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

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
• Physical Performance
• Core Stability
• Core Stabilization
• Agility

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Core Stabilization Exercise Program

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).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• European University of Lefke

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Beraat Alptuğ, MD, PhD · European University of Lefke

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

14 Years

Max Age

17 Years

Sex

MALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-04-17

Primary Completion

2026-05-29

Completion

2026-06-05

Countries

• Cyprus

Study Locations