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Understanding the role of executive function in the development of players in a football academy.

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Title: Understanding the role of executive function in the development of players in a football academy.
Authors: James, Ian Andrew (AUTHOR), Alexander, Jill (AUTHOR), Cope, James (AUTHOR)
Source: Sport & Exercise Psychology Review. Dec2025, Vol. 20 Issue 1, p55-66. 12p.
Subjects: Executive function, Training of soccer players, Neuropsychology, Decision making, Sports psychology, Teamwork (Sports), Neurodiversity
Abstract: This paper explores the value of having an awareness of executive functioning (EF) within a football academy. EF refers to the mental processes associated with frontal lobe functioning. In everyday life, people use these skills to solve problems, make decisions, engage in social interactions, and manage emotions. In relation to sports, such as football, EF supports the learning of the tactical and technical skills, enhances focus under pressure, and improves communication and teamwork. Drawing from sports psychology and neuropsychology, this article introduces an EF-informed training framework known as the MET (Mentality, Emotion and Togetherness) which is currently being piloted at Burnley FC Academy. The MET takes account of maturation processes and the deficits in EF observed in neurodiverse conditions such as ADHD and those with autistic traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Sport & Exercise Psychology Review is the property of British Psychological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Understanding the role of executive function in the development of players in a football academy.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22James%2C+Ian+Andrew%22">James, Ian Andrew</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Alexander%2C+Jill%22">Alexander, Jill</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cope%2C+James%22">Cope, James</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Sport+%26+Exercise+Psychology+Review%22">Sport & Exercise Psychology Review</searchLink>. Dec2025, Vol. 20 Issue 1, p55-66. 12p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Executive+function%22">Executive function</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Training+of+soccer+players%22">Training of soccer players</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Neuropsychology%22">Neuropsychology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Decision+making%22">Decision making</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sports+psychology%22">Sports psychology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teamwork+%28Sports%29%22">Teamwork (Sports)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Neurodiversity%22">Neurodiversity</searchLink>
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: This paper explores the value of having an awareness of executive functioning (EF) within a football academy. EF refers to the mental processes associated with frontal lobe functioning. In everyday life, people use these skills to solve problems, make decisions, engage in social interactions, and manage emotions. In relation to sports, such as football, EF supports the learning of the tactical and technical skills, enhances focus under pressure, and improves communication and teamwork. Drawing from sports psychology and neuropsychology, this article introduces an EF-informed training framework known as the MET (Mentality, Emotion and Togetherness) which is currently being piloted at Burnley FC Academy. The MET takes account of maturation processes and the deficits in EF observed in neurodiverse conditions such as ADHD and those with autistic traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Sport & Exercise Psychology Review is the property of British Psychological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.53841/bpssepr.2025.20.1.55
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 12
        StartPage: 55
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      – SubjectFull: Executive function
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Training of soccer players
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Neuropsychology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Decision making
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      – SubjectFull: Sports psychology
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      – SubjectFull: Teamwork (Sports)
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      – SubjectFull: Neurodiversity
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              M: 12
              Text: Dec2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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