The Effect of 8-Week Balance Training on the Agility, Strength, Balance Performance and Tennis Skills of 10-14 Year-Old Tennis Players

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the effect of an 8-week balance training on the agility, strength, balance performance and tennis skills of tennis players aged 10-14. The study was participated by 19 tennis players (10 males and 9 females) playing in the EA Tennis Academy. The participants were selected randomly and divided into two groups as experimental group (9 players) and the control groups (10 players). Firstly, vertical jump, pro-agility, dynamic balance and ITN tennis skills tests were applied to all the participants. After all the test were completed, the experimental group were applied 8 weeks of balance and tennis training while the players in the control group continued tennis training only. The same tests were applied to the participants at the end of the 8 weeks. The findings of the study showed statistically significant improvement in the agility, balance index and tennis skills tests in the pre-test and post-tests of the experimental group (p = 0.034, p = 0.025, p = 0.003), whereas improvement was seen only in the tennis skills test of the control group (p = 0.000). In addition, no statistically significant difference was found in the vertical jump performance used to determine the explosive strength both in the experimental and control groups. As for the difference between groups, a significant difference was found only in the pro-agility post-tests of the experimental and control groups (p < 0.05). Based on these findings, it was revealed that balance training would improve agility and balance in 10-14 year-old children as well as contributing to their tennis skills. Therefore, it is considered that balance training should be included in training plans.