Examination of the effect of 8 week core training on groundstroke velocities and some motor parameters in 12-14 age group tennis players

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of 8 weeks regular core training 12-14 years old male and female tennis players to the tennis groundstroke velocities and some motoric properties of these athletes. A total of 36 students with the average age of 13,02 years (±0,73), the average body weight 49,29 kg (±9,98) and the average height 159,51 cm (±8,42), 16 of which were female and 20 were male playing tennis at national level were participated in the study voluntarily from a private tennis club in Ankara. Athletes were divided into two groups by equal numbers of boys and girls with random method as experimental group=18 (8 girls, 10 boys) and control group=18 (8 girls, 10 boys). In the research pre-test and post-test patterned experimental method was used. Experimantal group performed extra 25 minutes core training for 2 days in a week during the 8 weeks but the control group continued to perform their tennis training. Vertical jump, throwing, flexibility, static balance and groundstroke velocity values of experimental and control group were measured two times during before and after 8 week training program. The data optained was compared by using "independent groups T test" at SPSS (Ver. 20) package program. Also the effect size showing the differences between the environments calculated. Level of error was accepted as (α) 0,05 for all the statistical methods. According to the results the analysis forehand and backhand groundstroke velocities of the experimental group which applied 8 week extra core training program and static balance and throw performances were statistically increased compared to the control group. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in vertical jump and flexibility performances. Keywords: Core training, tennis, groundstroke velocity.