Physical and psychomotor performance of Australian football and rugby league officials during a match simulation |
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| Authors: | Nathan Elsworthy Darren Burke Ben J Dascombe |
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| Institution: | 1. Applied Sports Science and Exercise Testing Laboratory, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, NSW, Australia;2. School of Psychology, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, NSW, Australia;3. Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia |
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| Abstract: | The onset of exercise facilitates an improvement in psychomotor performance until the second ventilatory threshold, after which performance is reduced. This inverted-U relationship appears valid for incremental and steady-state exercise, however, not for intermittent exercise. This study examined changes in psychomotor performance of team sport officials during a laboratory-based match simulation. Twelve elite Australian football (n = 5) and rugby league (n = 7) officials (32.5 ± 5.5 years; 180.0 ± 6.8 cm; 78.8 ± 7.6 kg) completed the match simulation on a non-motorised treadmill. Physiological measures were routinely taken, while psychomotor performance was assessed using the Eriksen flanker task (multiple-choice response time). Significant reductions (P < 0.05) were observed in distance covered and high-speed running during the second half when compared to the first. No significant differences (P > 0.05) in psychomotor performance at different time points were observed. Response time was significantly improved when running above 65% of maximal sprinting speed (P < 0.01). This data questions the application of the inverted-U hypothesis for intermittent exercise and suggests that the short high-intensity efforts may not result in the same physiological events that limit psychomotor performance during sustained high-intensity exercise. More so, the high-intensity efforts during the match protocol appeared to promote psychomotor performance during the intermittent exercise. |
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| Keywords: | cognition perceptual skill intermittent exercise decision making team sport officials |
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