Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to determine the degree of association between postural stability measured using FootScan pressure plate and the time needed to perform Ronaldo speed test, which is ranked among tests of higher difficulty. Postural stability and its effects on the execution of soccer coordination exercises is an extensively discussed topic.
At present, majority of soccer coaches focus on core training as early as youngest age categories. The study sample consisted of twenty Czech elite U12 soccer players on the same soccer team (n = 20, age = 11, body height = 149.5 cm +-6.94 cm, body mass = 38.6 kg +-5.54 kg).
The players performed a coordination test - Ronaldo speed test developed by Jens Bangsbo, professor at the University of Copenhagen and one of the most recognized experts in soccer training. The associations between variables were verified on the basis of normality of data distribution using a nonparametric method.
The research results showed positive correlation between postural stability and scores in Ronaldo speed test. The value of Kendall's correlation coefficient was 0.872, which is indicative of high degree of association.
These findings correspond with results of similar studies reporting effect of postural stability on the execution of coordination exercises in soccer. However, it should be noted that the testing results could have been affected by other determinants that we would like to analyze further in the upcoming studies.