# The Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training on Cognitive and Physical Skills in Basketball and Soccer Players

PMID: 39051273
Journal: Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
Published: 2024-06-27
Authors: Shiraz S, Salimei C, Aracri M, Di Lorenzo C, Farsetti P, Parisi A, Iellamo F, Caminiti G, Perrone MA

## Question

Does a short Wingate cycling HIIT program improve selected cognitive and physical skills in basketball and soccer players?

## Summary

Twenty young male basketball and soccer players completed 3 weeks of supervised Wingate-style cycling HIIT. Several cognitive and sport-skill tests improved after training, but the study had no control group, was short, and involved only trained male athletes.

## Population

- Young male basketball and soccer players with at least 5 years of experience
- Sample size: 20
- Age: 22.79 +/- 1.90 years
- Sex: Male
- Fitness level: Experienced team-sport athletes
- Health status: Drug-free, medically eligible athletes with no HIIT participation in the prior 6 months

## Methodology

- Single-group pre-post intervention study
- 3 weeks
- Supervised cycle-ergometer HIIT and sport-skill/cognitive testing

## Protocol

- Wingate cycling HIIT.
- Modality: Cycle ergometer.
- Work intervals: 30 seconds maximal.
- Recovery: 75 seconds active recovery at 50 W.
- Sets or repetitions: 5 sets in week 1, 8 in week 2, 10 in week 3.
- Intensity: 7.5 g/kg body weight resistance; maximal effort.
- Session duration: At least 3-minute warm-up and cooldown plus intervals.
- Frequency: 3 sessions/week.
- Program length: 3 weeks.
- Progression: 5 to 8 to 10 intervals.

## Outcomes

### Cognition
Status: improved
Cognitive test performance improved across all players, with sport-specific significant changes.

Basketball MOT p=.003 and working memory p=.002; soccer perceptual load and attention window significant.

### Soccer skills
Status: improved
Soccer players improved sprint, change-of-direction, and dribbling times.

20-m sprint 3.91 +/- 0.17 to 3.66 +/- 0.35 s; COD 18.51 +/- 0.59 to 17.18 +/- 0.66 s; dribbling 21.40 +/- 0.76 to 19.91 +/- 0.74 s.

### Basketball skills
Status: improved
Basketball players improved sprint and reported change-of-direction and dribbling times.

20-m sprint 4.05 +/- 0.23 to 3.80 +/- 0.16 s; COD and dribbling mean differences were 1.75 s and 1.41 s.

## Practical Insights

- A simple interval-count progression can increase dose across a short HIIT block.
- Cognitive benefits should be worded cautiously because the design had no control group.
- The exact Wingate prescription is not suitable as a default app protocol for lay users.

## Limitations

- Small sample.
- No control group.
- Short 3-week intervention.
- Only young male basketball and soccer athletes.
- Single HIIT procedure and limited game-like testing.

## Safety And Adherence

- Adverse events were not reported.
- Participants with medical conditions were excluded.

## Original Sources

- [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39051273/) (pubmed)
- [DOI](https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk9030112) (doi)
- [PMC full text](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11270406/) (full text)

## Agent Guidance

Preserve the paper-level scope of this note. Do not generalize beyond the population, protocol, measured outcomes, and limitations above.