A study on the correlation between visual, spatial working memory capacity and decision-making performance in 3V2 offensive tactics of soccer players

ObjectiveTo explore the correlation between visual, spatial working memory capacity and its subcomponents (object working memory capacity, spatial working memory capacity) and 3V2 offensive tactical decision-making performance in soccer players.MethodsSixty male soccer players with national second-class or higher athletic level were selected as participants. The change detection paradigm was used to measure the response time and accuracy of visual, spatial working memory capacity, object working memory capacity, and spatial working memory capacity. A sport specific situational test was applied to evaluate the response time and rationality of 3 V2 offensive tactical decision-making. Participants were divided into high-capacity and low-capacity groups by K-means clustering, and statistical analyses were performed using Mann, Whitney U test and partial Spearman correlation analysis.ResultsThe high visual, spatial working memory capacity group showed significantly shorter response time (Z = −3.944, p 0.05).ConclusionThe response time of visual, spatial working memory and its subcomponents is a key indicator for predicting 3 V2 offensive tactical decision making performance in soccer players. This study verifies the speed-accuracy trade off effect in sports cognition.