A Comparative Analysis of Carbohydrate and Caffeine Mouth Rinsing Strategies on Cognitive, Technical and Kinematic Performance in Young Soccer Players During 4-a-Side Small-Sided Game
Umut Gök1
, Yusuf Soylu2, Erşan Arslan2, Bülent Kilit2
1Institute of Graduate Studies, Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat, Türkiye
2Faculty of Sports Sciences, Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, , Tokat, Türkiye
Keywords: sports nutrition, game performance, cognitive performance, game-based training
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of mouth rinsing (MR) with carbohydrate (MRCHO), caffeine (MRCAF), and their combinations (MRCAF+CHO and MRCHO+CAF) on mental effort, technical activities, and kinematic variables in 4-vs-4 small-sided soccer games (SSGs).
Materials and methods: This study employed a single-blind, randomized repeated measures design. Sixteen young amateur soccer players participated (age: 16.56 ± 0.51 years). The participants were categorized into balanced groups based on their Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 scores. Subsequently, they participated in the SSG format, consisting of four sets of four minutes each, with two minutes of rest between sets. Players were instructed to rinse their mouths with four different 25-ml solutions for 10 s before starting the task. The solutions comprised CHO (maltodextrin at 6.4%, equal to 1.6 g), CAF (caffeine at 1.2%, equating to 300 mg), a combination of CHO and CAF (6.4% and 1.2%, respectively), and a combination of CAF and CHO (1.2% and 6.4%). This study measured the rating scale of mental effort (RSME), technical activities of games, and kinematic profiles, including walking (0.0-7.1 km-h-), jogging (7.2-14.3 km-h-¹) and running (14.4-19.7 km-h-¹), and high-speed running (>19.8 km-h-¹) during the games.
Results: Significant enhancements in kinematic performance at jogging and running speeds were observed with MRCHO+CAF (p < 0.05), whereas MRCAF+CHO most effectively improved the walking performance (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in kinematic performance during high-speed running or technical performance (total passes, shots, and interceptions) across any intervention (p > 0.05). There were no significant differences between the interventions in the RSME group (p > 0.05).
Conclusions: In summary, the MRCHO+CAF combination markedly improved the low-intensity jogging and running kinematic performance, whereas MRCAF+CHO showed more advantages for walking. However, neither intervention significantly affected the high-speed running, technical performance, or mental effort levels.
Cite this article as: Gok U, Soylu Y, Arslan E, Kilit B. A Comparative Analysis of Carbohydrate and Caffeine Mouth Rinsing Strategies on Cognitive, Technical and Kinematic Performance in Young Soccer Players During 4-a-Side Small-Sided Game. Turk J Sports Med. 2025 May 12th; https://doi.org/10.47447/tjsm.0878
The Ethics Committee of Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University granted ethical approval (approval number 35711501-68, dated 26/12/2023.
Concept: YS, UG, EA, BK; Design: YS, UG, EA, BK; Supervision: YS; Materials: YS, UG; Data Collection and Processing: YS, UG; Analysis and Interpretation: YS, UG; Literature Review: UG; Writing Manuscript: YS, UG, EA, BK; Critical Reviews: YS, EA, BK. All authors contributed to the final version of the manuscript and discussed the results and contributed to the final manuscript.
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to authorship and/or publication of the article.
This research was produced as part of Umut Gök’s PhD thesis and was supported by Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University Coordinatorship of Scientific Research (2024/30).
