. 2023;102. [DOI:10.1097/MD.0000000000035108] [PMID] []
10. Hillman C, Erickson K, Kramer A. Be smart, exercise your heart: exercise effects on brain and cognition. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 2008;9:58-65. [DOI:10.1038/nrn2298] [PMID]
11. Iii R, Montecalbo-Ignacio R, Cardenas R. The Relationship between Perceived Coach Leadership Behaviors and Athletes Satisfaction. International Journal of Sports Science. 2017;2017:196-202.
12. Smith P, Blumenthal J, Hoffman B, Cooper H, Strauman T, Welsh-Bohmer K, et al. Aerobic Exercise and Neurocognitive Performance: A Meta-Analytic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. Psychosomatic Medicine. 2010;72:239-52. [DOI:10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181d14633] [PMID] []
13. Tomporowski P. Effects of acute bouts of exercise on cognition. Acta psychologica. 2003;112 3:297-324. [DOI:10.1016/S0001-6918(02)00134-8] [PMID]
14. Wilke J, Giesche F, Klier K, Vogt L, Herrmann E, Banzer W. Acute Effects of Resistance Exercise on Cognitive Function in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review with Multilevel Meta-Analysis. Sports Medicine. 2019;49:905-16. [DOI:10.1007/s40279-019-01085-x] [PMID]
15. Parkin BL, Walsh V. Gunslingers, poker players, and chickens 3: Decision making under mental performance pressure in junior elite athletes. Prog Brain Res. 2017;234:339-59. [DOI:10.1016/bs.pbr.2017.08.011] [PMID]
16. Stepanyan L, Lalayan G. Stress resilience and decision-making under pressure: enhancing athletic performance in competitive sports. Georgian medical news. 2024;352-353:32-7.
17. Hepler T. Decision-making in Sport under Mental and Physical Stress. International Journal of Kinesiology and Sports Science. 2015;3:79-83. [DOI:10.7575/aiac.ijkss.v.3n.4p.79]
18. Araújo D, Hristovski R, Seifert L, Carvalho J, Davids K. Ecological cognition: expert decision-making behaviour in sport. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 2017;12:1-25. [DOI:10.1080/1750984X.2017.1349826]
19. Matias CJ, Greco PJ. Cognition and action in team ball sports. Ciências & Cognição. 2010;15(1):252-71.
20. Connell JD. Brain-based strategies to reach every learner: Surveys, questionnaires, and checklists that help you identify students' strengths-plus brain-based lessons and activities for engaging every learner. New York: Scholastic Teaching Resources; 2005.
21. Kridasuwarso B, Fachrezzy F, Azmi. Development of a football passing test tool. Gladi : Jurnal Ilmu Keolahragaan. 2024.
22. Praveen A, Mathavan S. Effect of core training on cardio respiratory endurance and shooting for accuracy variables of football players. ZENITH International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research. 2012;2:24-30.
23. Davidson T, Gerguis M, Tremblay F. P684: Neural adaptations following a short-term strength training period: a TMS pilot study. Clinical Neurophysiology. 2014;125:S239. [DOI:10.1016/S1388-2457(14)50778-X]
24. Hegner YL, Lee Y-J, Grodd W, Braun C. Comparing tactile pattern and vibrotactile frequency discrimination: a human FMRI study. Journal of neurophysiology. 2010;103 6:3115-22. [DOI:10.1152/jn.00940.2009] [PMID]
25. Noufi T, Zeev-Wolf M. Activating the Right Hemisphere Through Left-Hand Muscle Contraction Improves Novel Metaphor Comprehension. Frontiers in Psychology. 2021;12:729814. [DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.729814] [PMID] []
26. Shalabi KM. Neuroscience Of Motor Learning In Adults With Non-Dominant Hand. Journal of Critical Reviews. 2020;7(6):27-30. [DOI:10.31838/jcr.07.06.07]
27. Mikheev M, Mohr C, Afanasiev S, Landis T, Thut G. Motor control and cerebral hemispheric specialization in highly qualified judo wrestlers. Neuropsychologia. 2002;40:1209-19. [DOI:10.1016/S0028-3932(01)00227-5] [PMID]
28. Werner S, Hasegawa K, Kanosue K, Strüder HK, Göb T, Vogt T. Martial arts training is related to implicit intermanual transfer of visuomotor adaptation. European journal of neuroscience. 2021;53(4):1107-23. [DOI:10.1111/ejn.15034] [PMID]
29. Coleman S, Zenhausern R. Processing speed, laterality patterns, and memory encoding as a function of hemispheric dominance. Bulletin of the psychonomic society. 1979;14:357-60. [DOI:10.3758/BF03329478]
30. Hartikainen KM. Emotion-attention interaction in the right hemisphere. Brain sciences. 2021;11(8):1006. [DOI:10.3390/brainsci11081006] [PMID] []
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
