The effect of 12 week imagery studies on football skill development in contestant children soccer players aged 12-14 years

Objective: The purpose of this study is examination the effect of 12 week imagery studies on football skill development in contestant children soccer players aged 12-14 years. Method: The study was conducted with 23 children aged 12-14, licensed, active, competent in the Park Antalya Football Academy. The players' families were informed about the study and technical training groups were formed with the technical training and imagination according to the random sampling method among the athletes who volunteered to participate in the study. Which agreed to voluntarily participate in the study, 13 athletes in the experimental group and 10 athletes in the control group were included in the statistical evaluation according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. For the athletes participating in the study, pre-test and post-test measures were applied to Sport Imagery Questionnaire for Children, Shoot Wall Test, 30 Meter HUFA Technical Test and Soccer Skill Test. Soccer training program was applied by participating coaches during 12 weeks. The athletes in the experimental group were included in the practice of imaging training in addition to the soccer training program. Results: When the baseline values of the athletes in the experimental and control groups participating in the study were examined, it was determined that there was no significant difference between the groups in anthropometric measurements, soccer skill tests, and Sport Imagery Questionnaire for Children. According to statistical analysis results, 12 weeks of imagery study resulted in a significant change in football skills tests and all sub-dimensions of SIQ in the experimental group. In the control group, the change was not significant. Conclusion: As a result, it has been determined that the imaging training program, which is performed in addition to the soccer training program for 12 weeks, leads to positive developments in the basic skills of soccer, dribbling, shoot and combined training.