The effect on open skills agility performance of small-sided games in young football players

The aim of this study is to examine the effect on open skills performance of small sided games in young football players. 19 athletes from Denizlispor U-16 team participated in the research. The players were divided into two groups as 9 players Control Group and 10 players 5v5 Small-Sided Game Group. The football players in the control group were trained for straight running, and the football players in the narrow field game group were trained for 5v5 small-sided games with 30x40 m field size for 8 weeks. The Reactive Agility Test protocol was used in the pre-test and post-test measurements of the open skill agility test of the footballers. In the analysis of the data, mean and standard deviation were given for numerical data, number and percentage values were given for categorical data. Histogram graphics and Skewness tests were used for the distribution of numerical data. While evaluating the numerical data in the analyses, Man Whitney U test was used for intergroup comparisons and Wilcoxon tests were used for in-group comparisons. It was found that there was a significant improvement between the pre-test and post-test values of the open skill agility test movement time, sprint time, total time and decision-making time of the subjects in the training group (p<0.05). There was no significant improvement between the in-group open skill agility test movement time, sprint time, total time and decision-making time pre-test and post-test values of the subjects in the control group (p>0.05). As a result of the analysis, it was determined that there was no significant difference when the subjects' developmental values of open skill quickness test movement time, sprint time, total quickness time, decision time were compared (p>0.05). It is thought that the inclusion of small-sided game training in football training will improve the decision-making performance of the athlete.