Researchers and coaches often use both objective and subjective methods to evaluate player performance. Caffeine is one of the most popular supplements and has been shown to have benefits in intermittent sports, including football.
These effects are attributed to caffeine's ability to block adenosine receptors, which can strengthen neuromuscular, improve sprint performance and counter-motor jumping.
In a new study, scientists from Staffordshire University and Shiraz University aim to understand the effects of caffeine on decision-making and passing accuracy in football. They found that consuming caffeine before a game improved the accuracy of football passes. However, a tactical play that involves more passes can be more nerve-wracking.
Dr Sultany, Senior Lecturer in Gaming Technology at Staffordshire University, explains: "The effects of caffeine on 'advanced' cognitive functions such as problem-solving and decision-making are often controversial, so we decided to investigate this. ”
12 youth soccer players aged 16 to 17 took part in a Xi aimed at studying the effects of caffeine on passing accuracy and decision-making.
In addition to completing five 10m and 30m passes, participants completed the Loughborough Football Pass Test, which assesses passing, dribbling, control and decision-making skills. Afterward, the researchers used computers to measure participants' decision-making skills in a variety of game scenarios. They had to choose the best course of action from ten simulated, previously recorded events.
After ingesting caffeine at 3 mg kg of body weight, and after ingesting a comparable amount of placebo, these people completed the task.
When footballers drank caffeine, they performed better on short passes compared to when they received a false** (placebo) (167%), which is significantly better in long passes (1348%）。However, their decision-making was worse (lower 7.) compared to sham**14%), and when they consumed caffeine, they also scored lower on the Loughborough Football Pass Test (349%）。
Jafari from Shiraz University said: "While the accuracy of short passes was consistent before and after caffeine ingestion was consistent among almost all participants, the performance of long passes varied. In addition, most participants scored lower on decision-making after caffeine intake and on the Loughborough Football Pass Test. This may suggest that consuming a small amount of caffeine in the hour before a game may have a negative impact on complex tasks with a high number of passes. ”
This study does not suggest that football players should avoid caffeine altogether, and suggests further research into the effects of caffeine on match decision-making.
Dr. Soltani commented: "In football, players have to deal with a variety of situations such as the opponent's position, team organisation and time pressure. Passing decisions are crucial, and a good pass can create scoring opportunities. Our findings suggest that this may be influenced by caffeine intake, and that coaches may find these performance metrics useful for in-training exploration. This can involve several parameters – the dose of caffeine relative to body weight, the frequency of caffeine intake, and certain positions of the player or their style of play. For example, a slight decrease in passing accuracy may have an impact on a midfielder, but less on a goalkeeper. ”
Caffeine