Cortical dynamics of adolescent and adult semi-skilled soccer players during execution of the passing skill: An EEG study.

Abstract

This study examined age-related differences in cortical oscillatory activity during goal-directed soccer passing in adolescent and adult semi-skilled male players. Thirty participants, including 15 adolescents and 15 adults, performed successful instep passes over 3, 5, and 7 m while wireless EEG was recorded. Relative theta, alpha, and beta power were calculated across six scalp regions of interest and analyzed using separate 2 × 6 × 3 mixed-design ANOVAs. Theta relative power showed significant main effects of group, region, and pass distance, with adolescents exhibiting higher overall theta activity than adults. Alpha relative power also showed significant main effects of group, region, and pass distance, whereas group-related interaction effects were not significant. Beta relative power showed a significant main effect of region and a group × region interaction, but no overall group or pass-distance effect. These findings indicate age-group differences in cortical oscillatory activity during soccer passing, expressed mainly in theta and alpha activity, whereas beta activity was more closely related to regional sensorimotor organization. Overall, adolescent players may require greater attentional and regulatory cortical engagement during goal-directed passing.