Determining the influence of dynamic balance in the technical training in football game at U13 level

Abstract

Background and Study Aim. Technical training in football plays an important part in scoring goals. Precise movements can become the key to victory in a match. Among the principal factors determining the accuracy of shooting or kicking the ball is balance. The study aims to determine the influence of dynamic balance on technical training in U13 football. Material and Methods. A group of 26 football players from Otopeni Sports Club (Romania), aged 12-13 years, in the U13 category, participated in this study. Dynamic balance was assessed using the Sensamove MiniBoard platform with tests including: Lateral bipedal balance (LBB), Vertical bipedal balance (VBB), and Vertical unipedal balance for both right (VBRL) and left (VBLL) legs. Technical training was evaluated using tests recommended by the Romanian Football Federation: instep kick from 9 m (Test 1, points), outside kick in 30 sec. (Test 2, points), and 20 m long pass (Test 3, points). Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to analyze the relationship between dynamic balance (lateral and vertical bipedal, and vertical unipedal for both legs) and technical training in U13 footballers. Results. The analysis of the comparative results between LBB and VBB variables reveals better performances by 9.2% at VBB. There are lower values of the vertical deviations mean by 2.9 degrees forward at LBB and by -2.8 degrees backward. The mean of lateral deviations is lower by -2.7 degrees to the left at VBB and by 3.3 degrees to the right. The comparative results between VBRL and VBLL variables show better performances by 0.3% at VBRL. The values of the vertical deviations mean are lower by 0.5 degrees forward at VBRL and 0.3 degrees backward. The mean of the lateral deviations (left-right) have equal values. Analyzing the performances obtained in technical tests highlights 22.2% (estimated maximum score) at instep kick, 62.5% (individual maximum value) at outside kick and 34.5% (estimated maximum value) at 20 m long pass. The influence of dynamic balance on technical training shows 60.7% positive connections and 39.3% negative ones between LBB and VBB variables. As for VBRL and VBLL variables, there are 67.9% positive connections and 32.1% negative connections between them. Conclusions. The weighting of values at performance and maintaining in space was highlighted. The mean of front-back and left-right deviations in bipedal and unipedal balance has lower values. The technical performances obtained were compared with the estimated maximum score and the individual maximum value. An increased number of positive connections to balance performance variables and of negative connections to the mean of deviations was noticed. This fact contributed to determining the degree of influence on the investigated variables. The findings can serve as a recommendation for future research.