Abstract
This paper is aimed at comparing the use of technique elements by the teams and players who play in the elite level club competition Champions League and the Serbian professional football league. The results of the study were obtained by observing an overall of 20 randomly chosen games, 10 from the Champions League (CL) and 10 from the Serbian SuperLiga (SSL). The processing and analysis of the results included each contact with the ball of the players during the play. In the previously designed observing protocol we recorded each technical element, of five groups of technical elements: ball kicks (6 variables - elements), ball receiving (12 variables - elements), disguising movements and dribbles (6 variables - elements), takeover and carrying the ball. The research showed that there are differences in using of certain technical elements in the two analysed competitions. Kicks, receiving and carrying of the ball are significantly more used in the CL while no differences were manifested regarding the use of certain types of kicks and ball receiving. Additionally, there are differences in distribution of certain types of kicks and ball receiving. In the CL significantly more applied are instep drives (70% of all kicks), while in the SSL headers and inside part hard kicks are by far more frequent compared to the CL. The way of ball receiving is partially conditioned by the stated difference in ball kick usage so exploiting of instep ball receiving (rolling ball) is the dominant element of ball receiving technique especially in the competitions of the CL. Dribbling application did not show any difference between the football players of the two analysed competitions, where the basic dribbles were the most applied ones (65-70%).
Highlights
The preparation of football players for achievement of top results is realized in the form of: technical, tactical, physical, psychological and educational preparation
By defining differences in technical manifestation of teams and individuals of different level of successfulness can point to certain guidelines in the training technology when it comes to technical preparation as well as in tactical training of future football players
The Champions League is primarily featured by greater exploiting of kicks and ball receiving, followed by greater application of carrying the ball compared to the Serbian SuperLiga, while as for the frequency of takeover and dribble there are no significant discrepancies
Summary
The preparation of football players for achievement of top results is realized in the form of: technical, tactical, physical, psychological and educational preparation. Each of the stated components of football education has its own regularities and is an indispensable factor of the comprehensive, integral preparation for football players. Requires higher level of preparedness in all aspects, including technical training of football players. The structure of football game, if we take into account the last 50 years, has changed a lot as for the intensification of the game itself, which is confirmed by the studies showing that active play duration has decreased while the intensity has increased, and the duration of the period when the ball is out of play has increased (Wallace, & Norton, 2013). The speed of ball movement has increased by 15%, play structure changed towards higher player density
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