Investigation of the effect of circular training program on passing skill in football male athletes aged 15-16

Passing skill, one of the basic elements of football, improves team play, affects offensive and defensive performance, ensures control of the game and strengthens communication between players. For these reasons, it is important for football players to improve their passing skills and use this skill effectively. This study aims to examine the effects of circular training on the passing skills of 15-16 year old male athletes in football. This research was conducted in a high school in Şanlıurfa, in the 2023-2024 academic period, on 30 licensed male athletes aged 15-16, age 15.5 ± 0.5, height 170.6 cm ± 6.16, body weight 60.77 kg ± 4.78, body mass index 20.68 ± 1.89. . Volunteers implemented a circular training program consisting of 12 movements, 3 days a week for 8 weeks. Passing skills of the volunteers were examined by applying the Loughborough Passing Test in Week 5 and Week 8 before the study. In the week before the training, the movements in the circuit training and the Loughborough Pass Test application were taught. The total duration of the Loughborough Rust Test was determined with the help of a photocell, the heart rate during the test was determined with a Polar brand heart rate device, and the degree of difficulty in the study was determined with Borg's 6-20 scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS v25 and differences between the experimental and control groups were evaluated with independent samples t test and Repeated ANOVA, taking into account the 0.05 significance level. When the experimental group and the control group were compared in the Loughborough Pass Test after 8 weeks of circular training, no statistically significant difference was observed between the heart rate values (experimental group HR 109.47 ± 13.43, control group HR 114.53 ± 18.84) (p>0.05). A difference was observed in the Borg Scale (experimental group BORG 10.47 ± 2.56, control group BORG 13.13 ± 1.19) (p<0.05). When the pre-test and post-test data of the experimental group were examined, the total test time (experimental group total test time 47.00 ± 4.11, control group total test time 61.67 ± 11.46) and performance time (experimental group performance time 56.20 ± 11.58, control group performance time 94.93 ± 29.65). ) a difference was found between the measurements of hitting the colored target area, not holding the ball with hands, and 43 second rule performances (p <0.05). Finally, a statistically significant difference was found between test times and performance times (p<0.05). In the control group, there was no difference between total time and performance time (p>0.05). Additionally, when the experimental group and the control group were compared, it was determined that there was a significant difference between the total time and performance time (p <0.05). The athletes in the experimental group were more successful in not hitting the rebound board or passing the ball to the wrong target, and their ability to hold the ball with their hands decreased. No change was detected in the control group. In addition, while the test times and performance times of the students in the experimental group decreased during the training, a similar change was not detected in the control group. In short, the circular training program led to improvements in passing skills.