Improvement in soccer learning and methodology for young athletes

• Published in: Journal of Physical Education and Sport Vol. 19; pp. 795 - 801
• Main Authors: Pietro, Montesano, Filomena, Mazzeo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pitesti Universitatea din Pitesti 01.05.2019
• Subjects: Accuracy; Age; Athletes; Body Weight; Cardiovascular disease; Coaches & managers; Communicable Diseases; Drugs & sports; Educational Quality; Exercise; Football; Methods; Obesity; Physical Activities; Physical education; Physical fitness; Quality; Repetition; Soccer; Sport science; Systematic review; Teaching Methods; Team Sports; Technical Education; Training Methods
• ISSN: 2247-8051; 2247-806X
• DOI: 10.7752/jpes.2019.s3113

Problem Statement - Sporting success detection constantly leads coaches, performance analysts, and sports researchers to evaluate and promote new methodologies to improve performances. The acquisition of football technique has often been topic of debate about the real methodological approach to adopt in the adolescence. Purpose - The aim of this study, on a sample of twenty (20) young athletes (aged 15-17 - mean age 16 ± 0.5) participating in agonistic football competitions, was to evaluate the improvement in performance, with reference to the percentage of accuracy of passages and shots on goal, verifying the quality of training methods choices. The research was carried on through an observational method and manual computerized detection, from October 2017 to April 2018, and general and diversified technical tests. The athletes (weight 62-73 kg - mean 67.79 ± 4.79; height 173 - 187 - mean 179.78 ± 5.23) divided into group A and B, took part in training (weekly- monthly) with the technical staff. Only 10 athletes of group B, partecipated 20 additional training sessions to improve their technical and physical learning. Results and conclusion - The final result for both groups showed significant improvements in young athletes performances with particular reference to the percentage of accuracy of passages and shots on goal, valued around 5-7% (average percentage 6%). Group B said to have received benefits after participating extra training sessions, showing an increase in muscle tone, a better breathing control and greater accuracy in passages and shots on goal, proving validity of choices in training method.