| comparison of Planning and Problem-Solving in Open and Closed-Skill Sports Among Professional Female Athletes |
| Paper ID : 1336-SPORTCONGRESS |
| Authors |
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Nazanin Dolat zarei *1, Mozhgan Memarmoghaddam2 1M.Sc. Student, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran. 2Department of Sport Biomechanics and Motor Behavior, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Mazandaran |
| Abstract |
| Motor skills are classified as open or closed based on the predictability of the performance environment. Athletes are often required to process large amounts of information and respond accurately under psychological pressure. This process is inherently more complex in open-skill sports, where continuous environmental changes demand greater adaptability, cognitive flexibility, and rapid decision-making. Planning and problem-solving, as key executive functions, play a critical role in processing information and generating goal-directed responses. These functions prepare athletes for action and enhance performance efficiency. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare planning and problem-solving abilities among Professional female athletes engaged in open- and closed-skill sports. A total of 72 Professional female athletes with a minimum of five years of professional experience voluntarily participated in this correlational and applied study. Participants were divided into three groups: open-skill sports (basketball, volleyball, soccer), closed-skill sports (gymnastics, swimming, track and field), and a non-athlete control group, with 12 participants per group. The mean age was 22.62 ± 2.06 years. The computerized Tower of London test was employed to assess planning and problem-solving abilities. Data were analyzed using the nonparametric bootstrap method at a significance level of p < 0.05 via SPSS 24. Results revealed that skilled female athletes in open-skill sports exhibited significantly higher planning and problem-solving performance (p = 0.027) compared to their counterparts in closed-skill sports (p = 0.57). Open-skill sports are dynamic and unpredictable, continuously placing athletes in novel situations that require rapid planning and decision-making. These conditions impose a higher cognitive load, providing enriched opportunities for the development of executive functions. In contrast, closed-skill sports present fewer cognitive challenges, potentially limiting growth in these domains. Therefore, it is recommended that coaches of closed-skill sports incorporate cognitively challenging and variable training scenarios to foster executive function development and optimize athletes’ cognitive and performance outcomes |
| Keywords |
| Open Skill Sports, Closed Skill Sports, Planning and Problem-Solving |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation) |
