Transfer and motor skill learning in association football

Abstract

Transfer of learning involves the influence of previous experiences on the performance or learning of new skills. It is defined as a gain (or loss) in the capability for performance on one task as a result of practice on another. The aim of the study was to examine the degree of transfer between various association football skills. Twenty intermediate male players participated in the study. During pre- and post-training tests, participants juggled a football as many times as possible within 30 s using feet or knees. Further tests required participants to control an approaching football inside a restricted area using the preferred and non-preferred kicking leg. Following performance on the pretest, two matched skill groups were obtained. One group participated in a 4-week training period in which feet-only ball juggling was practised for 10 min daily, while the remaining group acted as a control. Trained participants exhibited superior post-test performance on knee juggling and ball control with preferred and non-preferred leg tasks relative to the control group (p < 0.05). Findings indicate positive transfer of learning from juggling practice with the feet to juggling with the knees and a football control task. Implications for theory and practice are highlighted.