Comparison of motor performance between child soccer players and sedentary children during the prepubescent phase: A pilot study

Abstract

he aim of this study was to compare motor performance among a group of children regular football practitioner with another of non regular’s sports practitioner’s counterparts. Twenty seven children, 15 regular soccer player (S); 12 males and 3 females; 8.1 ± 0.4 years old, and 12; 10 males and 2 females; 8.0 ± 0.0 years, not enrolled in any regular and supervised physical activity, except that of school physical education class, (NS); performed 5 test aimed to assess their motor skills abilities performance: 30 m speed (30m), change direction 10 m sprint (CD10m), right and left one leg jump (LJ), 1 kg medicine ball throw (MBT) and 1 leg static balance (SB). S group showed better significantly performance for one leg-left jump and medicine ball throw (p<0.05) as well as a marked trend in one leg-right jump (p=0.051). No significant different were observed for 30m and CD10m (p>0.05) neither for SB. It is possible that the spontaneous games or physical education class represents a similar stimulus respect to soccer training for increasing performance in predominantly cyclic or balances activities such as speed, change direction running or one leg balance test. However for more complex acyclic task such a throwing and one leg jump additional supervised and well designed activities could be necessary.