The Influence of Ball Handling and Fatigue on Cognitive Reactive Agility Performance in Basketball Players

Mateja Očić; Vedran Dukarić; Feng Li; Xu Xiaofei; Damir Knjaz

doi:10.54141/psbd.1728778

The Influence of Ball Handling and Fatigue on Cognitive Reactive Agility Performance in Basketball Players

Abstract

Fatigue and ball handling are essential factors influencing basketball performance, as both physical and cognitive demands intensify during the game. Increased fatigue levels influence players' decision-making, reaction time, and ball handling. This study investigates the combined effects of fatigue and ball handling on performance in cognitive reactive agility tests with varying visual stimulus complexity. The sample consists of students from the Faculty of Kinesiology who are experienced basketball players. A three-factor ANOVA was performed, and a statistically significant difference was determined between the various levels of test complexity, as well as between the test results depending on whether it was conducted with or without dribbling the ball (p<0.001). It can be concluded that in the second and third variations (levels of complexity) of the test, participants had difficulty recognizing the correct stimuli, which, in turn, resulted in slower reactions. However, no statistically significant differences were found between the same test complexity levels before and after the fatigue protocol, regardless of whether the test was performed with or without the ball. The methodology used in this research emphasizes the importance of incorporating unpredictable visual stimuli in testing to enhance cognitive decision-making in game-specific conditions. Such protocols could play a crucial role in improving player performance by sharpening motor responses and reactions to game situations.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb (Croatia) approved the study (13/2024), which was performed following the ethical standards of the Declaration of Helsinki.

References

Andrade-Lara, K. E., Serrano Huete, V., Atero Mata, E., Párraga Montilla, J. A., Herrador Sánchez, J., Moreno Marín, A., Martínez Redondo, M., Pozas, D. M., Salas Sánchez, J., Lucena Zurita, M., Cabrera Linares, J. C., & Latorre Román, P. Á. (2025). Validation of an eye–foot coordination assessment tool for children in dual-task condition. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(1), 172. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14010172
Callister, R., Miller, A., Aguiar, E., Dascombe, B., Smith, C., Clark, L., & Rogers, T. (2010). Blood lactate levels support classification of the 300 m shuttle run as an anaerobic capacity field test. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 13, 30–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2010.10.525
Cao, S., Geok, S. K., Roslan, S., Sun, H., Lam, S. K., i Qian, S. (2022). Mental Fatigue and Basketball Performance: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 819081. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.819081
Coutinho, D., Gonçalves, B., Figueira, B., Abade, E., Marcelino, R., & Sampaio, J. (2015). Typical weekly workload of under 15, under 17, and under 19 elite Portuguese football players. Journal of Sports Sciences, 33(12), 1229–1237. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2015.1022575
Dugdale, J. H., Sanders, D., & Hunter, A. M. (2020). Reliability of change of direction and agility assessments in youth soccer players. Sports, 8(4), 51. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports8040051
Edwards, T., Spiteri, T., Piggott, B., Bonhotal, J., Haff, G. G., & Joyce, C. (2018). Monitoring and managing fatigue in basketball. Sports, 6(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports6010019
Faubert, J., & Sidebottom, L. (2012). Perceptual-cognitive training of athletes. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 6(1), 85–102. https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.6.1.85
Gutiérrez-Capote, A., Madinabeitia, I., Alarcón, F., Torre, E., Jiménez-Martínez, J., i Cárdenas, D. (2024). Acute effect of complexity in basketball on cognitive capacity. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1376961. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1376961

Hornikova, H., Jelen, M., & Zemkova, E. (2021). Determinants of reactive agility in tests with different demands on sensory and motor components in handball players. Applied Sciences, 11(14), 6531. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11146531
Hüttermann, S., Memmert, D., & Simons, D. J. (2014). The size and shape of the attentional "spotlight" varies with differences in sports expertise. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 20(2), 147–157. https://doi.org/10.1037/xap0000012
Kolodziej, E., Jaworski, J., & Tchorzewski, D. (2018). Possibilities for applying the Witty SEM system in the diagnosis, optimization and control of athletic training. Journal of Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences, 84(28), 63–68. https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0013.7798
Li, F., Knjaz, D., & Rupčić, T. (2021). Influence of fatigue on some kinematic parameters of basketball passing. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(2), 700. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18020700
Lockie, R. G., Jeffriess, M. D., McGann, T. S., Callaghan, S. J., & Schultz, A. B. (2014). Planned and reactive agility performance in semiprofessional and amateur basketball players. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 9(5), 766–771. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2013-0324
Lucia, S., Digno, M., Madinabeitia, I., & Di Russo, F. (2023). Testing a multicomponent training designed to improve sprint, agility and decision-making in elite basketball players. Brain Sciences, 13(7), 984. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13070984
Lucia, S., Aydin, M., i Di Russo, F. (2023). Sex Differences in Cognitive-Motor Dual-Task Training Effects and in Brain Processing of Semi-Elite Basketball Players. Brain Sciences, 13(3), 443. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13030443
Oliver, J. L., & Meyers, R. W. (2009). Reliability and generality of measures of acceleration, planned agility and reactive agility. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 4(3), 345–354. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.4.3.345
Posner, M.I., & Petersen, S.E. (1990) The attention system of the human brain. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 13, 25-42. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ne.13.030190.000325
Schumacher, N., Schmidt, M., Reer, R., & Braumann, K. M. (2019). Peripheral vision tests in sports: Training effects and reliability of peripheral perception test. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(24), 5001. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16245001
Skala, F., & Zemková, E. (2022). Effects of acute fatigue on cognitive performance in team sport players: Does it change the way they perform? A scoping review. Applied Sciences, 12(4), 1736. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12031736
Smith, M. R., Coutts, A. J., Merlini, M., Deprez, D., Lenoir, M., & Marcora, S. M. (2016). Mental fatigue impairs soccer-specific physical and technical performance. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 48(2), 267–276. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000000762
Sporiš, G., Vučetić, V., Milanović, L., Milanović, Z., Krespi, M., & Krakan, I. (2014). A comparison of anaerobic endurance capacity in elite soccer, handball and basketball players. Kinesiology, 46(1), 52–59. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0170845
Tomporowski, P. D. (2003). Effects of acute bouts of exercise on cognition. Acta Psychologica, 112(3), 297–324. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0001-6918(02)00134-8
Twa, M. D. (2021). Sports and visual performance. Optometry and Vision Science, 98(6), 667–668. https://doi.org/10.1097/OPX.0000000000001926
Vestberg, T., Reinebo, G., Maurex, L., Ingvar, M., i Petrovic, P. (2017). Core executive functions are associated with success in young elite soccer players. PLOS ONE, 12(2), e0170845.
Voss, M. W., Kramer, A. F., Basak, C., Prakash, R. S., & Roberts, B. (2010). Are expert athletes ‘expert’ in the cognitive laboratory? A meta‐analytic review of cognition and sport expertise. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 24(6), 812–826. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.1588
Wang, C.H., Chang, C.C., Liang, Y.M., Shih, C.M., Chiu, W.S., Tseng, P., Hung, D.L., Tzeng, O.J., Muggleton, N.G., & Juan, C.H. (2013). Open vs. closed skill sports and the modulation of inhibitory control. PLoS One, 8(2), e55773. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0055773
Wu, J., Qiu, P., Lv, S., Chen, M., i Li, Y. (2024). The effects of cognitive-motor dual-task training on athletes’ cognition and motor performance. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1284787. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1284787
Young, W. B., Dawson, B., & Henry, G. (2015). Agility and change-of-direction speed are independent skills: Implications for agility in invasion sports. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 10(1), 159–169. https://doi.org/10.1260/1747-9541.10.1.159

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Sport and Exercise Psychology, Sports Training, Physical Training and Sports

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Mateja Očić
0000-0003-4723-4093
Croatia

Vedran Dukarić ^*
0009-0007-1008-7954
Croatia

Feng Li This is me
0000-0003-4806-1374
China

Xu Xiaofei
China

Damir Knjaz This is me
0000-0001-9080-2151
Croatia

Early Pub Date

November 11, 2025

Publication Date

December 26, 2025

Submission Date

July 9, 2025

Acceptance Date

September 26, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 16 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.54141/psbd.1728778

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA93CK62FL

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Očić, M., Dukarić, V., Li, F., Xiaofei, X., & Knjaz, D. (2025). The Influence of Ball Handling and Fatigue on Cognitive Reactive Agility Performance in Basketball Players. Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences, 16(3), 818-830. https://doi.org/10.54141/psbd.1728778

AMA

1.Očić M, Dukarić V, Li F, Xiaofei X, Knjaz D. The Influence of Ball Handling and Fatigue on Cognitive Reactive Agility Performance in Basketball Players. Pamukkale J Sport Sci. 2025;16(3):818-830. doi:10.54141/psbd.1728778

Chicago

Očić, Mateja, Vedran Dukarić, Feng Li, Xu Xiaofei, and Damir Knjaz. 2025. “The Influence of Ball Handling and Fatigue on Cognitive Reactive Agility Performance in Basketball Players”. Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences 16 (3): 818-30. https://doi.org/10.54141/psbd.1728778.

EndNote

Očić M, Dukarić V, Li F, Xiaofei X, Knjaz D (December 1, 2025) The Influence of Ball Handling and Fatigue on Cognitive Reactive Agility Performance in Basketball Players. Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences 16 3 818–830.

IEEE

[1]M. Očić, V. Dukarić, F. Li, X. Xiaofei, and D. Knjaz, “The Influence of Ball Handling and Fatigue on Cognitive Reactive Agility Performance in Basketball Players”, Pamukkale J Sport Sci, vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 818–830, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.54141/psbd.1728778.

ISNAD

Očić, Mateja - Dukarić, Vedran - Li, Feng - Xiaofei, Xu - Knjaz, Damir. “The Influence of Ball Handling and Fatigue on Cognitive Reactive Agility Performance in Basketball Players”. Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences 16/3 (December 1, 2025): 818-830. https://doi.org/10.54141/psbd.1728778.

JAMA

1.Očić M, Dukarić V, Li F, Xiaofei X, Knjaz D. The Influence of Ball Handling and Fatigue on Cognitive Reactive Agility Performance in Basketball Players. Pamukkale J Sport Sci. 2025;16:818–830.

MLA

Očić, Mateja, et al. “The Influence of Ball Handling and Fatigue on Cognitive Reactive Agility Performance in Basketball Players”. Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences, vol. 16, no. 3, Dec. 2025, pp. 818-30, doi:10.54141/psbd.1728778.

Vancouver

1.Mateja Očić, Vedran Dukarić, Feng Li, Xu Xiaofei, Damir Knjaz. The Influence of Ball Handling and Fatigue on Cognitive Reactive Agility Performance in Basketball Players. Pamukkale J Sport Sci. 2025 Dec. 1;16(3):818-30. doi:10.54141/psbd.1728778