The Effect of Core Exercises on the Technical Skills of Female Futsal Players

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 8 weeks of core exercises on the technical skills of female futsal players. Thirty-two female futsal players participated in the study, 16 from the experimental group with an average age of 20.00±2.75 (years), an average height of 160.62±5.37 (cm) and a body weight of 49.62±8.98 (kg) and 16 from the control group with an average age of 18.87±1.59 (years), an average height of 158.75±5.72 (cm) and a body weight of 53.37±11.73 (kg). All participants received routine futsal training 3 days per week for 8 weeks. In addition to futsal training, the experimental group performed core exercises 3 days per week (bridge exercise with Pilates ball, plank exercise with Pilates ball, hip lift exercise with Pilates ball, superman exercise on the floor, right-left side plank exercise, foot change exercise with bridge on Pilates ball, plank exercise with lifting feet and half sit-ups with Pilates ball). Technical skill tests (ball bounce, slalom test, goal kick test and header bounce) were carried out on all participants before and after the core training programme. The SPSS.26 programme was used for data analysis. The paired sample t- testwas used to compare the variables within the groups and the independent simple t- test was used to compare the variables between the groups. The significance level was set at p<0.01. In the resultsof the study, a statistically significant difference was found between the results of the experimental group before and after the test with regard to the skill parameters of the female futsal players in the slalom test, the ball bounce with the head, the goal kick test and the ball bounce test (p<0.01). In the control group, a statistically significant difference was found in the pre-test and post-test results of the ball bounce with head test, goal kick test and ball bounce test (p<0,01), while no significant difference was observed between the slalom test values (p>0.01). While no difference was found between the groups in the pre- and post-test results of the dexterity tests (p>0.01), the dexterity performance of the groups was numerically in favour of the experimental group. In summary, the results of this study indicate that effective strengthening of the core muscles contributes not only to physical but also to technical performance.