THE EFFECT OF STRENGTH TRAINING ON SOME MOTOR ABILITIES IN 12-14 YEARS-OLD MALE TENNIS PLAYERS

The purpose of this study was to examine effect of 8-week strength training on motor abilities of male tennis players between aged 12-14 years.The total 20 athletes which played in the Club of Ankara Tennis participated in the study, as experimental group (n=10, Age:13.10±0.87 years, Height:152.90±4.22 cm, Body mass:40.64±5.72 kg) and control group (n=10, Age:13.10±0.87 y l, Height:152.30±4.73 cm, Body mass:39.35±3.62 kg). The experimental group performed the strength training for 8 weeks in addition to tennis training. The control group performed only tennis training. The motor abilities were measured before the strength training period (pre-test) and after the strength training (post-test) for the experimental and control group. The results of pre-test of experimental and control group were defined as a co-variance and the difference between post-tests of variables was compared in univariate co-variance analysis. The difference between some performance variables of experimental and control groups was determined by using independent t test. The level of significance was set at p≤0.05. There was no significant difference between heights of the experimental and control group and their body weights (p>0.05). There were no significant difference between results of peak power, mean power and fatique index of Wingate test performed by the experimental and control group (p>0.05). There was significant difference between the result of relative mean power of Wingate test performed by the experimental and control group (p≤0.05). Although there were not found between durations of 5-m sprint, 30-m sprint, asymmetric sprint for the experimental group and control group (p>0.05), there was significant difference between those of 10-m sprint durations (p≤0.05). The right and left hand grip strength of the experimental group was significantly higher than the right and left hand grip strength of the control group (p≤0.01). The skinfold of the experimental group was significantly less than skinfold of the control group (p≤0.01). The value of 20-m shuttle run of the experimental group was significantly higher than those of the control group (p≤0.01). There was no significant difference between experimental group and control group in flexibility (p>0.05).As a result, the strength training for eight weeks improved the abilities of endurance, strength, and in some speed abilities in 12-14 year-old male tennis player, however it was observed that the strength training did not induce any changes in flexibility and anaerobic power.