Recreational Soccer Enhances Physical Fitness and Cognition Measures in Untrained Female Adolescents: Results of a Single-Site Randomized Trial

Recreational soccer is a practical and engaging strategy to improve health-related fitness, cognitive function, and overall lifestyle in adolescents. This study evaluated the effects of soccer training on selective attention and physical performance in untrained female adolescents. Thirty-two participants were assigned to either a soccer intervention group (n = 16; Age 12.69 ± 0.27 years; Weight 48.65 ± 10.11 kg; Height 1.60 ± 0.04 m; Years from Peak Height Velocity [Y-PHV] 0.52 ± 0.41) or a control group continuing regular physical education (n = 16; Age 12.93 ± 0.11 years; Weight 51.06 ± 11.48 kg; Height 1.60 ± 0.05 m; Y-PHV 0.75 ± 0.37). Pre- and post-intervention assessments included physical fitness tests (medicine ball throw, countermovement jump, sprint, balance) and selective attention using the d2 attention test. The soccer group improved all physical measures: medicine ball throw (+22.8%, Cohen's d = 0.80), countermovement jump (+18.7%, Cohen's d = 1.33), sprint performance (-10.3%, Cohen's d = 1.72), and balance (+43.0%, Cohen's d = 1.37). Both groups improved concentration, with a larger effect in the soccer group (F = 16.96, Cohen's d = 1.24), and total errors decreased significantly (F = 21.06, Cohen's d = 0.52). Recreational soccer in school programs appears to be an effective intervention to enhance physical fitness and cognitive function in adolescent females who are not engaged in regular physical activity.