Chapter 1 – Current State of the Issue in Slovakia and Abroad

1.1 Characteristics of Football from the Perspective of Load

Football is a complex sport that places high demands on players in terms of physical fitness, technical skills, tactical thinking, and mental resilience (Haugen et al., 2020). Load in football is multifactorial, and its nature varies depending on age, playing position, competition level, and the team’s playing style (Šimonek, 2019). For 15-year-old footballers, who are in the stage of basic sports preparation, it is important to understand the specifics of load and adjust the training process accordingly.

1.1.1 Physical Load

During a football match, players alternate between different movement activities of varying intensity, such as walking, jogging at different speeds, sprinting, jumping, duels, and changes of direction (Paul et al., 2015). This alternation of activities presents the body with a combination of aerobic and anaerobic load. Aerobic endurance is key to managing the overall volume of match load and ensuring quick recovery between high-intensity phases (Aurélien et al., 2020). Anaerobic load, characterized by short, explosive movements, is important for speed and strength actions such as sprints, jumps, and physical duels (Hammami et al., 2018). For 15-year-old footballers, it is essential to develop both types of load, with emphasis on building a solid aerobic base that will also support the development of anaerobic capacities.

1.1.2 Cognitive Load

Football is not only about physical fitness but also about making quick and correct decisions in dynamically changing match situations (Zwierko et al., 2022). Players must constantly perceive and analyze the pitch and their immediate surroundings, anticipate the movements of teammates and opponents, and choose optimal solutions (Klimek & Lisinski, 2023). These cognitive processes — perception, attention, anticipation, decision-making, and reaction time — are key to successful performance (Ryu et al., 2020). In young footballers during adolescence, it is crucial to develop both physical and cognitive abilities, as this is a period of significant brain and cognitive function development (Ludyga et al., 2022).

1.2 Characteristics of Cognitive Abilities

Cognitive abilities, also referred to as cognitive functions, represent a set of mental processes that allow us to perceive, process, store, and use information from the surrounding world (D’Esposito & Grossman, 2018). These abilities are the basis for learning, problem-solving, decision-making, and adapting to changing conditions (Diamond, 2016). Basic cognitive functions include perception, thinking, memory, speech, and attention, and these processes are interconnected and influence each other (Goldstein, 2019). Cognitive abilities develop throughout life, but the most intense growth

occurs in childhood and adolescence (Blakemore & Choudhury, 2016). Understanding how they work and the factors that influence them is important in education, psychology, and sports.

1.2.1 Perception

Perception is the complex process through which we organize and interpret sensory information from the environment, creating an internal representation of reality (Wolfe et al., 2018). It involves not only passive reception of stimuli but also active processing and selection, influenced by prior experiences, expectations, and cognitive schemas (Gregory, 2015). In sport — and especially in football — visual and auditory perception are crucial for orientation on the pitch, tracking the movement of the ball and teammates, and anticipating opponent actions (Vater et al., 2020). Effective perception is a prerequisite for quick and accurate decision-making in dynamic situations (Broadbent et al., 2015). Developing perception in young footballers is an important part of training, aiming to improve game awareness and the ability to respond to relevant stimuli (Fadde, 2022).

1.2.2 Thinking

Thinking is a highly complex cognitive process that enables humans to process information, solve problems, and adapt to changing environmental conditions. It includes reasoning, judgment, planning, hypothesis formation and testing, abstraction, and creativity (Holyoak & Morrison, 2018). Thinking is not just a passive reflection of reality but an active construction and reconstruction of internal world representations, using both logical-analytical and intuitive-creative approaches (Ward et al., 2018).

In football, thinking plays a central role in tactical preparation, strategic planning, and in-game performance. Tactical thinking helps players analyze match situations, recognize opponent patterns, and predict game development. Creative thinking is important for finding unexpected and surprising solutions, whether in offense or defense (Fadde & Zaichkowsky, 2018). For U15 players, training should focus on understanding basic game principles, developing game intelligence, and adapting to different match situations (Roca et al., 2018).

1.2.3 Memory

Memory allows us to encode, store, and retrieve information and experiences (Squire & Wixted, 2015). In football, working memory is important for retaining tactical instructions, tracking player positions, and planning the next action. Long-term explicit memory stores strategies and systems, while implicit memory supports motor skills such as passing, shooting, and dribbling (Gucciardi et al., 2017). Training should include exercises to enhance working memory and reinforce learned skills for long-term retention (Verburgh et al., 2016).

1.2.4 Speech

Speech is a unique communication system crucial for cognitive development, social interaction, and cultural transmission (Tomasello, 2019). In football, verbal communication is vital for coordinating actions, giving instructions, and maintaining team cohesion both on and off the field (Goral et al., 2017). For young players, training should also develop communication skills to improve teamwork and tactical execution (Blaser & Seiler, 2019).

1.2.5 Attention

Attention allows selection of relevant information and filtering out distractions (Friesen et al., 2018). In football, selective, divided, and sustained attention are all needed — from focusing on the ball, to monitoring multiple players, to maintaining concentration despite fatigue or stress (Vestberg et al.,

2017). Training can target these aspects through specific drills, small-sided games, and decision- making under pressure (Woods et al., 2021).

1.2.6 Scanning

Scanning refers to the active movement of the head to gather visual information about teammates, opponents, and the game environment before receiving the ball (Jordet et al., 2020). Research shows high-frequency scanners like Xavi (0.83 scans/s) and Lampard (0.62 scans/s) achieve higher passing success. This skill can be trained systematically from a young age, and frequent scanning correlates positively with decision-making quality.

1.3 Cognitive Abilities in Football

Cognitive functions are integrated into all aspects of football performance. Perception, thinking, memory, speech, and attention are constantly engaged and determine the quality of tactical execution and adaptation to match situations.

1.4 Stages of Sports Training

Sports training is a long-term process structured into:

• Pre-training stage (8–11 years): general movement skills, game-based methods.
• Basic training (12–15 years): mastering technical skills, developing coordination and tactical understanding.
• Specialized training (16–19 years): refining skills under competitive conditions, increasing load.
• High-performance stage (19+ years): advanced tactical, physical, and psychological preparation.1.5 SIMUST

  SIMUST (Sina Multisensory Soccer Testing), developed by Siamak Azadi, integrates cognitive and physical training. It measures and develops mental processes such as perception, decision-making, and reaction speed alongside physical execution. The system was designed to reveal both strengths and weaknesses and provide personalized development paths. Training with SIMUST simulates match demands and integrates cognitive challenges into physical drills, improving decision-making under fatigue and pressure.