The Effect of Special Exercises on the Development of Cognitive Abilities, Kinesthetic Skills, and Football Dribbling Proficiency

Abstract

Objectives. The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of special exercises on developing cognitive abilities and kinesthetic skills, particularly in dribbling football. It also sought to compare the outcomes between two groups (experimental and control) after the intervention.

Materials and Methods. The research was conducted using an experimental approach. The research population consisted of 146 fifth-grade students at Khank School for Boys. The sample was selected through a lottery process, and a total of 32 students were chosen, divided into experimental and control groups of 16 students each. The experimental group used special exercises focusing on motor sensation, while the control group followed traditional methods (skill exercises only). The educational programs were implemented over eight weeks, with each group receiving two educational units per week, each lasting 40 minutes.

Results. The results indicated that the educational programs implemented for both groups positively impacted the development of certain cognitive abilities and kinesthetic skills related to football. The experimental group, which used specialized exercises focusing on motor sensation, showed better improvement than the control group, which employed the traditional method. The experimental group demonstrated significant development in cognitive abilities, which translated to better performance in learning the dribbling skill in football.

Conclusions. The study concluded that the special exercises applied to the experimental group had a positive impact on both cognitive and kinesthetic abilities, leading to improved learning of the dribbling skill in football. The researcher recommended emphasizing the synchronization of cognitive development with the learning of basic football skills, as well as focusing on the development of cognitive abilities in young athletes. Further studies should investigate the impact of cognitive abilities development on learning basic skills in other sports and age groups.