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Objective: This review aims to explore the potential of implicit learning to enhance football performance under psychological pressure. The focus is on examining how implicit learning might mitigate the negative effects of pressure and improve the consistency and effectiveness of football skills during high-stakes situations. Materials and Methods: A systematic search strategy was employed to gather relevant research from databases such as SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. Keywords included "implicit learning," "motor skills," "football," "pressure performance," and "choking under pressure." The review considered peer-reviewed articles published in English, focusing on studies that investigated the relationship between implicit learning and football performance under pressure. Results: Implicit learning, characterized by the unconscious acquisition of skills through repeated practice, shows promise in enhancing football performance under pressure by promoting automaticity and reducing cognitive load. Studies have demonstrated that implicit learning can lead to more automatic and smoother motor skills, potentially making them less susceptible to disruption by pressure. Evidence from research on penalty kicks and other football-related tasks supports the effectiveness of implicit learning in high-pressure situations. Conclusion: The review highlights the potential of implicit learning to buffer the effects of psychological pressure in football, promoting resilience and adaptability in high-stakes scenarios. Further research is needed to optimize training methods for implicit learning and explore its application across different football skills and pressure conditions. Integrating implicit learning strategies into football training programs could equip athletes with the mental tools to perform at their peak under pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Currently, the scientific evidence available on plyometric training in young basketball players is limited. Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the effects produced by plyometric training over a period of 8 weeks, with a frequency of two weekly training sessions, combining vertical and horizontal force vectors. Methods: The study involved 28 young men (14.54 ± 0.6 years, a height of 182.76 ± 7.1 cm and a body weight of 68.05 ± 9.8 kg) high-level basketball players and aimed to investigate the effects of this training program on athletes at different maturational states, specifically based on their peak height velocity (PHV) and post-pubertal (post-PHV) stages. Results: Substantial improvements were achieved in the subjects who have carried out this type of plyometric training in all the parameters evaluated related to the improvement of the jump, linear speed and change of direction. Conclusions: Therefore, it is crucial to provide valuable information to trainers and physical trainers, enabling them to improve and individualize the conditioning work for optimal performance of their athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]