Relation of Dominant Leg Use with Functional Symmetries in Young Football Players of Different Age Groups

The aim of the study was to determine whether football players of different age groups who use their dominant leg more frequently when playing football exhibit greater functional asymmetries between the right and left leg. The study included 116 football players (age groups from U12 to U19). The number of touches of the ball with the right and left leg was determined by detailed video analysis. The data were used to calculate the percentage of use of the dominant leg. Functional asymmetries were determined based on measurements of motor skills in the field and measurements with a portable dual-force plate. Significant correlations were found between the percentage of the dominant leg use and the differences between legs in kicking the ball (ball flight speed) from a standing position in the entire sample, from a running position in the entire sample and in the U17 age group and in relative maximum power in the CMJ in the U15 age group. No significant correlations were found with differences between the legs when dribbling the ball with a change in direction. The proportion of use of the dominant leg correlates with some of the observed functional asymmetries in young football players of different age groups and varies across age groups.