Introducing the Research

Introduction and the Importance of the Research: The game of football is one of the famous popular sports and it took the first place among the rest of the sports, as it woven its threads within the various classes of society and gained great interest in society [1] mentioned that the term plyometrics comes from (Plio) means more and (Mitric) means measures, and this type of contraction begins as a compound of muscle contraction with lengthening (non-central) and increases gradually until it equalizes with resistance and then turns into a central contraction and then Jump followed by jump again. It is also mentioned about the explosive force [2] which is the ability to achieve a maximum increase in force in the least possible time, meaning the increase in force, where the time unit is the unit and the explosive force depends on the speed of contraction of motor units with fast motor fibers and the strength of contraction of the intervening muscle fibers.

Bilal Hani Talib [3] in modern sports training, the movement of the soccer player, which is characterized by a continuous change in the intensity of work performance, must be taken into account, as well as muscular work with high intensity and speed, and accordingly, the physical preparation must be built with an account of the players’ motor activity characteristic, which is the important rule when Developing skillful and tactical duties. Therefore, exercises for physical preparation must be chosen so that their content and speed are identical to the movement that the player performs on the field at the time of the match. Strength is one of the basic elements on which the physical preparation of the football player depends because it greatly affects the change in the speed of movement as it affects the Its motor activity is linked to speed, permanence, and flexibility. Over time, football coaches paid attention to all training methods in their training units to achieve the highest levels of development in the development of physical attributes, skillful performance, and even tactical thinking. Researchers have found that there are many ways to develop muscle strength, including the use of plyometric weight training. Which is considered a special training that aims to enhance the explosive ability and has become one of the most famous training methods for all levels and ages, provided that its principles and classifications are respected according to the intensity of arousal and the various criteria for its application, especially in the game of football [4]. Achievement can be achieved, as no team can implement its offensive or defensive plans unless its players have a good skill level that qualifies them to implement these plans, in addition to the availability of good physical abilities that help implement these plans, and the basic skills in handball are an important factor in developing The game, in addition to the physical, tactical and psychological preparation for it, and the level of skillful performance of the team is linked to the level of skillful performance of the player, as the player must reach the stage of ideal performance in order to target his team, as the performance of any skill reaches the ideal stage when the learner or player reaches The mechanical stage in performance.

In sports training, when preparing the training curricula, the movement of the players and the duties entrusted to them must be taken into account through the continuous change of the intensity of the loads and performance, as well as the muscular work of high intensity and speed, which builds the development of performance for the skillful and tactical duties. As well as choosing special exercises close to the atmosphere of the match. The importance of the study is through briefing on an important method for physical training (plyometric training) for various sports events, including the football game, in which explosive power is one of the important physical requirements and reflects the player's performance during the match, while revealing the effectiveness of this method to develop the characteristic of explosive power among young football players . Being football coaches, the researchers noticed a weakness in the implementation of most of the skills of the players during training and matches, along with a weakness in muscle strength. There is also a weakness in the process of building training programs to strengthen muscles in young players, so the researchers seek this study.

Research Problem

After the researchers looked at a number of football training curricula, it was found that the majority of coaches did not focus on training the explosive power of this group, and did not take the same space for the rest of the training, especially the junior players category, despite the fact that these exercises are important for developing tactical and skillful performance to develop The physical effort of the players, and through what was mentioned, the idea of ​​researching this problem was crystallized in an attempt to identify the effect of the plyometric training curriculum on the upper and lower explosive power on some of the skills of the back and wing players in junior football.

The Research Aims To

Knowing the impact of plyometric training on improving the explosive power of the research sample, identifying the importance of explosive power in the research sample, and proposing a training curriculum using the plyometric method to develop the explosive power of the research sample.

Research Hypotheses

• The plyometric training program prepared by the researchers had a positive effect on developing the explosive power of the upper and lower extremities of the fullback players

• The plyometric training program prepared by the researchers had a positive effect on developing the explosive power of the upper and lower extremities of the wing players

Research Areas

• Human Field: Junior football school football for the football season 2022-2023

• Temporal Domain: Duration of research: 5/4/2023 to 25/8/2023

• Spatial Field: Al-Najma Sports Club stadium and hall

Research Methodology and Field Procedure

Research Methodology: The researchers used the experimental method because it is appropriate to the problem of the study [5]" as the experiment searches for the cause and how it occurs and reveals the causal relationships between the phenomena. It is considered the best method.

Research Population and Sample

The research community consists of football school players participating in the league for the season (2022-2023) for the Middle Euphrates consisting of five governorates with football for the junior category (Diwaniyah, Najaf, Babel, Karbala, Muthanna) and the participants in the league for the season (2022-2023). The researchers selected the research sample (in an intentional manner) from the soccer school players for the youth category, with ages ranging from 14-16 years, due to the availability of all means and requirements for the success of the research process. Their number is 52 players, and the researchers excluded 32 players because of their different playing positions (goalkeepers,  defenders, midfielders, attackers), leaving 20 players, as the researchers divided the remaining players into two experimental and control groups, and each group consisted of 10 Players by lottery and randomly to ensure the neutrality of the search.

Table 1: Shows the Homogeneity of the Research Sample (Control and Experimental) in the Researched Variables

Table 2: It Shows the Equivalence of the Research Sample in the Researched Variables

Homogeneity and Equivalence of the Research Sample

In order to embark on a single initiation line for the research sample and in order to return the differences to the experimental factor so as to reduce the existing differences between the players in the experimental and control groups and so as not to affect the results of the research. The researchers proceeded to conduct equivalence and homogeneity for the research sample for the variables (height - weight - age - training age - explosive power of the arms - explosive power of the legs) for each player and then performed statistical treatments for these variables in order to identify the homogeneity and equivalence between the experimental and control groups. The coefficient of difference for homogeneity and the (t-test) and for equivalence, the value of (t) was used, which indicated the equivalence of the two groups. As shown in Table (1-2).

Means of Collecting Information

The researchers used Arabic and foreign sources, measurement and testing, observation, results registration form, assistant work team, exploratory experiment, electronic calculator, tape measure, medical balance, medicine ball, chalk.

Research Procedures

Determine the Most Important Tests for Measuring Explosive Force: The researchers relied on the sources and references related to the athlete's training and the football game to determine the most important tests for measuring the researched characteristic, as they were determined through a questionnaire that was distributed to experts and specialists, and the elements of importance were selected.

Testing the Explosive Strength of the Two Men

• Test Name: Vertical jump from stability

• The Purpose of the Test: measuring the explosive force of the muscles of the legs

• Tools Used: Tape measure. Burke. A wall of adequate height

• Description of Performance: The tester stands near the wall with one shoulder facing the wall. From a standing position, the tester raises his arms that are close to the wall high to make a mark on the wall at the furthest point the hand reaches, and then records the distance by lowering his arm and then jumps up after bending the same knee joint to make another mark with his hand on the wall at the furthest point it reached. His arm, and the distance between the first and second visas is recorded, provided that the payment is made with both legs

• Recording Method: The tester is given two attempts and the best is scored

• The distance between the first sign that occurs as a result of the starting visa and the second sign that expresses the explosive force of the muscles of the lower extremities is measured in centimeters

Testing the Explosive Strength of the Arms

• Name of the Test: Medicine ball throw

• The Purpose of the Test: Measuring the explosive force of the arms

• Tools Used: Medical balls weighing (3 kg), measuring tape

• Description of the Performance: The tester stands in the approach area between the two lines, facing the side to the throwing area, and puts the medicine ball in one of his hands, and the other hand rests on top of the ball. It is required to push the medicine ball, not to throw it. Recording method: The tester is given three attempts and the best is recorded

Determine the Most Important Tests for Some Basic Skills

The Side Throw Test for the Farthest Distance

• Name of the Test: Executing the side throw for the farthest distance

• The Purpose of the Test: measuring the farthest distance of the side throw

• Tools Used: 3 soccer balls, measuring tape

• Description of the Performance: The tester stands on the side throw line and fixes both or one of his feet. The ball is thrown over the head, and it is required to throw it to the farthest possible distance, and it is counted to the place of its fall

Recording Method

The tester is given three attempts and the farthest throw is recorded.

Kicking the Ball Farthest Distance Test

• The Name of the Test: Kicking the fixed ball to the farthest distance 

• The Purpose of the Test: Kicking the ball to the confined distance and kicking force (by measuring the distance that the player achieves by kicking the fixed ball on the ground for the longest possible distance)

• Tools Used: Three soccer balls, whistle tape measure, Burke, markers

• Description of Performance: The test field is determined by a width of 3 m from the side line of the football field, which is the starting line. The player stands behind the starting line with the ball in front of him fixed on the ground. The player kicks the ball from standing still as far as possible towards the end line and within the boundaries of the test area. The attempt is not valid in the following cases:

• Failing to kick the ball

• Not facing the test area

• If the ball rolls on the ground from the start due to the influence of the air or any other effect

Recording Method

The tester is given three attempts, and the farthest kick is recorded before it touches the ground.

Exploratory Experience

The researchers conducted the exploratory experiment on Monday 4/24/2023 at 3:00 p.m. on (5) junior players from Al-Diwaniyah Club for the junior category in Al-Najma Sports Club hall and stadium to ensure the validity of the place, equipment and tools used, and the validity of the tests and the time taken for them.

Pre-Tests

The researchers conducted the pre-tests on the research sample after completing the scientific foundations required for the tests for the research sample on Thursday 4/27/2023 at three o'clock in the afternoon. In the hall and stadium of Al-Najma Sports Club, which included physical tests, and then skill tests:

The Approved Training Curriculum

The researchers worked on the training curriculum on Monday 1/5/2023 and they carried out the process of determining the type of training curriculum and for the public and private numbers periods, through the prepared training curriculum whose aim is the explosive power of the research sample players through the process of developing it And building it based on their personal experiences in the field of football training, as well as by analyzing and reviewing a large number of references, studies and scientific research related to training and football training, taking into account the process of preparing the proposed training curriculum on scientific foundations and principles. Also, the researchers presented the proposed training curriculum to a number of specialists and experts in the field of sports training and football training. The researchers took into account the age stage as well as the capabilities of the research sample. As the training curriculum includes the periods of general preparation and special preparation, which took the duration of applying the curriculum 12 weeks according to the consensus of scholars and experts that the effective preparation period is three months, and the general preparation period was 8 weeks, and the special preparation period was 4 weeks, and the average Work 3 units per week, with a total of 36 training units. The researchers adopted the principle of fluctuation in pregnancy training during the period of number weeks (gestational cycle) and used the ratio 3-1. Also, they used the wavy method for training loads, as proven by practical research, as it means that the degrees of successive training loads to perform the loads rise and fall and do not remain at the same intensity, because the player’s inability to train with the maximum load in succession in order to raise his level, but in this case the bodies of the players and the functional devices cannot To adapt in these training loads because of the overload, and we also see that training with a medium load level does not reach the quality of the player’s level well because this degree of training load does not affect the functional devices of the players and the development of their physical level. Also, the researchers used the low-intensity and high-intensity interval training method to work on the proposed training curriculum, as the interval training, as mentioned (a method used in all training situations, and all stages of training and formation, and the interval training method succeeded in particular in the preparatory stages” [6]. Also, do not forget that the experimental sample used the training curriculum set by the researchers in order to work on it, and as for the control group, it used the special training curriculum prepared by the team coach to work on it during the training period.

Post-Tests

The researchers conducted post-tests for the sample after completing the training curriculum, in the hall and stadium of Al-Najma Sports Club. The researchers conducted the tests on Friday 7/24/2023 at four o'clock in the afternoon.

The researchers tried to establish the same conditions for the tests through the temporal and spatial aspect as much as possible in order to obtain the best possible conditions for the research.

Statistical Means

The researchers used statistical data processing bag (ssps) to process the results.

Presentation, Analysis and Discussion of the Results

After the researchers unloaded the data and forms for the research variables and in the light of the statistical treatments of the researched data, the results will be presented, analyzed and discussed for the two groups as follows:

Presentation of the results of the tests of the explosive strength of the arms and legs and the skills of the side throw and kicking the ball to the farthest distance, before and after the experimental group, for analysis and discussion:

Table 3 shows the results of the arithmetic mean, standard deviations, and the calculated and tabular (t) value of the pre and post tests of the researched variables of the experimental group.

Presenting the Results of the Tests of the Explosive Strength of the Arms and Legs and the Skills of the Side Throw and Kicking the Ball to the Farthest Distance, before and after the Control Group, for analysis and Discussion

Table 4 shows the results of the arithmetic mean, standard deviations, and the calculated and tabulated (t) value of the pre and post-tests of the researched variables of the control group.

Displaying the Results of the Post-Tests of the Explosive Strength Tests of the Arms and Legs, and the Skills of the Side Throw and Kicking the Ball to the Garthest Distance for the Experimental and Control Groups, And their Analysis and Discussion:

In order to identify the differences between the control and experimental groups in the variables studied, the researcher used the (t) test for independent samples, and the results were as shown in Table 5.

Discuss and Analyze the Results

Through our topic (the effect of plyometric training on the explosive power of the upper and lower extremities on some football skills of the junior back and wing players)

To find out the effect of the proposed training program on improving explosive power and skillful performance in football. Through the results that we reached in the experiment that we carried out, we reached a preliminary fact, which is to confirm the basic hypothesis that states that plyometric exercises have a positive effect on improving the skillful performance in football during the program period, and this can be attributed to the level of development that occurred in this segment, especially since it It achieved results of positive significance for the experimental group, and the duration of the program, which was 12 weeks, allowed to reach the desired goals, and there is no doubt that if the program was applied to the control sample for the same period, it would have a positive effect on improving explosive power and skillful performance for them, and this What is confirmed by the data collection forms for the pre-test conducted before the application of the program, with a comparison with the results obtained after the application of the program, where we noticed an improvement in the medicine ball throwing test with both hands, the vertical jump test, the side throw test, and the kicking the ball test for the farthest distance of the experimental group, which confirms the effect of the followed training program by the experimental sample.

As for what we see from Table 5 to: (there are statistically significant differences between the pre-test and the post-test in favor of the experimental sample in the medicine ball throwing feature), it was confirmed by the results of the post-test, where we found a relative improvement in the distance of throwing the medicine ball after Conducting the post-test, as the data was confirmed in Table 5, which states (there are statistically significant differences between the pre- and post-test in favor of the experimental sample in jumping up. As for the results achieved by the experimental group in the two side throw tests) for the post-test, there were significant differences. A function where the latter obtained a higher degree in the test for the side throw, with a noticeable difference from the control sample. In the post-test of kicking the ball for the farthest distance, I also obtained a clear result with a difference from the normal test of the control sample, as shown in Table 5. As for the control group, its results did not show significant differences in both tests, and its results in the post-test were weak, which indicates the great deficiency. In the characteristic of the explosive power of its elements, if we go back to the results, we find that the experimental group has obtained significant differences and a difference from the control group, and the lack of statistical significance of the tests can be attributed to not giving great importance to plyometric training, especially to the explosive power of the control sample and during the training program prepared by the trainer The evidence for the team is the remarkable improvement in the post-test at the expense of the pretest for the experimental sample, as we see it as a development in the explosive power, which was reflected in the skill of the side throw and kicking the ball to the farthest distance, and this is consistent with what was mentioned by Ali [7], who says that ensuring the upgrading of the functional and organic level of the individual’s devices And thus ensuring the development of the required physical characteristics and effort (repeated pregnancy) during the period when the various body systems are in their best condition to accept more effort (more pregnancy).

It is mentioned that one of the most important advantages of plyometric training is that it increases motor performance, meaning that the strength gained from this type of training leads to better motor performance in the practiced sports activity, by increasing the ability of the muscles to contract at a faster rate during the range of motion [8].

The researchers reached a preliminary fact, which is an affirmation that the proposed plyometric training program on developing the explosive power of the upper and lower extremities, the skill of the lateral throw, and kicking the ball to the farthest distance during the general and private preparation stage is reviewed to control the principles of training and the sufficient time that allows the emergence of a development in the characteristic of explosive power as well as The age stage that is considered the basic basis for the development of this characteristic.

Table 4: The Table Shows the Arithmetic Mean, Standard Deviations, Calculated and Tabular (T) Value, and the Level of Significance of the Variables Investigated for the Explosive Strength of the Arms and Legs and the Skills of the Side Throw and Kicking the Ball to the Farthest Distance for the Pre and Post Tests of the Control Sample

Under (9) degrees of freedom at (0.05) level

Table 5:   Statistical Treatments of the Post-Tests of the Explosive Strength Tests of the Arms and Legs and the Skills of the Side Throw and Kicking the Ball to the Farthest Distance for the Experimental and Control Groups

Under (18) degrees of freedom at (0.05) level 

Conclusions

From the results obtained, the researcher concluded the following:

• The training curriculum prepared by the researchers had a positive effect on the skills of the side throw and kicking the ball to the farthest distance of the young soccer players

• The training curriculum prepared by the researchers had a positive effect on explosive strength exercises for the muscles of the arms and legs on the young football players

Recommendations

• The researchers recommend the need to pay attention to explosive strength training because of its positive role on muscular strength and the development of skills among players

• Using the explosive force tests in order to follow up the training programmes

• Assisting the coaches of the age groups to introduce them to the importance of explosive strength training and its importance to developing the performance of the players

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