The Effects of Core Stabilization Exercises on Physical Performance, Balance, and Coordination in Young Football Players

NCT07651189 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: BAYEK060.13
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 20
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to examine the effects of a 6-week core stabilization exercise program on balance, coordination, and core endurance parameters in young soccer players. Soccer is a sport that requires multifaceted skills such as balance, agility, and endurance, and it is well-known that stabilization of the lumbopelvic region (core) plays a critical role in enhancing performance and reducing the risk of injury. The study will include male volunteer athletes aged 14-17 years from the Alayköy Football Club Under-17 team in Cyprus. Participants will be randomly assigned to an exercise group (n=10) and a control group (n=10). The exercise group will undergo a progressive core stabilization program (plank, side plank, dead bug, etc.) twice a week for 6 weeks in addition to their routine training, while the control group will continue only with routine soccer training. Data will be collected using the Y-Balance Test, Pro-Agility Test, Squat Repetition Test, McGill Core Endurance Tests (Flexion and Lateral Bridge), and Prone Extension Test. Data analysis will be performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 27.0; the Wilcoxon test will be used for within-group changes, and the Mann-Whitney U test will be used for between-group comparisons. Ethical committee approval was obtained from the Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Committee (BAYEK) of the European University of Lefke, and informed consent forms will be collected from participants and their parents.

Conditions

Postural Balance; Motor Coordination; Agility; Physical Performance; Core Stability; Core Stabilization

Keywords

Core Stability; Soccer; Balance; Coordination; Physical Performance; Young Athletes; Agility; Core Endurance; Football

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Dynamic Balance Performance

  Dynamic balance will be assessed using the Y-Balance Test (Star Excursion Balance Test), a reliable field-based measure of lower extremity neuromuscular control, postural stability, and functional symmetry. Participants will stand on a single leg at the center of a Y-shaped device and reach with the contralateral leg in three directions: anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral. Each reach direction will be performed three times. The mean of the three reach distances will be calculated and used as the dynamic balance score. Measurements will be performed at baseline and after the 6-week intervention period.

  6 week

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Agility and Coordination

  6 week

• Lower Extremity Performance

  6 week

• Core Flexor Endurance

  6 week

• Core Extensor Endurance

  6 week

• Lateral Core Endurance

  6 week

Study Arms (2)

Core Stabilization Exercise Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will perform a six-week progressive core stabilization exercise program in addition to their regular soccer training.

Behavioral: Core Stabilization Exercise Program

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in this group will continue their routine soccer training without additional core stabilization exercises.

Interventions

Core Stabilization Exercise Program BEHAVIORAL

A progressive six-week core stabilization training program performed twice per week in addition to regular soccer training. The program includes exercises such as planks, side planks, dead bugs, Russian twists, and mountain climbers. The duration and difficulty will be gradually increased over the six-week period. Each session will last approximately 60 minutes including warm-up and cool-down. Exercises will be performed in four phases: warm-up exercises (pelvic tilt, cat-cow, dynamic side steps), stabilization-focused exercises (plank, side plank, dead bug, glute bridge), strength-focused exercises (Russian twists, mountain climbers, leg raises, hollow body hold), and cool-down exercises (child's pose, seated forward bend, cobra stretch).

Core Stabilization Exercise Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 14 Years - 17 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: This study will include only male participants.
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Be a member of the Alayköy Football Club Under-17 football team Be between the ages of 14 and 17 years Be a male football player Be able to participate in training sessions both in person and online Be able to demonstrate regular soccer training participation of at least three days per week Have participated in regular soccer training for at least one year Not have suffered a serious injury, acute health problem, or surgical intervention in the last three months that would prevent sports participation Agree to participate in the study voluntarily Have written informed consent signed by both the participant and parent or guardian

You may not qualify if:

• Not be a member of the Alayköy Football Club Under-17 football team Be unable to participate in training sessions in person or online Have a history of lower or upper extremity surgical intervention, neurological disease, or serious musculoskeletal system injury within the last six months Demonstrate absenteeism that would interfere with participation in the exercise program or test protocols Fail to complete the test battery due to lack of motivation or cooperation issues during the evaluation process Be enrolled in a structured exercise or rehabilitation program outside the study protocol during the intervention period

Sponsors & Collaborators

• European University of Lefke: lead

Study Sites (1)

Alayköy Football Club

Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus

Location

Related Publications (6)

• Sayers, S. P. (2007). High-speed power training: A functional assessment of squat performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 21(1), 64-68.

  BACKGROUND

• McGill, S. (2010). Core training: Evidence translating to better performance and injury prevention. Strength & Conditioning Journal, 32(3), 33-46. https://doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0b013e3181df4521

  BACKGROUND

• McGill SM, Childs A, Liebenson C. Endurance times for low back stabilization exercises: clinical targets for testing and training from a normal database. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1999 Aug;80(8):941-4. doi: 10.1016/s0003-9993(99)90087-4.

  PMID: 10453772 BACKGROUND

• Sassi, R. H., Impellizzeri, F. M., Maffiuletti, N. A., Girard, O., & Della Valle, V. (2009). Reliability and validity of a new test of change of direction in soccer players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 23(3), 1046-1051.

  BACKGROUND

• Shaffer SW, Teyhen DS, Lorenson CL, Warren RL, Koreerat CM, Straseske CA, Childs JD. Y-balance test: a reliability study involving multiple raters. Mil Med. 2013 Nov;178(11):1264-70. doi: 10.7205/MILMED-D-13-00222.

  PMID: 24183777 BACKGROUND

• Plisky PJ, Gorman PP, Butler RJ, Kiesel KB, Underwood FB, Elkins B. The reliability of an instrumented device for measuring components of the star excursion balance test. N Am J Sports Phys Ther. 2009 May;4(2):92-9.

  PMID: 21509114 BACKGROUND

Study Officials

• Beraat Alptuğ, MD, PhD

  European University of Lefke

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Physiotherapist

Model Details: Participants will be randomly assigned to either a core stabilization exercise group or a control group that will continue routine soccer training.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 10, 2026
• First Posted: June 16, 2026
• Study Start: April 17, 2026
• Primary Completion: May 29, 2026
• Study Completion: June 5, 2026
• Last Updated: June 16, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CY (1)