The effects of stroboscopic visual training on coordination, change-of-direction, and decision-making performance in collegiate basketball players

Objective This study investigated the effects of stroboscopic visual training (SVT) combined with basketball-specific training (ST) on coordination, change-of-direction (COD), and decision-making performance in collegiate basketball players. Methods 42 male collegiate basketball players (aged 18–25) were classified as Tier 2 (National Level) and randomly assigned to one of three groups: SVT combined with basketball-specific training (SVT + ST, n = 14), basketball-specific training (ST, n = 14), and regular training (RT, n = 14). Intervention effects were evaluated using the Harre Circuit Coordination Test, the 505 Change-of-Direction Speed Test, and a 3D Tactical Animation Decision-Making System. The SVT + ST group performed ST while wearing stroboscopic glasses with progressively increasing difficulty. The ST group underwent identical drills without visual disruption, and the RT group continued with routine basketball training. The intervention lasted 8 weeks, with three 40 min sessions per week. Results Significant TIME × GROUP effects were observed. In the coordination test, completion time ( p = 0.011, ηp 2 = 0.207) and errors ( p ≤ 0.01, ηp 2 = 0.488) improved, with SVT ± ST demonstrating greater gains than ST and RT (completion time: p = 0.013, d = 0.763, large; errors vs. RT: p ≤ 0.01, d = 4.009). In the 505 COD test, significant effects were identified for completion time ( p ≤ 0.001, ηp 2 = 0.69) and asymmetry ( p ≤ 0.001, ηp 2 = 0.43), favoring SVT ± ST (completion time vs. ST and RT: p ≤ 0.001, d = 3.943, large; asymmetry vs. RT: p ≤ 0.001, d = 2.074, large). For decision-making, TIME × GROUP effects were also observed for decision time (DT), motor-execution time (MET), decision accuracy (DA), and the cognitive–motor efficiency index (CMEI) (DT: p ≤ 0.001, ηp 2 = 0.43; MET: p ≤ 0.001, ηp 2 = 0.49; DA: p ≤ 0.001, ηp 2 = 0.48; CMEI: p ≤ 0.001, ηp 2 = 0.79), with SVT ± ST outperforming ST and RT (DT: d = 1.909, large; MET vs. RT: d = 2.102, large; DA: d = 2.341, large; CMEI: d = 3.221, large; all p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion Integrating SVT with basketball-specific training significantly improved coordination, COD, and decision-making performance in collegiate male basketball players.