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Ben Kahla A, Elghoul Y, Ammar A, Masmoudi L, Trabelsi K, Glenn JM, Dahmen R. Bilateral Training Improves Agility and Accuracy for Both Preferred and Non-Preferred Legs in Young Soccer Players. Percept Mot Skills 2022; 129:1804-1825. [PMID: 36054086 DOI: 10.1177/00315125221124373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
As laterality of the lower limbs is regarded as a relevant influence on soccer performance, we assessed whether a bilateral training program for both the preferred leg (PL) and non-preferred leg (NPL) would improve soccer players' lateral asymmetry, agility, and accuracy. Sixty right-foot-dominant young soccer players were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (EXP) that underwent bilateral training or a control group (CONT) that performed their usual training schedule without bilateral exercise. We assessed the players' lateral asymmetries before and after training on four soccer skill tasks: a zigzag test with and without a ball, a receiving and direct volley-shooting accuracy test, and a passing accuracy test. Results showed post-test versus pre-test performance improvements for the EXP group on the index of technical skills and agility (p < .001). A post-hoc analysis further revealed a pre-test to post-test performance improvement on shooting and passing accuracy with both legs only for the EXP group (p < .001). These results support the role of bilateral practice in improving lateral asymmetries, agility, and accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Ben Kahla
- Education, Motor Skills, Sports and Health (EM2S), LR19JS01, High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, 479822University of Sfax, Tunisia.,High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, 479822University of Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Yousri Elghoul
- Education, Motor Skills, Sports and Health (EM2S), LR19JS01, High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, 479822University of Sfax, Tunisia.,High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, 479822University of Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Achraf Ammar
- Department of Training and Movement Science, Institute of Sport Science, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.,Interdisciplinary Laboratory in Neurosciences, Physiology and Psychology, Physical Activity, Health and Learning (LINP2), UPL, UFR STAPS (Faculty of Sport Sciences), Paris Nanterre University, Nanterre, France
| | - Liwa Masmoudi
- Education, Motor Skills, Sports and Health (EM2S), LR19JS01, High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, 479822University of Sfax, Tunisia.,High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, 479822University of Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Khaled Trabelsi
- Education, Motor Skills, Sports and Health (EM2S), LR19JS01, High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, 479822University of Sfax, Tunisia.,High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, 479822University of Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Jordan M Glenn
- Exercise Science Research Center, Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
| | - Riadh Dahmen
- Education, Motor Skills, Sports and Health (EM2S), LR19JS01, High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, 479822University of Sfax, Tunisia.,High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, 479822University of Sfax, Tunisia
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Sequeira M, Vallejo S, Fariña RA. Posture-reading by men’s football goalkeepers and other factors in saving penalty kicks. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE CIÊNCIAS DO ESPORTE 2021. [DOI: 10.1590/rbce.43.e007221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Penalty kicks are often decisive in football matches. Therefore, any technique that yields an advantage either in scoring or saving them is of great importance. Here we show the influence of a training programme for goalkeepers on the probability of defending penalties in men's football. Virtual training was used through an app that shows the shooter at the moment of setting the support foot on the ground and requiring the answer of which side (right or left) the ball will be directed at. Complemented with physical training, four sub 21 professional goalkeepers from Santarém, Brazil, developed the ability to correctly choose the side (left or right) at which the ball will be aimed. Sets of 800 penalties were kicked before (acting as control group) and after the training programme and it was found that, after training, the chances of saving penalty kicks or, at least, choosing the correct side, increase dramatically. It is concluded that the training programme improved the goalkeeper’s ability to choose the correct side. Other factors (laterality and height) were not found to be statistically significant.
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