Effect of exposure time to smartphone apps on passing decision-making in male soccer athletes

Abstract

Abstract Background Soccer is a dynamic sport of high unpredictability that requires appropriate decision making for success, but intervening factors such as exposure time to smartphone applications can lead to a decline in cognitive performance and consequently in psychomotor tasks. Purpose The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of exposure time to smartphone applications on the passing decision-making performance in professional soccer athletes. Method The participants were 20 soccer athletes aged 18–35 years (M\u202f=\u202f24.7\u202f±\u202f3.6). This study was a controlled and randomized experimental within-subject investigation, consisting of four visits with a 1-week interval. Male soccer athletes participated in four randomized conditions throughout the four visits: control (CON), 15-min smartphone (15SMA), 30-min smartphone (30SMA), and 45-min smartphone (45SMA). The Stroop Task assessed the level of induced mental fatigue before and after each experimental condition. Then, the athletes played a simulated soccer game. The game was filmed for further analysis of passing decision-making performance. Results A condition effect (p\u202f Conclusion We conclude that at least 30\u202fmin of smartphone application exposure caused mental fatigue, which impaired passing decision-making performance in male soccer athletes.