TITLE:
The Effect of Basic Technical Training on Performance Capabilities of Young Soccer Players
AUTHORS:
Yossi Haleva, Yoav Meckel
KEYWORDS:
Fitness, Resistance, Speed, Agility, Efficiency, Aerobic Capacity
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Physical Education,
Vol.10 No.1,
January
9,
2020
ABSTRACT: It was suggested that training of players at young ages should focus on the development of basic technical skill since optimal responses to such trainingcan be obtained at these ages. The aim of the present study was to examine the inclusion of basic technical exercises to regular soccer training on performance capabilities in young players. Twenty-eight young (12-14 yrs) players wereassigned to either a soccer training group that performed specific soccer training (SG), or a group that combinedsoccer and basic technical training (TG).Both groups completed two similar setsof tests prior to and following nine weeksof training. While SG training led to a significant improvement only in the 20mshuttle run aerobic test (645±368 vs.738±308 m,p0.05), TG training led to a significant improvement in 10m (2.05 vs.2.00 sec) and 30m (5.13 vs.5.07 sec) sprint times (p0.05for both). However, a significant reduction in the 4× 10m agility test (9.99 vs.10.20 sec,p0.01) was found for the TG.Neither of the training programs had a significant effect on the long-jump power test. The findings demonstrate the complexity and the various requirements ofsoccer, suggesting that in order to comply with all game requirements technical training program for young players may be more efficient if implementedtogether with resistance—and endurance-type exercises.