Turkish Folk Dance Exercises in Core Stabilization, Balance, and Agility Training for U14 Football Players

NCT07005739 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 09.2022.386
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

This study aims to examine the effects of integrating Turkish folk dance exercises into the training routines of U14 football players on their kinesthetic sense, balance, agility, core stabilization, and flexibility. The study includes 15 young male football players actively participating in league matches in Istanbul, randomly assigned to either control or intervention groups. The intervention group participates in an additional Turkish folk dance training program for eight weeks alongside their regular football practice, while the control group continues with regular training only. Both groups undergo assessments on agility, flexibility, core stabilization, balance, and kinesthetic sense using standardized field tests. The study seeks to explore whether Turkish folk dance training can provide added value to conventional youth football training programs.

Conditions

Physical Performance Enhancement; Motor Skills Development; Agility, Balance, and Core Stabilization in Youth Athletes

Keywords

Folk dances,; Kinesthetic sense; Core region stability; Youth football; Balance; Turkish folk dance; Agility; core stability; flexibility; proprioception; exercise intervention; sports performance; U14 athletes

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Agility Performance

  Change in agility measured by the Illinois Agility Test, assessed before and after the 8-week intervention period.

  Baseline and post-intervention (8 weeks)

• Balance Performance

  Change in dynamic balance measured by the Y-Balance Test, assessed before and after the 8-week intervention period.

  Baseline and post-intervention (8 weeks)

• Core Stabilization

  Change in core stabilization measured by the Core Stabilization Test (CST), assessed before and after the 8-week intervention period.

  Baseline and post-intervention (8 weeks)

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Flexibility

  Baseline and post-intervention (8 weeks)

• Kinesthetic Sense / Joint Position Sense

  Baseline and post-intervention (8 weeks)

Study Arms (2)

Folk Dance + Football Training Group

Participants (n=15) who received Turkish folk dance-based exercises in addition to regular football training for 8 weeks.

Behavioral: Turkish Folk Dance-Based Exercise Program

Football-Only Training Group

Participants (n=15) who continued only their regular football training for 8 weeks.

Interventions

Turkish Folk Dance-Based Exercise Program BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the intervention group received a structured Turkish folk dance-based exercise program in addition to their regular football training. The dance-based intervention consisted of two 45-minute sessions per week for 8 weeks, including traditional Turkish folk dance movements aimed at improving balance, agility, and core stability.

Folk Dance + Football Training Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 12 Years - 14 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Male U14 football players actively competing in the Istanbul youth football league. Participants were healthy, regularly training, and had no existing injuries or chronic health conditions affecting physical performance.

You may qualify if:

• Male football players actively participating in the U14 league in Istanbul.
• Age between 12 and 14 years.
• Actively training and participating in official football matches.
• Voluntary participation with parental/guardian consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of musculoskeletal, neurological, or chronic health conditions that would prevent participation.
• History of injury or surgery affecting balance or mobility within the last 6 -months.
• Participation in other structured exercise or dance programs outside of football training.
• Non-compliance with the training or assessment schedule.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Marmara University: lead

Study Sites (2)

Başakşehir Spor Kulübü

Istanbul, Başakşehir, 34480, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Yakuplu Spor Kulübü

Istanbul, Beylikdüzü, 34524, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Study Officials

• Tuba KIZILET TOPATEŞ, Prof.

  Marmara University, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey

  STUDY DIRECTOR

• Ceren AĞAOĞLU TOPÇU, Dr.

  Marmara University, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 26, 2025
• First Posted: June 5, 2025
• Study Start: September 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: November 30, 2023
• Study Completion: November 30, 2023
• Last Updated: June 11, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (2)