DESEMPENHO DA AGILIDADE, VELOCIDADE E COORDENAÇÃO DE MENINOS PRATICANTES E NÃO- PRATICANTES DE FUTEBOL

Abstract

Introduction: The benefi ts which the regular practise of soccer provides to the development of the components of physical capacity on boys aged between 10 and 11 have not been clarifi ed yet. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of the soccer systematic practice on the development of agility, speed and motor skill of boys aged between 10 and 11 years old, associated to some aspects of physical growth. Materials and Methods: In this study, 28 male children, born between 1997 and 1998, took part in this study and were divided in two groups: Regular football practitioners and non-regular soccer practitioners. Some attributes were measured in the research, such as: Body mass, height, length of leg and thigh; and the motor skill, speed and agility were evaluated in both groups. The variables were compared through the Student’s t-test, for independent samples. Results: No difference was found between the groups regarding body mass and height. However, for the length of thigh and leg and for the components of physical capacity, a signifi cant difference was mentioned, favoring the group of soccer practitioners. Discussion: The regular practice of soccer has a positive effect on the performance of motor skill, speed and agility of boys on the ages of 10 and 11 years old. The best performance of the soccer practitioners was, probably, caused by a regular practice of football.