The effect of plyometric taraining on balance and soccer-specific of aged 11-12 children

THE EFFECT OF PLYOMETRIC TARAINING ON BALANCE AND SOCCER-SPECIFIC OF AGED 11-12 CHILDREN In this research, it was aimed to find out the effect of pliometric trainings on balance and skills that are specific to soccer. The participants of this study were 38 healthy, 11 and 12-year-old male football players took place in this study voluntarily. Participant subjects were chosen among the sportsmen that are continuing their soccer trainings with "Grassroots"Activities of Turkish Football Federation. Tests on speed, agility, anaerobic power, balance, dribbling and pass tests were applied as pre-test to the sportsmen taking part in this study. During the following week, in adddition to their three day footbal training, the experimental group was given plyometric works for eight weeks along and twice a week. The control group was never given any other additional work but their continuing soccer trainings. The post test evaluation was applied to both groups named experimental and control. The quantitative results that were attained after the study have been summarized with average, standard deviation or frequency (f) and percentage (%). The t-test was applied to the dependent groups in order to determine the importance of differences between pre-test and post-test variables. According to the comparisons of pre-test and post-test that were applied to the experimental group which took part in the study, a significant difference in favor of right foot was ascertained durig the measurement of 30m speed, İllionis agility, İllionis dribbling, Johanson fast pass, wingate, dynamic balance tests (p<0,05). After applying the pre-test and post test measurements to the experimental and control groups that participated in this study, a statistically meaningful difference was ascertained in favour of experiment group (p<0,05). As there were no meaningful differences fort he advantage of left foot within the study caused us to think that participant sportsmen in this study are dominantly right-footers. Consequently; it was clearly seen that pliometric training had positive effects on not only performance, but also on skills that are special to soccer and balance. According to these findings, pliometric training should be included in regular soccer training programs for children aged between 11 and 12. The fallacy that the pliometric trainings solely contribute to the condition training needs to be given up and pliometric trainings should be applied to all the practices at all levels of skills. Key Words: Soccer, Plyometric, Balance, Skill