The impact of a training intervention with spatial occlusion goggles on controlling and passing a football

ABSTRACT Introduction: The current study analysed the impact of spatial occlusion training on control and pass accuracy in football. Occlusion was achieved using goggles that removed the sight of the lower limbs and football as it was projected towards the participants. Methods: Fifteen skilled male football players were randomly assigned to one of three groups; Occlusion, Practice and Control. Participants were required to control a projected football, before passing it to one of two designated targets, while concurrently identifying a series of randomly generated numbers. Pass direction was determined by a directional arrow that accompanied each number, which coincided with the football release. The study design consisted of a pre-test, training intervention (400 trials), post-test and 2-day retention test. The performance was evaluated via three variables: outcome error, control error and number call error. Results: The results demonstrated a significant decrease in outcome error (p < 0.05) and number call error (p < 0.05) for the Occlusion group from pre-test to post and retention test. No significant decrease was experienced from post-test to retention test (p> 0.05), demonstrating a learning effect. Conclusion: This suggests that reducing visual information during training may have a positive impact on performance once full visual conditions are restored.