Development and application of a dual task assessment method for football players

The decision to return to the sport has traditionally relied on assessments focused primarily on physical capabilities. However, recent literature advocates for a broader approach that encompasses evaluations beyond physical performance. Conventional dual-task testing methodologies fail to accurately replicate the demands experienced during actual gameplay and do not adequately assess the dual-task capacity of football players. The objective of our thesis was to develop a dual-task assessment that simulates in-game scenarios for football players and to evaluate the players' cognitive and physical performance. Participants underwent four randomized tests following a warm-up: juggling (foot), speed dribbling, long passing, and the newly developed dual-task assessment. The novel dual-task assessment incorporated game-related scenarios to cognitively challenge players while they executed a modified T-test. The results indicated no significant correlation between physical performance metrics and dual-task performance. However, a notable increase in the completion time of the modified T-test was observed under dual-task conditions (p<0.001, Mean difference -1.76 (95% CI -2.21 – -1.3)). Players with superior dual-task abilities were able to sustain their performance, experiencing only a marginal decline of up to 10%, while players with inadequate dual-task skills faced performance reductions of up to 50%. In conclusion, this innovative assessment offers a valuable tool for measuring players' dual-task capacity, which is independent of physical performance and not adequately captured by existing tests. The findings suggest that players with lower dual-task capabilities struggle to maintain performance under cognitive load, such as executing a pass while being pressured by an opponent.