The Effect of Defensive Tactics Exercises Based on the High-Press Strategy on Developing Some Basic Skills and Motor Response Speed in Youth Football

Abstract

Defensive play forms the true foundation for success in football, as good defensive performance requires high organization and coordination among players to prevent opportunities for the opposing team. Through the researcher's work, it was observed that there is a variation in the performance of some basic skills, and one possible reason could be the players' inability to apply these skills during play. This led the researcher to identify a problem and attempt to address it through the implementation of defensive strategies. Implementing a high-press strategy is an essential part of basic game tactics. The experimental methodology was applied to a sample of (10) players and an equal control group, with pre-tests conducted in the specified tests and adjustments for equivalence. Then, for (6) weeks, a defensive strategy using the high-press approach was applied during two units, followed by post-tests. The researcher concluded that adopting defensive exercises based on the high-press strategy works to develop some basic skills and the speed of response in football for young players, and this achieves one of the sustainable development goals of the United Nations in Iraq which is (Good Health). The researcher recommended adopting defensive exercises according to the high-press strategy.