Effects of a virtual reality training program on perceptual-motor performance and autonomic modulation in soccer goalkeepers

Immersive virtual reality (VR) may provide a controlled environment for perceptual-motor practice in soccer goalkeepers, although evidence for transfer and psychophysiological adaptation remains limited. This non-randomized controlled study examined 32 male youth goalkeepers: 20 completed a 10-week VR program (two sessions per week), while 12 continued usual field-based training. Simple visual reaction time, critical flicker fusion threshold (CFFT), heart rate, and heart rate variability (HRV) were assessed in both groups before and after the intervention. Three VR tasks were assessed only in the intervention group and analyzed as exploratory task-specific outcomes. After multiplicity correction, the overall scores for the Reaction, Deflection, and Visuomotor Discrimination tasks improved, together with selected ancillary measures. However, these tasks were identical or closely matched to those practiced during training. The group × time interaction for simple visual reaction time was nominally significant before multiplicity correction but was not significant after multiplicity adjustment and was not confirmed by the baseline-adjusted sensitivity analysis. No significant adjusted interactions were observed for CFFT, heart rate, or HRV. The program was associated with task-specific performance changes but did not demonstrate transfer to competitive goalkeeping, retention, or general autonomic modulation. Randomized studies using active controls, independent field-based outcomes, and delayed follow-up are required.