Enhancing Passing Accuracy in Youth Soccer Players Through Paired Passing Drills

Abstrak

Passing accuracy is a fundamental skill in soccer, enabling teams to maintain possession, create offensive plays, and control the game’s tempo. However, young athletes often struggle with passing precision due to monotonous training methods and limited exposure to varied drills. This study aims to examine the effects of paired passing variation training on the passing accuracy of soccer players aged 10–12 years at Siborong-Borong United Soccer School. The study employed an experimental design using pre-test and post-test assessments to measure passing ability before and after a four-week intervention. The total population of 14 athletes was used as the research sample through total sampling. Data collection was conducted using a standardized soccer skill assessment test, and statistical analysis was performed using paired sample t-tests. The results revealed a significant improvement in passing accuracy following the intervention. The mean passing score increased from 8.07 (pre-test) to 13.57 (post-test), with a mean difference of 5.64 points, demonstrating a statistically significant enhancement (t = 7.05, p < 0.05). These findings indicate that structured paired passing drills effectively improve passing accuracy by reinforcing muscle memory, ball control, and decision-making under match-like conditions. This study contributes to sports training methodologies by emphasizing the importance of interactive and varied training approaches for young soccer players. Future research should explore the long-term retention of passing skills and the integration of tactical decision-making exercises to maximize skill transferability in competitive matches.