The effects of six week balance training on shoot accuracy rate in youth soccer players

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of 6-week balance training on the shoot accuracy rate in the young footballers. The sampling of this study was formed of 15-17 year-old totally 30 footballers playing in the Balçova Municipality young football team. Participants were intentionally divided into exercise and control groups. Athletes in the exercise group performed 15-minute dynamic and static balance training for 6 weeks 3 days per week in addition to their regular football training. The balance training protocol was composed of totally 12 movements each of which lasted 12-15 seconds followed by 15-second rests. The balance and shoot accuracy performances of the footballers were measured before and after the balance training protocol. We found significant positive differences in the balance performances of the exercise group at the end of the 6-week balance training protocol while no significant changes were determined in the control group. However, no significant increases were determined in the pre- and post- shoot accuracy rates of the exercise and control groups. When we compared the inter-group mean differences, we found a significant difference in the balance performance of the exercise and control groups; however, no significant differences were determined in their shoot accuracy rates. Although 6-week balance training applied in addition to the regular football training resulted in significant within and inter-group balance performance changes, it did not cause any significant differences in the shoot accuracy rates of the groups. In conclusion, it is thought that an additional 6-week balance training protocol to regular football training would be more beneficial for the improvement of balance performance. Key words: Balance, Shoot Accuracy Rate, Soccer