European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science ISSN: 2501 - 1235 ISSN-L: 2501 - 1235 Available on-line at: www.oapub.org/edu Volume 3 │Issue 12 │2017 doi: 10.5281/zenodo.1075452 THE ASSESSMENT AND COMPARISON OF MOTOR PERFORMANCES AND TECHNICAL SKILL LEVEL OF SOCCER PLAYERS AFTER 3 MONTHS TRANSITION PHASE Hasan Yorulmaz1, Osman Ates2i 1 Edirne Social Sciences High School Physical Education Teacher, Edirne, Turkey 2 Istanbul University Faculty of Sports Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey Abstract: The active rest phase is the transition period of annual training planning. In Turkey, especially in amateur sports clubs, there exists a transition period of four or four and a half months, and this period, in general, passes with passive rest. In such a long passive period of time, soccer players experience significant losses in their technical and motor performances. The objective of this research presented, is to study the effects of a soccer training programme on some physical and technical skills of children that put through an eight weeks of soccer training, and to compare the findings to the motor performances and technical skills of children that spent the twelve weeks of transition period with passive rest. Children’ soccer technical skill levels was tested by using wall passing and dribbling, and physical condition levels by using standing long jump and the flamingo balance tests. After eight weeks of training, the results of pre and post tests were compared and found significant differences. At the end of twelve weeks of transition phase, between the all results of the post and permanence tests, statistically significant differences in the negative direction was found. Keywords: soccer, skill training, training planning, transition phase Copyright © The Author(s). All Rights Reserved. © 2015 – 2017 Open Access Publishing Group 183 Hasan Yorulmaz, Osman Ates THE ASSESSMENT AND COMPARISON OF MOTOR PERFORMANCES AND TECHNICAL SKILL LEVEL OF SOCCER PLAYERS AFTER 3 MONTHS TRANSITION PHASE 1. Introduction The yearly training planning in football involves three different training periods: preparation, competition and transition. The preparation period refers to the time from the start of the first trainings to the first formal football match. The training load is high in this period. General development exercises are emphasized while the primary emphasis is on improving maximal strength (Kuipers 1998, Bangsbo 1994, Grosser et. al., 2004). The competition period involves improving biomotor abilities and psychological factors related to the sport branch, reinforcing the technical traits and tactics, maintaining general physical condition, developing theoretical knowledge levels of the players and providing them with experiences. In this period, physical preparation is acknowledged as the critical point of players’ productivity (Bompa, 2001). In general, the content of the trainings is relieved in terms of the load and exercises related to the type of the competition. The content is maintained, but the intensity can be increased (Grosser et. al., 2004). During the transition period, the goal refers to a comprehensive physical and psychological renewal. Also referred to as an active recreation period, it includes general developmental training and different sports activities. Additionally, regeneration exercises are practiced; the content and intensity are decreased. Players may receive medical therapies, or they may undergo a change of place or climate. However, the performance level of the players should not decrease too rapidly (Grosser et. al., 2004). In Turkey, amateur soccer teams hang out a four or five months of transition phase. Training Science emphasises, that some properties of a sportsman hanging out for such a long period of passive rest, will be reduced by 50%, approximately. The sportsman, having such a loss in his organic properties starts playing preparatory matches after 15 days. This is followed by ostentatious tournaments and then the league matches. This is not a healthy scheduling, because a sportsman lost 50% of his capacity, needs at least six weeks, actually eight or ten weeks normally, to recover (Renklikurt, 1996). In this study, children underwent an eight-week (three days a week) soccer skills training. For viewing / downloading the full article, please access the following link: https://oapub.org/edu/index.php/ejep/article/view/1248 European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science - Volume 3 │ Issue 12 │ 2017 184