Effects of cooperative learning and instruction methods used on soccer-specific skill levels

This research was conducted to demonstrate effects of Cooperative Learning and instruction methods used on soccer-specific skill levels. Total of 82 child athletes including (n=43) cooperative learning method group and traditional method group (n=39) who play in Dumlupinar University Sport Club and Kütahya Sport Club?s substructure were randomly participated in this investigation. An 8 week training program was applied to the subjects. ?Pair-check-perform study design? for cooperative learning methods group and ?instruction methods study design? for traditional methods group was carried out. MorChristian General Soccer Ability Test, Yeagley Soccer Test and Johnson Soccer Test was used to determine soccer-specific skills as a data collection tool. Single-Factor Repeated ANOVA was used to determine effects of teaching methods on athletes. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was applied to determine which technique has greater impact on improvement of athletes. Besides; Levene test was used to assess homogeneity values of the groups. During the analysis phase, Pre test scores used to determine the effect of teaching method on post test scores and post test scores used to determine the effect of teaching method on retention scores were covered. Statistical analysis of measurements was performed by using SPSS 20.0 for Windows and significance was set at p<0.05. In this researh, According to the results of ANCOVA; It was found that there were significant differences in terms of dribbling F(1,79=6.36, P<.05) (adjusted post-test scores in favor of the traditional method), passing F(1,78=39.71, P<.001), shooting F(1,79=51,65, p<.05) and bouncing F(1,79=2,51 p<.05) ability of the athletes (adjusted post-test scores in favor of the cooperative learning method). In terms of the corrected retention test scores, there were significant differences found for dribbling F(1,79=6.36, P<.05) (adjusted retention scores in favor of the traditional method), passing F(1,79=11,39 P<.05), shooting F(1,79=12.80, P<.05) and bouncing F(1,79=2.51, P<.05) ability of the athletes (adjusted retention scores in favor of the cooperative learning method). According to the results of ANOVA; Significant differences found for the athletes located in a group of A in terms of dribbling F(2.84=17.76, P<.001), shooting F(2.84=82.90, P<.001), bouncing F(2.84=11.00, P<.001) and wall passing F(2.84=21.41, P<.001) abilities in favor of the post test scores. Significant differences found for the athletes located in a group of B in terms of shooting F(2.76=7.05, P<.001) bouncing abilities in favor of the post test scores. Key Words: Soccer, Learning Methods, Cooperative Learning, Command Method, Kovaryans Analysis