Ante Radja¹, Marko Erceg¹, Zoran Grgantov¹

¹University of Split, Faculty of Kinesiology, Split, Croatia

Inter and Intra Positional Differences in Ball Kicking Between U-16 Croatian Soccer Players

Monten. J. Sports Sci. Med. 2016, 5(2), 11-15

Abstract

The main goal of this research was to determine inter and intra positional differences in ball kicking speed between U-16 Croatian soccer players. 44 young soccer players (15.7 ± 1.5 years) were tested with 8 specific soccer field tests that evaluate kicking velocity by using Pocket radar that was reading the ball velocity in km/h. The tests took place two days in a row; beginning at 8 A.M. Prior to the tests, players warmed up and stretched for 20 minutes (13 minutes of running with and without the ball, 7 minutes of dynamic stretching). Inter positional differences were significant (p ≤ 0.05) between midfielders and defenders in all tests and in one test midfielders scored better than strikers. The fastest kicks were instep kicks when stationary and non-stationary ball was kicked. Shots were taken by midfielders with 106.94±7.07 and 101.61±7.88 km/h respectively. Similar to dominant leg, midfielders also achieved the fastest instep kicks with non-dominant leg (91.44±9.56 km/h). Intra positional differences revealed that soccer kick velocity is one of possible selection tools, because more efficient players in all playing lines shoot faster kicks than less efficient players.

Keywords

Instep kick, Side-foot kick, Kicking velocity

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