Esports may improve cognitive skills in soccer players: A systematic review

Theerasak Boonwang

Department of Sports and Health Science, School of Health Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand

Puthachad Namwaing

Department of Physical Therapy, Khon Kaen Hospital, Khon Kaen, Thailand

Lertwanlop Srisaphonphusitti

Department of Sport Science, Faculty of Education, Surindra Rajabhat University, Surin, Thailand

Austtasit Chainarong

Faculty of Sport Science, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand

Surumpa Charoensuk Kaewwong

Department of Sport Science, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Science, Roi Et Rajabhat University, Roi Et, Thailand

Tanapol Kaewwong

Department of Sport Science, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Science, Roi Et Rajabhat University, Roi Et, Thailand

Nuanprang Duangsawang

Public Health Technical Office, Non-Communicable Disease Control, Mental Health and Addiction Group, Mahasarakham Provincial Public Health Office, Mahasarakham, Thailand

Bundit Sawunyavisuth

Department of Marketing, Faculty of Business Administration and Accountancy, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand

Chetta Ngamjarus

Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand

Kittisak Sawanyawisuth

Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand

Sittichai Khamsai

Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14456/apst.2022.44

Keywords: Randomized controlled trial Quasi-experimental Memory Decision making Reaction time Executive function

Abstract

Electronic sports, or esports, are a quickly becoming a worldwide athletic trend and may benefit traditional sport players. Because soccer is a popular sport that requires high-skilled performances, the aim of the present study was to determine whether the practice of esports was associated with improved cognitive soccer skills. This meta-analysis evaluated esports in relation to the memory, decision-making ability, reaction times, and executive functions of soccer players. The inclusion criteria were studies conducted for soccer players that compared esports with any other sport or control; the study types included randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies selected from 276 records in five databases. Three studies were included in this analysis; two of these were randomized controlled trials in which soccer players between 14– 20 years of age with 3– 5 years of experience were enrolled. A total of 150 soccer players participated in these three studies, and the largest sample size was 75 players. Since these three studies did not share common interventions or outcomes, the results thereof were reported as descriptive outcomes; all three studies yielded significant outcomes. This study concludes that the practice of esports has the potential to improve the cognitive skills of young soccer players, and that additional larger randomized controlled trials are required.

How to Cite

Boonwang, T., Namwaing, P., Srisaphonphusitti, L., Chainarong, A., Charoensuk Kaewwong, S., Kaewwong, T., Duangsawang, N., Sawunyavisuth, B., Ngamjarus, C., Sawanyawisuth, K., & Khamsai, S. (2022). Esports may improve cognitive skills in soccer players: A systematic review. Asia-Pacific Journal of Science and Technology, 27(03), APST–27. https://doi.org/10.14456/apst.2022.44

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