Ignite Creation Date:
2026-03-26 @ 3:15 PM
Ignite Modification Date:
2026-03-30 @ 2:17 AM
Study NCT ID:
NCT07479368
Status:
NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Last Update Posted:
2026-03-18
First Post:
2026-03-12
Is NOT Gene Therapy:
True
Has Adverse Events:
False
Brief Title:
Effects of a Tactical Programme for Critical Thinking on Football-Specific Decision-Making in Under-9 Academy Players
Sponsor:
Organization:
Raw JSON
{'hasResults': False, 'derivedSection': {'miscInfoModule': {'versionHolder': '2026-03-25'}}, 'protocolSection': {'designModule': {'phases': ['NA'], 'studyType': 'INTERVENTIONAL', 'designInfo': {'allocation': 'NON_RANDOMIZED', 'maskingInfo': {'masking': 'NONE', 'maskingDescription': 'None (Open Label)'}, 'primaryPurpose': 'OTHER', 'interventionModel': 'PARALLEL', 'interventionModelDescription': 'Participants are allocated to one of two parallel training conditions within the same academy structure: TPCT-integrated football training or standard training. Both groups complete matched training exposure, and the only planned between-group difference is the systematic inclusion of structured critical-thinking-based reflection.'}, 'enrollmentInfo': {'type': 'ESTIMATED', 'count': 13}}, 'statusModule': {'overallStatus': 'NOT_YET_RECRUITING', 'startDateStruct': {'date': '2026-04-14', 'type': 'ESTIMATED'}, 'expandedAccessInfo': {'hasExpandedAccess': False}, 'statusVerifiedDate': '2026-03', 'completionDateStruct': {'date': '2026-06', 'type': 'ESTIMATED'}, 'lastUpdateSubmitDate': '2026-03-16', 'studyFirstSubmitDate': '2026-03-12', 'studyFirstSubmitQcDate': '2026-03-16', 'lastUpdatePostDateStruct': {'date': '2026-03-18', 'type': 'ACTUAL'}, 'studyFirstPostDateStruct': {'date': '2026-03-18', 'type': 'ACTUAL'}, 'primaryCompletionDateStruct': {'date': '2026-06', 'type': 'ESTIMATED'}}, 'outcomesModule': {'primaryOutcomes': [{'measure': 'Stroop Task Football Test Total Index (TI)', 'timeFrame': "Baseline (before the first intervention session) and 48 to 72 hours after the participant's final intervention session (approximately 3 weeks after baseline).", 'description': 'The STFT Total Index is a football-specific cognitive-motor performance measure derived from successful responses divided by execution time. Higher values indicate better integrated decision-making and execution performance.'}], 'secondaryOutcomes': [{'measure': 'Stroop Task Football Test Execution Time (ET)', 'timeFrame': "Baseline (before the first intervention session) and 48 to 72 hours after the participant's final intervention session (approximately 3 weeks after baseline).", 'description': 'Number of correct decisions regarding the required football action type during the STFT.'}, {'measure': 'Stroop Task Football Test Decision-Making: Direction of Movement (DMA-DM)', 'timeFrame': "Baseline (before the first intervention session) and 48 to 72 hours after the participant's final intervention session (approximately 3 weeks after baseline).", 'description': 'Number of correct decisions regarding movement direction during the STFT.'}]}, 'oversightModule': {'oversightHasDmc': False, 'isFdaRegulatedDrug': False, 'isFdaRegulatedDevice': False}, 'conditionsModule': {'keywords': ['Tactical Programme for Critical Thinking', 'Stroop Task Football Test', 'Critical Thinking', 'Execution Time'], 'conditions': ['Football Players', 'Decision Making']}, 'referencesModule': {'references': [{'type': 'BACKGROUND', 'citation': 'Gaviria Alzate SJ, Valencia-Sánchez WG, Espinal FE, Bustamante JL, Arias-Arias EA. Tactical critical thinking program on the tactical efficiency index, declarative and procedural knowledge in male soccer players: A case study. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. 2024;6:1469347.'}, {'type': 'BACKGROUND', 'citation': 'Gaviria-Alzate S, Higuita DA, Jaramillo AF, Machado JA. Impact of a Tactical Critical Thinking Program (TPCT) on ball control and passing accuracy in U-8 football players: A quasi-experimental study. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching. 2025.'}, {'type': 'BACKGROUND', 'citation': 'Calle-Jaramillo GA, Gonzalez-Palacio EV, Perez-Mendez LA, Rojas-Jaramillo A, Gonzalez-Jurado JA. Design and Validation of a Test to Evaluate the Execution Time and Decision-Making in Technical-Tactical Football Actions (Passing and Driving). Behavioral Sciences. 2023;13(2):101.'}]}, 'descriptionModule': {'briefSummary': 'This study evaluates whether embedding a Tactical Programme for Critical Thinking (TPCT) within routine academy football training improves football-specific decision-making and execution speed in under-9 male players. Participants will complete either TPCT-integrated training or standard academy training, and performance will be assessed before and after the intervention using the Stroop Task Football Test (STFT).', 'detailedDescription': 'This controlled, parallel-group, pre-post applied study examines the effects of a Tactical Programme for Critical Thinking (TPCT) embedded within routine under-9 academy football training. The intervention is delivered on the training pitch under normal practice conditions across 12 on-pitch sessions. Both groups complete the same overall training frequency, session duration, and weekly schedule, but only the experimental group receives structured reflective questioning integrated into constrained small-sided games and free-play activities.\n\nThe study focuses on football-specific cognitive-motor performance assessed with the Stroop Task Football Test (STFT), which quantifies execution time (ET), decision-making for type of action (DMA-TA), decision-making for direction of movement (DMA-DM), and a derived Total Index (TI). The hypothesis is that TPCT will improve decision speed and decision quality compared with standard repetition-based training.'}, 'eligibilityModule': {'sex': 'MALE', 'stdAges': ['CHILD'], 'maximumAge': '9 Years', 'minimumAge': '9 Years', 'healthyVolunteers': False, 'eligibilityCriteria': 'Inclusion Criteria:\n\n* Male academy football players registered in the under-9 category.\n* Regular participation in academy football training.\n* Free from injury at baseline and able to fully participate in training and testing.\n* Written informed consent provided by a parent or legal guardian.\n* Age-appropriate assent provided by the child participant.\n\nExclusion Criteria:\n\n* Any injury or medical condition limiting full participation at baseline.\n* Injury sustained during the study that prevents continued full participation.\n* Absence from more than 25% of intervention sessions.\n* Inability to complete baseline assessment.\n* Inability to complete post-intervention assessment.'}, 'identificationModule': {'nctId': 'NCT07479368', 'acronym': 'TPCT-F-U9', 'briefTitle': 'Effects of a Tactical Programme for Critical Thinking on Football-Specific Decision-Making in Under-9 Academy Players', 'organization': {'class': 'OTHER', 'fullName': 'Federal University of Vicosa'}, 'officialTitle': 'Effects of a Tactical Programme for Critical Thinking on Football-Specific Decision-Making and Execution Time in Under-9 Academy Players: A Controlled Parallel-Group Study Using the Stroop Task Football Test', 'orgStudyIdInfo': {'id': 'TPCT-Football-U9'}}, 'armsInterventionsModule': {'armGroups': [{'type': 'EXPERIMENTAL', 'label': 'TPCT + Matched Academy Football Training', 'description': 'Participants complete routine academy football training with the same weekly frequency, session duration, and tactical content as the comparison group. In addition, they receive a Tactical Programme for Critical Thinking (TPCT) embedded within training sessions, including a brief opening dialogue, constrained small-sided games, structured reflection cycles guided by five questions, and extended free play.', 'interventionNames': ['Behavioral: Tactical Programme for Critical Thinking (TPCT)']}, {'type': 'ACTIVE_COMPARATOR', 'label': 'Standard Academy Football Training', 'description': "Participants complete routine academy football training with the same planned tactical themes, training dose, session duration, and overall schedule as the experimental group. Training follows the academy's standard repetition-based approach and does not include structured collaborative reflection, the TPCT questioning scaffold, or planned reflection breaks between game-based repetitions.", 'interventionNames': ['Behavioral: Matched Academy Football Training']}], 'interventions': [{'name': 'Tactical Programme for Critical Thinking (TPCT)', 'type': 'BEHAVIORAL', 'description': 'A socio-constructivist, game-based pedagogical intervention embedded within routine under-9 academy football training. TPCT is delivered over 12 on-pitch sessions and includes: (1) a brief opening collective dialogue (\\~10 minutes) focused on the tactical principle of the day; (2) constrained small-sided games designed to amplify targeted information-action couplings; (3) brief structured reflection episodes (3-5 minutes) guided by five critical-thinking questions addressing tactical objective, helpful and hindering actions, alternatives, performance evaluation, and collective adjustment; and (4) extended free play representing approximately 50% of session time to promote transfer.', 'armGroupLabels': ['TPCT + Matched Academy Football Training']}, {'name': 'Matched Academy Football Training', 'type': 'BEHAVIORAL', 'description': 'Routine academy football training delivered under normal practice conditions, matched across groups for weekly frequency, session duration, and tactical content. Sessions target offensive and defensive tactical principles through regular coaching activities. In the control condition, training emphasizes repetition-based technical drills and customary game play without structured reflective questioning.', 'armGroupLabels': ['Standard Academy Football Training']}]}, 'contactsLocationsModule': {'centralContacts': [{'name': 'SAMUEL JOSE GAVIRIA ALZATE, PhD', 'role': 'CONTACT', 'email': 'samuel.gaviria@tdea.edu.co', 'phone': '+573192772912'}, {'name': 'Catalina Gonzalez, PhD', 'role': 'CONTACT', 'email': 'catagq@gmail.com', 'phone': '00573193735380'}], 'overallOfficials': [{'name': 'SAMUEL JOSE GAVIRIA ALZATE, PhD', 'role': 'STUDY_DIRECTOR', 'affiliation': 'Tecnologico de Antioquia'}]}, 'ipdSharingStatementModule': {'infoTypes': ['STUDY_PROTOCOL', 'SAP', 'ICF', 'ANALYTIC_CODE'], 'timeFrame': 'Beginning 6 months after publication of the main study report and ending 5 years after publication.', 'ipdSharing': 'YES', 'description': 'De-identified individual participant data underlying the primary and secondary outcome analyses will be made available, together with the study protocol, statistical analysis plan, assent/consent templates, and analytic code.', 'accessCriteria': 'Data will be available to qualified researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal. Access will require approval by the study team and, because the study involves minors, a signed data use agreement ensuring confidentiality and no attempt at re-identification.'}, 'sponsorCollaboratorsModule': {'leadSponsor': {'name': 'Federal University of Vicosa', 'class': 'OTHER'}, 'responsibleParty': {'type': 'PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR', 'investigatorTitle': 'Principal Investigator', 'investigatorFullName': 'Édison Andrés Pérez Bedoya', 'investigatorAffiliation': 'Federal University of Vicosa'}}}}