Effects of a Motor Variability Methodology on Passing and Ball Control in Soccer Players Aged 8 to 10 Years

The research sought to establish the effect of motor task variability on the technical effectiveness of passing and ball control in children, using a quasi-experimental design with a control group and an experimental group, each consisting of 15 participants. Both groups underwent an 8-week intervention focused on specific constraints such as body schema, spatiality, temporality, and equipment. For the pre- and post-test assessment, the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test was used to measure technical performance. Statistical analysis was conducted using repeated measures ANOVA, revealing a significant effect of time (F = 54.07, p < 0.001, η² = 0.329) and of the time * group interaction (F = 5.24, p = 0.030, η² = 0.032). While both groups improved, the experimental group showed more pronounced progress. These findings present motor variability constraints as a possible alternative to improve the technical conditions of passing and ball control in soccer among these populations.