Comparative effects of first-touch shooting and shooting after dribble training on shooting accuracy in youth soccer players

In soccer, shooting opportunities may arise either immediately after receiving the ball or after dribbling, making both situations relevant to shooting practice in youth players. This study compared the effects of First-Touch Shooting and Shooting After Dribble training on shooting accuracy in youth soccer players. An experimental study using a two-group pretest–posttest design involved 18 youth soccer players, allocated to two groups (n = 9 per group) using matched allocation. One group performed First-Touch Shooting drills, whereas the other performed Shooting After Dribble drills. Both groups completed 12 training sessions, conducted three times per week. Shooting accuracy was assessed using the Bobby Charlton Shooting Test. Data were analyzed using paired-samples t-tests and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), with baseline shooting accuracy included as a covariate. Effect sizes were calculated using Cohen’s d, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. The First-Touch Shooting group showed a statistically significant pretest–posttest improvement (p = 0.028; d = -0.891), as did the Shooting After Dribble group (p = 0.005; d = -1.273). However, ANCOVA detected no statistically significant between-group difference in posttest shooting accuracy after adjustment for baseline performance (F = 0.994; p = 0.335). These findings indicate that shooting accuracy improved within both groups during the intervention period, but the analysis did not establish a statistically significant difference between the two training methods. The results should not be interpreted as evidence that the methods are equivalent, particularly given the small sample size and the absence of a non-training control group.