Expertise in Flag Football: Task Difficulty and Decision-Timing Consistency in a Computer-Based Read-and-React Task

Abstract

Introduction & Purpose

Quarterback (QB) performance requires skills such as rapid information processing, effective inhibition, and precisely timed decision-making (Boone et al., 2025). To assess these skills, we developed the Read and React (R&R) task, a laptop-based, sport-specific diagnostic tool designed to simulate complex game situations. Examining the novel QB-specific decision-making R&R task, the present study investigated task difficulty and timing of each play and whether block-wise repetition and national-level influence these measures.

Methods

In total, a sample of 86 QBs completed the novel task, of whom 22 QBs (age: M = 21.63 years, SD = 6.29; 5 females) were part of the national or extended national selection, while the remaining 64 were non-national-level (age: M = 21.98 years, SD = 10.82; 6 females). The QBs viewed nine different plays (P1-P9) selected by expert coaches and were required to identify the intended receiver by pressing the corresponding key with appropriate timing. Additionally, it was recorded whether the pass was timed too early or too late. Each play was repeated once per block across four blocks (B1-B4), with the order randomised within each block.

Results

Binomial generalized linear mixed modelling (GLMM) revealed that two plays demonstrate significantly easier levels of task difficulty (P2: p < .001; P3: p = .015) at baseline (B1) compared to P5. Task difficulty decreased across blocks. Timing aspects were modelled by three binomial GLMMs examining responses being (a) early and late, (b) only early, or (c) only late. Model (a) revealed that relative to B1, the odds of a timing error were lower in B3 (p = .003) and B4 (p = .020). P1 (p = .001) and P3 (p = .036) were significantly more difficult in timing. Model (b) suggests that early timing errors were strongly play-dependent, with markedly elevated odds in P2, P3, P6, P7, and P8 (all p < .05). Model (c) found that late errors decreased significantly with B3 (p = .005). QBs of national level showed 2.11 higher odds of a correct response (p < .001) and exhibited significantly better timing (p = .008).

Discussion

The results of the study indicate that play-specific adaptations occur across blocks in all plays, except for P5 and P7. For these plays, QBs adapt to the task as R&R performance increases. Accordingly, the R&R task may provide valuable diagnostic insights into how players benefit from repeated execution of plays. Moreover, the R&R task appears to have potential for assessing play-specific timing performance in QBs. Furthermore, national-level QBs achieved greater accuracy but also made fewer timing errors, consistent with superior task performance.

Conclusions

The R&R task satisfies fundamental requirements of a scientific instrument and shows promising potential for QB-specific diagnostics. However, a more comprehensive analysis of the plays, particularly with the inclusion of expertise from flag football specialists, is warranted. The extent to which these findings translate to on-field performance remains to be determined in future research.

References

Boone, R. T., Zambrotta, N. S., Manocchio, A. M., & Bowman, J. K. (2025). Head in the game: the impact of cognitive abilities on performance of National Football League quarterbacks. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, Article 1540498. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1540498