A Comparison Study of Coaching Attitudes about the Developmental Effects of Organized and Unorganized Youth Soccer
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Authors
Lusson, Nick
Issue Date
2009
Type
Thesis
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
The developmental effects of organized and unorganized soccer environments on youth soccer players were studied using a quantitative online survey of 586 soccer coaches' opinions. The development of players was divided into categories of physical development, social development, and psychological development; with each category using 15 subcategories that were then rated by the coaches taking the survey using a Likert Scale. The results of the study were analyzed using SPSS software. Overall, it was found that there was no statistical difference (.3 87 significance, p<O.Ol level) in the opinions of the coaches on the differences in the two systems for physical skills. So it was concluded that both systems were considered to be equally valuable to develop physical skills. There was a strong statistical difference (.000 significance, p<O.Ol level) in the coaches' opinions on the difference of social skills development. It was concluded that organized play was considered more beneficial in social skills development. The research found that there was no statistical difference (.313 significance, p<O.Ol level) in the opinions of the coaches on the differences in the two systems for psychological skills. Therefore, it was concluded that both systems are considered to be equally valuable in the development of psychological skills. Finally, it was contended that many of the individual subcategories (which did have strong statistical differences) effectively balanced one another out to cause the lack of statistical difference in the larger categories of physical and psychological development. The implications of this research are that for a variety of reasons, both systems are highly valued by coaches, therefore in the growth of player development curriculum both systems of play should be considered. Additional research is needed to explore the relationship further.