Effects of Dehydration on Motor Skills, Attention, and Performance in Adolescent Football Players

Summary

This study aims to investigate how hydration status affects attention, motor competence, and football skills in adolescent male football players aged 13-14 years. Participants will complete standardized cognitive, motor, and sport-specific tests under two conditions: normal hydration (euhydration) and controlled dehydration (hypohydration). Hydration levels will be assessed using urine colour and body mass measurements, while attention and motor skills will be evaluated with validated tools. The study seeks to understand the impact of fluid balance on physical and cognitive performance in young athletes, without altering their usual routines.

Conditions

• Hydration Status
• Sport Performance
• Football
• Adolescent Athletic Performance
• Cognitive Function and Well-Being

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Euhydration Protocol

Participants maintained their habitual fluid intake for 12 hours prior to testing, approximately 1.5-2.0 L ad libitum throughout the day and night, and consumed 500 mL of water with a standardized breakfast approximately two hours before the test. Participants were instructed to refrain from urinating during the 30 minutes preceding testing. Hydration status was verified using first-morning urine colour assessed on Armstrong's 8-point scale (target range 1-2) and pre-test body mass measurements. Cognitive, motor, and football skill performance were subsequently evaluated under these euhydrated conditions using the d2 Attention Test, BOT-2 SF, and a structured football skill test, respectively.

BEHAVIORAL

Hypohydration Protocol

Participants underwent a hypohydration protocol beginning with fluid restriction from 17:00 on the day prior to testing, with no fluid consumption overnight, and a low-fluid breakfast on the morning of the session. Hypohydration was induced via supervised treadmill walking for approximately 45 ± 5 minutes at \~5.5 km/h with a 5% incline under moderate environmental conditions. No fluids were allowed during exercise, and body mass was measured every 10 minutes. Treadmill duration and intensity were individually adjusted until participants achieved a target body mass loss of 2-3%. Hydration status was confirmed via pre- and post-exercise urine colour and body mass measurements, with urine strip tests applied as a secondary verification. Following a 15-minute seated recovery period with consumption of low-water snacks, participants completed the d2 Attention Test, BOT-2 SF, and football skill test under hypohydrated conditions. Safety was continuously monitored via heart rate, Borg RPE sca

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Uşak University

  collaborator OTHER

• bekir tokay

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Mustafa AKIL, Professor Doctor · Uşak University, Department of Sports Science

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

13 Years

Max Age

14 Years

Sex

MALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-01-23

Primary Completion

2025-01-23

Completion

2025-04-30

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations