The purpose of this study is to examine the quality of functional movement patterns among one of Hungary's first league soccer clubs, where the elite male football players (N = 20) utilize the well-established Functional Movement Screen TM (FMS) system; a comprehensive functional program designed to determine and identify the quality of movement and the greatest risk factors for non-contact injuries. Furthermore, an additional purpose of this program is to examine injuries over the course of 6 competitive months. Focusing on the mechanisms of injuries and their causes in the lower extremities during this period is one of the key objectives. Over the course of 6 months we found significant differences between ankle injuries and the FMS Hurdle Step exercise (p < 0.05), and the FMS Deep Squat exercise and knee and hip injuries (p < 0.05). The FMS pre-screening system found lower limb asymmetry present in 40% of the participants. The authors believe that the importance of preventative measures and structural sport specific pre-screening cannot be overemphasized, and that there is a growing need for further transparent research in this field in order to be more effective with regard to programs dedicated to injury prevention and the enhancement players' physical performance.

Introduction

Elméleti háttér: A fiatal labdarúgók motoros képességei mellett a pszichés-szociális faktorok is összefüggésben vannak a pályán mutatott teljesítménnyel. Mivel az utánpótlás korú sportolók esetében ezek korosztályos jellemzőket mutatnak, érdemes az ez irányú ismereteket tovább bővíteni és a tehetséggondozás folyamán kiemelten kezelni. Cél: Jelen kutatásunk célja, hogy kollégiumban lakó fiatal elit labdarúgók pszichés tulajdonságainak korosztályos jellemzőit megismerjük. Módszerek: A minta hazánk egyik elit labdarúgó-akadémiájának kollégiumban lakó fiú növendékei voltak (n = 72), akik a Sportolói Megküz-dési Stratégiák Kérdőívet (ACSI-28), a Sport Motivációs Kérdőívet (SMS), a Versenyszorongás Skálát (CSAI-2) és az Érzékelt Motivációs Környezet a Sportban Kérdőívet (PMCSQ-2) töltötték ki. A játékosok pszichés jellemzőit együttesen és korosztályos össze-hasonlításban is vizsgáltuk (U16, U17, U18 és U21). Eredmények: Az eredmények alapján elmondható, hogy a minta magas értékű belső motivációt, a fejlődésre való törekvést, kooperatív tanulást, csúcsteljesítményt téthelyzetben, illetve önbizalmat mutat. Az egyszempontos varianciaanalízisek eredményei alapján elmondható, hogy U16-os korosztály szomatikus szorongása magasabb, mint az U17-es és U18-as korosztályoké, ugyanakkor az U18-as játékosok alacsonyabb célkitűzéssel és mentális felkészültséggel rendelkeznek, mint az U16-U17 játékosok. Emellett az U21-es korosztály magasabb értékeket mutat a hibázás-tól való félelem és az egyenlőtlen elismerés területein, mint az összes többi korosztály (mind p < 0,05). Következtetések: Az edzőknek és a segítő szakembereknek érdemes figyelembe venni mindezeket a tényezőket, amikor bentlakó sportolókkal dolgoznak.

Summary Study aim: due to a series of failures and the drastic reduction in the quality of Hungarian soccer, greater emphasis should be put on coaches’ professional development and talent development programs. The aim of this study was to present the newly established Hungarian Soccer Development Program that focuses on the development of youth talent. Methods: document analysis and in-depth interviews were utilized during the research process. All Program leaders were interviewed in the Hungarian Soccer Development Program (N = 5). The interviews were preceded by thorough document analysis of the Program and the new strategies and plans of the Hungarian Football Federation. The authors systematically examined the Program and were able to prepare systematically for in-depth interviews whose focus was the specific areas that weren’t present in the document. Results: the main aim of this Program is to give a mass base for the selection of soccer talent and to promote the development of Hungarian soccer in the long run. The measurement and evaluation systems chosen for the identification is a complex process: children go through several selection phases until they achieve the best in their age cohort. For the successful realization of this Program, there is a need for a change in attitude and also for the development of a mass base in Hungarian soccer. The number of players under the age of 18 years should reach a solid 200,000 players. Those who established the Program also introduced a control and assessment system to improve efficiency, which helps to keep the different programs and sessions of the Program at a high level. Coaches’ education and professional development is also in a focus: the Program’s content and methodology is specific for the age cohort and constantly changing for better practices. Discussion and conclusions: the Program reinforced opinions that emphasized that selection is a long-term and systematic process in which regular tests and measurements are needed. Gifted young soccer players should not be selected simply for their physical outlook but rather on those conditions that are difficult to measure: the way they play the game, their skills, and their motivation for success. Talent selection and management should depend on their individual and team abilities and skills, technical skills, and assertiveness. Only those coaches with high-level understanding, competencies, and motivation can make changes in the sport.

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