Effect of core exercises applied to 9-12 years old football players on physical and biomotor characteristics

The aim of this research is to examine the effects of core exercises applied to 9-12 year old football players on the physical and biomotor parameters of strength, speed, flexibility, endurance and agility. The sample group of the study consists of 30 volunteer male athletes who receive football training at Bitlis Güroymak Youth Services and Sports District Directorate and have no health problems. The study consists of 2 groups (control n = 15 and football + core training group n = 15). Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, waist-hip circumference ratio) were made on the participants. Both groups participating in the study continued their football training, but in addition to these trainings, the study group football players were applied a core exercise program 3 days a week for 8 weeks. Core exercise program applied to the participants; Plank, side plank, hip extension, two legfloorbridge, side ski jumps and floor cobra movements for 25 seconds, 2 repetitions between 1-4 weeks, plank, side plank, hip extension, two legfloorbridge, side ski jumps and floor cobra between 5-8 weeks. The movements were applied in 3 repetitions for 25 seconds. To measure the biomotor characteristics of the participants, sit-reach-reach, vertical jump, Illinois agility, 20m sprint, 30-second sit-up, 30-second push-up, right and left hand grip strength, 20m shuttle run tests were applied as pre-test and post-test. SPSS program was used to statistically analyze the data obtained at the end of the research. Shapiro-Wilk test for normality test; Levene test was applied to test homogeneity. Skewness and kurtosis values were checked for data sets that did not show a normal distribution, and data sets within ±2 were considered to have a normal distribution. To analyze the differences between applications, two-way analysis of variance (2x2) was applied in repeated measurements. Greenhouse Geiser correction test was used in measurements where the assumption of sphericity was not met. Tukey test was used in post hoc analysis. Effect size is presented as η2p for the two-way ANOVA test and interpreted using the following criteria: minimal effect (η2p ≤0.02), medium effect (0.02<η2p ≤0.09) and strong effect (η2p> 0.09) (Lakens, 2013). Statistical results were evaluated at p<0.05 significance level. According to the results of the pre- and post-tests of the football and football + core groups; A statistically significant difference was found between the groups in the vertical jump, 30-second shuttle test, 30-second push-up test, 20-m sprint test, and Illinois agility test. As a result of this study, which examined the effects of core exercises on flexibility, strength, speed, agility, endurance and explosive power parameters in football players, it was determined that biomotor parameters could be affected by the applied core exercises.