Resultant of Ball Feeling Exercises on Foot Reaction Ability of Soccer Players: The Impact of Ball Feeling Exercises on Foot Reaction Ability of Soccer Players

Abstract

Background Soccer players require efficient reflexes to adapt and overcome different situations during the course of play. Players must possess effective reaction ability for tackling various motor tasks as well as to achieve precise technical skills on demand.Objective The objective of the study was to investigate the resultant effect of six weeks (42days) ball feeling exercise program on foot reaction ability of soccer players.Methods For this study 30 (N=30) male soccer players between 18-25 years of age, those participated at least inter-collegiate and varsity level from Manipur University were selected randomly as the subjects of this study. The experimental design of study was prepared that consists of 15 players each in experimental and control groups. The experimental group only was assigned to perform different prescribed ball feeling exercises. To determine the foot reaction ability, Nelson’s Reaction Timer was used. The descriptive, t- test and ANCOVA statistical tools were employed.Results The t-test analysis revealed the significant difference between the pre and post-test means of foot reaction ability of the experimental group as the obtained value of ‘t’=10.54 was greater than tabled value of t=2.145. No significant difference between the pre and post-test means of foot reaction ability was found as the obtained value of ‘t’= (-)1.53 was lesser than tabled value of t=2.145. ANCOVA also revealed that there was the significant difference between the means of experimental and control groups for foot reaction ability.Conclusion The six weeks (42 days) ball feeling exercises had produced a significant resultant effect on the foot reaction ability of soccer players. Reaction ability is one of the important performance-limiting factors, which determines the reflex of a player to overcome different situational demands with high technical skills.