%0 Journal Article
%T Measurement of cognitive ability and thinking level of 10- and 13- year-old football players with football-specific tasks
%A Istv¨˘n Kun
%A Ph.D.
%A Laszlo Toth
%A Ph.D.
%J Biomedical Human Kinetics
%@ 2080-2234
%D 2012
%I 
%R 10.2478/v10101-012-0009-x
%X Study aim: To assess whether in a special area, such as football, formal thinking may appear as early as at the age of 10 years. Material and methods: In total 50 children divided into three groups took part in the study: 10-year-old football players from the Premier League Team - level 1 (Group 1; n = 22), 10-year-old football players from the Football League Team - level 3 (Group 2; n = 13) and 13-year-old football players from the Premier League Team - level 1 (Group 3; n = 15). With the help of specific motor tests, the kinetic memory, level of thinking and technical level were assessed. Results: The 10-year-old children representing lower levels of football proficiency (Group 2) were significantly (p<0.05) inferior to their mates from the Premier League in both the level of thinking as well as in kinetic memory. No significant differences were found between members of Group 1 and Group 3 in any of the studied variables. Conclusions: The results support the thesis that 10-year-old children are able to use formal thinking in a particular area, such as football. To be aware of this would be of great importance to those experts who deal with selection and talent identification.
%K Football
%K Developmental psychology
%K Thinking level
%K Cognitive ability
%U http://versita.metapress.com/content/4223t3g236575305/?p=e8226128181c4d488dd1766fd6e2e466&pi=9