Effects of Bilateral Soccer Training on Reactive Agility,Decision-Related Performance,and Lower-Limb Laterality Across Field Positions in Young Soccer Players

Abstract

The laterality of the lower limbs, reactive agility, and decision-related performance are key determinants of performance in young soccer players. This study investigated the effects of a bilateral soccer training program —incorporating both the preferred (PL) and non-preferred leg (NPL) —on reactive agility and decision-related performance across playing position in youth players. A total of 118 right-foot-dominant young soccer players were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (EXP), which underwent bilateral training, or a control group (CONT), which continued their usual training routine. Each group was further subdivided according to primary playing positions: side backs (SB), central backs (CB), central defending midfielders (CDM), central attacking midfielders (CAM), and forwards (FW). We assessed the players’ lateral asymmetries before and after training using the Y-Agility test, the Agility and Skill test, and the Juggling coordination test. The results demonstrates significant improvements on the Agility and Skill Test across all playing positions in the EXP group and only among CBs in the CONT group (p < .05). Furthermore, within the EXP group, CDMs, CAMs and FWs showed significantly greater improvements than CBs and SBs (p < .05). These findings highlight the benefits of bilateral training in improving reactive agility, technical skills, and decision-related performance in young soccer players, and suggest that effects may vary according to playing position, though positional fluidity at the U15 level warrants cautious interpretation.