The Effect of Special Training on Developing Anticipation and Ball-Catching Skills from Different Distances for Young Goalkeepers in Football

Abstract

The aim of this study was to design special training programs to develop anticipation and ball-catching skills from different distances in young goalkeepers, and to identify the effectiveness of these special trainings in improving the targeted skills. The researcher employed a single experimental group design, as it was the most suitable method to address the research problem. The study population was purposively selected from the goalkeepers of Al-Naft Sports Club, comprising five young goalkeepers aged 18–20 years, representing 100% of the study sample.

The results indicated that the special training program was effective in developing both anticipation and ball-catching skills from various distances among the young goalkeepers. The training contributed to improving the coordination between sensory perception and movement, enhanced response speed, and facilitated accurate decision-making in different situations. The results also emphasized the importance of integrating cognitive and motor aspects in training programs to achieve comprehensive and effective performance.

The researcher recommends adopting special and varied training programs to develop anticipation and ball-catching skills, considering gradual progression in intensity, angles, and distances, integrating cognitive, physical, and motor components in training programs, and diversifying training stimuli to enhance goalkeepers’ ability to adapt to realistic match situations.