Influence of technical training with an increased share of non-dominant leg exercises on reduction in lower limbs functional asymmetry in young soccer players

Purpose
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of a 6-month technical training program with an increased share of non-dominant leg (NDL) drills on technical skill level and effectiveness of 1v1 playing in young football players.

Methods
The participants were young male soccer players (n = 16; 11.6 ± 0.6 years; 147.5 ± 8.8 cm; 37.2 ± 6.4 kg) from Polish elite soccer academy, training 3 times a week for 90 minutes. They followed a special training program, with 30 minutes of each training session spent on technical drills with the use of a 75/25 movement symmetrization variant: 75% of technical drills engaged the NDL and 25% the dominant leg (DL). Before and after the training program, the range of asymmetry was measured for 4 technical skills (dribbling, juggling, short and long passing the ball) and for 1v1 playing (number of goals scored with NDL and DL).

Results
The results revealed a reduction in the asymmetry of the analysed skills by 4.3%. Most tests indicated a decrease at individual stages of examinations (before and after training), with 2 tests, i.e. the short shots performed low to the ground with the DL and the number of goals scored with DL in 1v1 games, showing a statistically significant reduction (by 8.7% and 24.2%, respectively; p < 0.05).

Conclusions
Technical training with the emphasis on using NDL reduces the asymmetry of technical and tactical skills. However, the time spent on drills by 11-year-old athletes may lead to a decrease in DL skills.