The Effect of Dominant Leg on Change of Direction Performance in Young Famele Football Players

Objectives Over the last two decades, women's football has become increasingly established and recognised. The demands of women's football have increased significantly, with a significant development in terms of quantity, including improved fitness performances and a greater number of matches and players throughout the season. Movements in women's football consist of a large number of directional changes. In this study, the effect of dominant leg on Change of Direction (COD) performance in young female footballers was investigated. Materials and Methods Twenty (mean±SDage17.1±1.56 years, body weight:55.7±4.94kg, height:1.61±0.05 m) young female football players participated in the study. The players performed change of direction tests at different angles (45°-90°-135°-180°) on a 10-meter track, knee flexion (KFRS) and extension isometric strength tests (KERS), and asymmetric depth jump tests (ADJ). Athletes performed all tests with both the dominant leg (DL) and non-dominant leg (NDL). In the analysis of the data, Parametric Dependent Samples T-test statistical analysis was used to determine the differences between DL and NDL performances, and correlation analysis was performed to examine the relationships between the tests. Results It was observed that COD performance of female football players with DL (5-10mP=0.000-0.009,t=2.924-4.802,ES:0.44-0.59and,0-10mP=0.000-0.030t=2.351-6.757,ES:0.33-0.59) were better than the NDL. DL’s KERS (Extension=6.4%kg,t=4.947) and KFRS (Flexion=12.7% kg,t=4.406ES:0.77-0.82), ADJ contact time (CT) (CT=-16.4%(ms),t=-22.601) and flight time (FT) (FT=%17,6(ms),t=22.931ES:0.64-0.75) tests showed better performance than NDL’s. Significant relationship was found between DL KFRS and DL's 45 degrees (5-10m r=,715**0-10mr =,520*P<0.05), 135 degrees (5-10m r=,562**0-10m r=,533*P<0.05), and 180 degrees (5-10mr=,687**0-10m r =,622 ** P<0.05) COD values. Significant relationship was found between DL KERS and DL's 45 degrees (5-10m r=,566**; 0-10m r=,502*P <0.05) and 180 degrees (5-10m r=,495*,P<0.05) COD values. Conclusions When the findings were examined, it was determined that change of direction performance with dominant leg was better than with non-dominant leg in female football players. This is thought to be due to the DL’s ability to generate more isometric strength during COD.