The Effect of Small-Sided Games on Cognitive Speed and Learning the Feint-and-Shooting Skill in Handball for Players Aged 14-16 Years

The research aimed to design a test for the feint-and-shooting skill in handball for players aged 14–16 years, and to identify the effect of small-sided games on cognitive speed and learning this skill. The experimental approach was employed using a quasi-experimental design with two equivalent groups (experimental and control). The research population consisted of handball players at the Al-Musayyab Specialized Center in Babylon Governorate, totaling (58) players. The main research sample comprised (28) players selected and divided equally into two groups of (14) players each (experimental and control). Following equivalence procedures, the experimental group applied the proposed small-sided games, while the control group followed the traditional training approach. The results revealed the superiority of the experimental group over the control group in the post-test measurements of cognitive speed and the feint-and-shooting skill in handball. Consequently, the researcher concluded that small-sided games demonstrated high effectiveness and a notable superiority in developing cognitive speed and the targeted skill. The researcher recommended the necessity of incorporating educational and training units based on small-sided games into the daily curricula of handball coaches, particularly for youth age groups.