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In this study, we used Cognitive Load Theory to examine the role of a sequential versus simultaneous presentation technique for learning tactical skills from computerized diagrams of soccer scenes with two levels of complexity. Young soccer players learned the evolution of soccer game systems from computer-based diagrams with three types of instructional arrows: simultaneous, sequential-without-tracing, and sequential-with-tracing. We randomly assigned participants to one of six experimental conditions (three arrow presentation methods by two levels of soccer scene complexity) and asked them to rate their invested mental efforts, complete a recall-reconstruction test, and indicate their attitudes, immediately after the learning phase. When diagram content complexity was low, the three types of arrow presentations had similar learning effects. However, when diagram content complexity was high, the two sequential means of presenting instructional arrows produced better learning outcomes (with a clear relative advantage for the sequential-with-tracing presentation). We also found that the sequential presentation of arrows elicited more positive player attitudes whatever the level of content complexity. Considering the better learning outcomes and improved player attitudes from sequential diagram presentations, soccer coaches should present computer-based instructional diagram arrows sequentially, rather than simultaneously. A sequential-with-tracing arrow presentation was particularly beneficial for learning complex team sport scenes.

Which type of music is better for improving short-term maximal performance (STMP) and subjective experiences, and under what conditions? The present study was designed to address this issue by investigating the effects of listening to synchronous versus motivational music during warm-up, as a function of time of day, on exercise performance. In a random order, 16 highly trained physical education students (male) performed the 30-s Continuous Jump (CJ30) during six sessions separated at minimum by 48 h of recovery: after two warm-ups with synchronous music (WUSM), after two warm-ups with motivational music (WUMM), and after two warm-ups without music (WUWM), at 07:00 and 17:00 h. The maximal jump height (Hmax), mean jump height of all jumps (Hmean), and fatigue index (F %) were measured during the test. Body temperature was collected before and after the warm-up, and at the end of the CJ30 test. The rated perceived exertion (RPE) and the feelings states (FS) were obtained immediately after the warm-up and the test. The results revealed that Hmean, Hmax, and temperature were higher at 17:00 than 07:00 h in all experimental conditions. Moreover, Hmean and Hmax were higher with WUSM and WUMM than WUWM at both times of day, with greater improvement in the morning. After performing the CJ30 test, RPE scores were higher with WUMM than WUWM at both times of day. Moreover, FS scores were more positive with WUMM than WUWM in the morning. Furthermore, WUMM resulted in better Hmax and Hmean at both times of day than WUSM. However, FS and RPE were independent of types of music. Findings suggested the use of music during warm-up to increase STMP, RPE, and FS at both times of day, and reduce the morning-afternoon difference in the CJ30 test. More importantly, a warm-up with motivational music is more beneficial than a warm-up with synchronous music for improving STMP, either in the morning or in the afternoon.

The present experiment examined the effects of listening to different types of music during warm-up on the diurnal variation of short-term maximal performance (STMP) in soccer players, using a 3 × 2 mixed design with factors "Condition" (warm-up with self-selected motivational-music (WUMM) vs. warm-up with neutral-music (WUNM) vs. warm-up without-music (WUWM) and "Time of Day" (07 h00 vs. 17 h00). In a random order, twelve male soccer players performed a 5-m shuttle run test after a 10 min of WUMM, a 10 min of WUNM and a 10 min WUWM at 07 h00 and 17 h00. The higher distance (HD) and total distance (TD) were measured during the test, and the rated perceived exertion (RPE) and the feelings states (FS) were obtained immediately after the warm-up and the test. The results revealed that HD and TD were higher at 17 h00 than 07 h00 in all conditions (p .01). At 07 h00 and 17 h00, TD and HD were higher after WUMM and WUNM than WUWM and after WUMM than WUNM (p .01). This improvement was greater at 07 h00 than 17 h00 (e.g., 6.97% vs. 5.26% for TD). Moreover, FS were more positive after WUNM than WUWM only at 07 h00, after WUMM than WUWM at the two time-of-day (p .01), and after WUMM than WUNM at 17 h00 (p .01). After the 5-m shuttle run test, FS were more negative and the RPE scores were higher with WUMM than WUWM at 07 h00 (p .01). The findings suggested that STMP and feelings depend on types of music listened during a warm-up. A warm-up with self-selected motivational-music improves STMP and feelings at 07 h00 and 17 h00 with greater enhancement in the morning. However, a warm-up with neutral-music improves STMP and feelings only at 07 h00.

This study tried to identify how varied level of content complexity (low vs. medium vs. high) could affect learning outcomes, cognitive load investment, and attitudes when learning basketball tactical actions from different formats of visualization (dynamic vs. static) within physical education context. One hundred and fifty secondary school students (Mage = 15.31 years, SD = .64) took part in the experiment. They were quasi-randomly (i.e., matched for gender) assigned to the six experimental conditions and asked to rate their perceived cognitive load (i.e., mental effort invested and estimated difficulty), indicate their attitudes (i.e., attention, enjoyment, engagement and challenge) and perform the learning tests (i.e., game comprehension test and game performance test) immediately after the learning phase. Results showed that for low-complexity content, both formats of visualization have similar effects on cognitive load investment, and learning outcomes. However, for medium and high complexity contents, the dynamic format had a clear advantage over the static format in terms of cognitive load investment and learning outcomes. Moreover, it was found that whatever the level of content complexity, students exposed to the dynamic visualization reported more positive attitudes compared to those exposed to the static visualization. Considering the learning outcomes and the subjective experiences (i.e., cognitive load and attitudes), the results recommend the use of dynamic visualizations for learning basketball tactical actions whatever the level of content complexity.

The present experiment examined the effect of content complexity on perceived cognitive load and game performance when learning basketball tactical actions from videos modeling examples displayed at different speeds. A 2 (presentation speed: slow vs. normal) × 3 (content complexity: low vs. medium vs. high) between subjects design was adopted in the experiment. One hundred and twenty secondary school students were quasi-randomly assigned to six experimental conditions and required to rate their perceived cognitive and to perform a game performance following the learning phase. Data analyses revealed that for low complexity content, both speeds of presentation have similar effects on learning. Conversely, for medium and high complexity contents, participants exposed to the slow-presentation speed learned more efficiently than those exposed to the normal-presentation speed. The findings recommend the use of slow-speed videos, when learning basketball tactical actions depicted, particularly, in playing systems with medium or high levels of complexity.

Dynamic visualizations such as videos or animations have been developed to exchange information that transforms over time across a broad range of professional/academic contexts. However, such visual tools may impose substantial demands on the learner’s cognitive resources that are very limited in current knowledge. Cognitive load theory has been used to improve learning from dynamic visualizations by providing different instructional designs to manage learner cognitive load. This paper reviews a series of experimental studies assessing the effects of certain instructional designs on learning of tactical scenes of play through dynamic visualizations. An electronic database search was performed on the Web of Science and PubMed/Medline databases from inception to July 2020 using a combination of relevant keywords. Manual searches were also made. The search was limited to English language. A total of 515 records were screened by two researchers using the Population/Intervention/Comparison/Outcome(s) (PICO) criteria. The quality and validity of the included studies were assessed using “QualSyst”. Learning indicators in students and/or players (male and female) at any age category and competitive level were considered. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria for this review, which focused on the effects of four instructional designs (i.e., using static visualizations, employing sequential presentation, applying segmentation, and decreasing presentation speed) on learning various game systems through dynamic visualizations. These studies indicate that (i) the effectiveness of all instructional designs depend upon the level of learners’ expertise when learning soccer/Australian football scenes through animations/videos, (ii) the effectiveness of using static visualizations instead of animations/videos showing soccer/basketball scenes depend upon the type of the depicted knowledge (i.e., motor knowledge or descriptive knowledge) for novice learners, (iii) the effectiveness of employing static visualizations and decreasing presentation speed when learning soccer/basketball scenes from animations/videos depend upon the level of content complexity, for novice learners. The current review demonstrated important practical implications for both coaches and physical education teachers using either animations and/or videos to communicate game systems. Indeed, findings suggested that adapting instructional designs to the level of learners’ expertise, type of depicted knowledge, and level of content complexity is a crucial part of effective tactical learning from dynamic visualizations.