Effect of a 12-Week Skill Drill Programme on the Skills of Secondary School Female Football Players in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of a 12-week skill drill programme on the skills of secondary school female football players in Makurdi. The quasi-experimental research design was used for the study. A sample of 58 female secondary school football players was used. Participants’ height and body weight were measured by the protocol of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. Passing was assessed using the Long-Lofted Pass Test, dribbling was assessed using the Zig-Zag Dribble Test", shooting was assessed using the skill shooting test, trapping was assessed using the passing and trapping test, the heading was assessed with the heading accuracy test and throw-in assessment test was used to assess players’ throw-in skill. Mean and standard deviation were used to analyse the weight, height and age of the female football players. The independent samples t-test was used to assess the effect of a 12-week skill drill programme on the skills of female football players. The analyses were computed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS v 21) and were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The result of the study indicated that there is a significant effect of a 12-week skill drill programme on passing, dribbling, shooting, trapping and heading skills of female football players in Benue State, Nigeria (P<0.05). It was concluded that there is a significant improvement across all measured skills as a result of a 12-week skill training programme among female football players. Coaches and physical education instructors should implement structured skill drill programmes in their training sessions.