Factor Structure of Technical and Coordination Potential of Soccer Players Aged 15-18

The objective of the work was to determine the structure of technical and coordination abilities of soccer players from 15 to 18 years old. 27 soccer players representing the School of Sports Mastery (SSM) of Cracow and 30 players of “Cracovia” Sports Club participated in the studies. Evaluations in each group were conducted once a year and three times in total (at the age of 15-16, 16-17 and 17-18). The following methods were used in this work: 1) motor tests allowing to determine the principal coordination abilities (Ljach and Witkowski 2004); 2) motor tests providing information about the level of major technical skills (Ljach and Witkowski 2004); 3) methods of mathematical statistics (factor analysis was used to determine the structure of technical and coordination potential). The most informative tests providing information about technical and coordination potential of soccer players at this stage of sports development are those based on complex coordination movements, performed with a ball by athletes during a match. Contribution of these tests to total variance constitutes 40,9-42,1 %, whereas that of coordination tests performed without the ball and explaining the technical and coordination potential – 21,4-21,5 %. The following tests are of highest informative value: 26, 24, 25, 9, 10, 19, 22 (Table 4).