Study on Improving Lower Limb Strength among Junior Soccer Players Aged 14

The aim of this study is to improve leg strength through specific exercises among junior soccer players using exercise ball athletics. We would like to see if the leg strength of junior 14-year old players can be improved significantly within 8 weeks. We want to see the extent to which exercise ball training can be effective in improving explosive strength by measuring physical indicators for players of this age. The study was conducted on two groups of junior players aged 14: for the experimental group, the weight range was 54.38+11.66 and the height range was 170,16+10,94; for the control group, weight was 54.77+11.17 kg and height was 169.22+8.30 cm. This research included 36 players and the experiment was conducted during July-August 2012. During the experiment the players performed 4 weekly workouts that included in two of the training sessions specific exercises combined with exercise ball athletics to develop leg strength. In order to observe the evolution of subjects during our research we conducted a series of tests on the following parameters: Squat Jump - hands on pool and hands free; Counter Movement Jump - hands on and hands-free pool; Standing Long Jump.