The Effect of Complex Skill-Based Exercises on Motor Abilities and Ball Possession Percentage among Intermediate School Students in Football

Abstract

This study aims to identify the effect of complex skill-based exercises on the development of motor abilities (agility, balance, coordination) and the ball possession percentage among intermediate school students in football. The importance of the study stems from the need to integrate basic skills with motor abilities in training programs that simulate real match conditions, rather than training them in isolation.

The researcher adopted the experimental method due to its suitability for the research nature. The sample consisted of 30 students from Al-Khabeer Intermediate School for Boys (Directorate of Education, Al-Karkh First), randomly divided into two groups: experimental and control. The experimental group underwent a training program that included complex skill exercises over one academic term, while the control group continued with traditional training. Standardized tests were used to measure agility, balance, coordination, and ball possession. Statistical analyses were conducted using paired and independent samples t-tests, in addition to Eta squared to determine effect size.

The results revealed statistically significant differences in favor of the experimental group across all studied variables, indicating the effectiveness of complex skill exercises in enhancing both physical and skill performance. The study recommends incorporating such exercises into school training curricula and football educational programs, due to their significant role in developing players in a holistic manner.