Circuit Football Training Customized for Young Players during and after the COVID Period

Abstract

Football was, is, and (perhaps) will always be the most widespread sport all over the world. High performance means hard work for all players, regardless of age. In this respect, training methods are adjusted to the needs of modern football, converging towards the successful formation of players with good technical tactical, physical, theoretical, and psychological levels. In the context of the research, we chose to use a program based on the circuit method, which would lead to the re-adaptation of junior football players to performance demands after the COVID-19 pandemic period (which was very difficult for sports in general). The circuit method is a suitable factor for the current trends in modern football. Our research showed that the circuit method was consistent with the specific goals of football training for 10–12 year olds. The method proposed for this study was not new, but it was applied for the first time to children and juniors, considering their age characteristics and the requirements of the modern world. Its implementation involved using a literature review, active observation, and practical methods. The exercises used in the study were designed in compliance with the specifics of both the age of 10–12 years and the game of football played at this level. The paper demonstrates that the circuit method enables teachers and coaches to achieve the football training goals intended for this age.