Bilateral Training Improves Agility and Accuracy for Both Preferred and Non-Preferred Legs in Young Soccer Players. Issue 6 (December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ben Kahla, Ahmed; Elghoul, Yousri; Ammar, Achraf; Masmoudi, Liwa; Trabelsi, Khaled; Glenn, Jordan M.; Dahmen, Riadh
• Is Part Of: Perceptual and motor skills. Volume 129:Issue 6(2022)
• Page Start: 1804
• Page End: 1825
• Publication Date: 2022-12
• Subjects: soccer -- bilateral practice -- lower limbs -- agility -- accuracy; Perception -- Periodicals; Motor ability -- Periodicals; Motor Skills; Perception; Psychology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 152
• DOI: 10.1177/00315125221124373
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0031-5125

Abstract

As laterality of the lower limbs is regarded as a relevant influence on soccer performance, we assessed whether a bilateral training program for both the preferred leg (PL) and non-preferred leg (NPL) would improve soccer players' lateral asymmetry, agility, and accuracy. Sixty right-foot-dominant young soccer players were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (EXP) that underwent bilateral training or a control group (CONT) that performed their usual training schedule without bilateral exercise. We assessed the players' lateral asymmetries before and after training on four soccer skill tasks: a zigzag test with and without a ball, a receiving and direct volley-shooting accuracy test, and a passing accuracy test. Results showed post-test versus pre-test performance improvements for the EXP group on the index of technical skills and agility ( p < .001). A post-hoc analysis further revealed a pre-test to post-test performance improvement on shooting and passing accuracy with both legs only for the EXP group ( p < .001). These results support the role of bilateral practice in improving lateral asymmetries, agility, and accuracy.