Non-dominant foot training enhances technical skills in under-13 Palestinian football players: a randomized controlled trial
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v70.116800Keywords:
Bilateral motor training, football skill acquisition, motor asymmetry, randomized controlled trial, youth athletesAbstract
Introduction and Objective. Structured training from the dominant foot continues to be a poorly exploited strategy in youth football, despite its potential to reduce functional asymmetries and improve bilateral competence. The ability to perform technical skills with both feet is fundamental for a more versatile and balanced performance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a specific non-dominant foot training program on technical skills in Palestinian football players under 13 years old.
Methodology. A randomized controlled study was carried out with 30 players (average age = 10.47 ± 0.97 years), randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) or a control group (n = 15). The experimental group completed 16 sessions spread over eight weeks, centered on countries, zigzag races and shots with the dominant foot. The control group continued with conventional bilateral training. Pre and post intervention evaluations included the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test (reliability: r = .89), zigzag regate time and shot accuracy tests.
Results. The experimental group showed significant improvements in all variables evaluated: pase accuracy (from 4.20 ± 1.37 to 6.40 ± 1.12; t(14) = −7.06, p < .001), regatta time (from 16.80 ± 1.97 s to 12.13 ± 2.19 s; t(14) = 10.78, p < .001) and precision in the shot. On the contrary, the control group did not present statistically significant improvements (p > .05). Comparisons between post-intervention groups confirmed significant differences in favor of the experimental group (p < .001).
Conclusions. This study provides solid empirical evidence that supports the systematic inclusion of dominant foot training in youth football training programs. The benefits observed in specific skills suggest that this intervention can contribute to the balanced technical development of young players. It is recommended to carry out in-depth longitudinal investigations to evaluate the sustainable effects of bilateral training on competitive performance and injury prevention.
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