Kick-Pad versus Hanging-Ball Training for Overhead Service Performance in Adolescent Sepak Takraw Athletes: A Non-Randomized Pre–Post Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53905/Activein.2613161Keywords:
sepak takraw, overhead service, motor learning, sports training, adolescent athletes, skill performanceAbstract
Purpose of the study: Overhead service is a decisive technical skill in sepak takraw, yet evidence comparing training aids for developing service performance in adolescent athletes remains limited. This study compared changes in overhead-service performance following kick-pad and hanging-ball training and examined whether improvement differed between the two approaches.
Materials and methods: A non-randomized two-group pre-test/post-test design involved eight male adolescent sepak takraw athletes (15–18 years), allocated by matching based on pre-test performance to a kick-pad group (n=4) or hanging-ball group (n=4). Participants completed 18 training sessions over six consecutive weeks. Performance was assessed through 20 overhead-service trials at pre-test and post-test using a composite T-score derived from service-zone accuracy and travel time. Within-group changes were analyzed using two-sided paired-samples t-tests, and between-group differences using an independent-samples t-test on change scores. Mean changes, 95% confidence intervals, and effect sizes were reported.
Results: The kick-pad group increased from 48.75 ± 11.21 to 50.67 ± 10.44, with a mean change of 1.92 ± 1.31 points (t(3)=2.94, p=0.061, Cohen’s dz=1.47; 95% CI −0.16 to 4.01). The hanging-ball group increased from 49.58 ± 7.38 to 51.03 ± 7.65, with a mean change of 1.46 ± 0.44 points (t(3)=6.60, p=0.007, Cohen’s dz=3.30; 95% CI 0.75 to 2.16). The between-group difference in change was 0.47 points and was not statistically significant (t(6)=0.67, p=0.526; 95% CI −1.23 to 2.16; Hedges’ g=0.41).
Conclusions: Both conditions showed positive changes, but the evidence did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference in improvement between methods. The study adds context-specific evidence to international sport and motor-learning research by examining training-aid-based overhead-service practice in adolescent sepak takraw athletes. Generalization is limited by the small, non-randomized sample, absence of a non-training control group, and single training setting.
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