The Effect of Proposed Educational Units Using Small-Sided Games on the Development of Flexibility and Response Speed among Primary School Pupils Aged 9–10 Years

Abstract

This study aimed to design and implement educational units based on small-sided games and to investigate their effect on developing flexibility and response speed among primary school pupils aged 9–10 years. The researcher hypothesized that educational units incorporating small-sided games would have a positive effect on improving flexibility and response speed in fifth-grade pupils.

The study employed an experimental research design. The sample consisted of 30 pupils randomly selected and equally assigned to two groups : an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). A pilot study was conducted to establish the validity and reliability of the research instruments. Physical fitness tests, the proposed educational units based on small-sided games, and appropriate statistical methods were used to collect and analyze the data.

Based on the theoretical framework, field experimentation, and statistical analysis of the collected data, the findings revealed statistically significant differences in the post-test results between the experimental and control groups in favor of the experimental group. The results demonstrated that the proposed educational units using small-sided games were effective in improving flexibility and response speed among primary school pupils