Body balance of male football players aged 7-10: pilot study

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PhD M. Lichota1, ORCIDID: 0000-0003-4848-2179
PhD, Professor K. Górniak1
PhD T. Sacewicz1
PhD D. Sadowska2
1Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw,
Faculty of Physical Education and Health in Biala Podlaska, Poland
2Institute of Sport – National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland

Objective of the study – body balance is an element needed to perform activities of daily living and do sports. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare body balance of male football players aged 7-10.
Methods and structure of the study. The study involved 92 football players aged 7-10 (7 years n = 21; 8 years n = 26; 9 years n = 29; 10 years n = 16), members of TOP-54 Football Academy in Biala Podlaska, Poland. Postural balance was tested using ZEBRIS FDM-2 (Force Distribution Measurement) measuring system with WinFDM software during free barefoot standing with eyes open.
Results and conclusions. In the majority of the analysed parameters, significantly higher values of posturographic parameters were found in younger players (7 years) compared to their older peers (10 years). The observed differences probably stemmed from the immaturity of the postural control system in younger boys. It may be related to the lack of ability to fully utilize sensory information. Football training contributes to proper physical and motor development of children and positively influences the formation of the balance control system. An important aspect is a proper selection of loads to ensure that training is beneficial and supports natural ontogenetic development of players at each stage of training.

Keywords: balance, children, football players.

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