Dual-task cognitive-motor training and its impact on the sports and cognitive performance of young basketball players: a pilot study

BACKGROUND: In open-skill sports, athletes must divide attention across multiple variables during motor actions, presenting dual-task demand. Cognitive-motor dual-task (CM-DT) training, which integrates cognitive and motor components, shows greater benefits for cognitive functions than isolated training. However, functions like inhibition and anticipation still require further study. AIM: This study investigated the effects of CM-DT on sports and cognitive performance in young basketball players. METHODS: Six boys aged 14–18 years completed an eight-week basketball-specific training phase, followed by an eight-week wash-out, and then an eight-week CM-DT training phase. Assessments included the NBA Draft Combine dribbling tests (for motor performance) and the Go/No-Go Paradigm (for cognitive functions, including inhibition and anticipation). Statistical analyses were conducted in SPSS v.29 (p < 0.05). Normality was assessed with Shapiro–Wilk’s test; as some distributions were non-normal and uncorrected by log transformation, data were reported using medians, interquartile ranges, and minimum–maximum values. Comparisons between conditions and time points were made using Friedman’s two-way ANOVA by ranks, with Kendall’s W used to report effect sizes: negligible (< 0.10), small (0.10–0.29), moderate (0.30–0.49), and large (≥ 0.50). RESULTS: Changes were observed in specific variables, notably a large effect for “Time Double Crossover” and a moderate effect for “Time Between the Legs + Behind the Back,” suggesting improvements despite no consistent statistical significance. Other variables showed negligible to small effects. INTERPRETATION: CM-DT training led to improvements in specific motor tasks. Further research should explore protocol variations, long-term impacts, sample variability, training comparisons, and real-world applicability.