DETERMINANTS OF YOUTH U-17 DEVELOPMENTS IN DEBRE TABOR TOWN AND FARTA WOREDA YOUTH FOOTBALL PROJECTS, SOUTH GONDAR ZONE, AMHARA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate youth football development and its determinants in South Gondar youth football development projects. To this end, data were collected from 55 youth involved in youth football development projects operated in South Gondar (30 trainees from Debre Tabor Town and 25 trainees from Farta Woreda) and their coaches (one from each project) through questionnaire. The questionnaire was intended to measure youth football development and its three determinants; adequacy of the training, engagement of the trainees in the activities and social support. In addition, data were also collected from 2 coaches (1 from each project) and 4 experts/officials (2 from each project) through interview. The sampling method is purposive random technique was used. the research design is descriptive survey. Observation was also made by the researcher to asses adequacy of the projects in terms of availability the resources required by the trainees. The data collected through the interview were analyzed qualitatively through narrations. The data collected through the questionnaire were analyzed quantitatively with the help of SPSS version 24. Multiple regression analysis was employed to answer the research question. The findings of quantitative analysis depicted that engagement of the trainees in practice(r=.336, p<.05) and adequacy of the training (r=.609, p<.001) have significant correlation with youth football development. That means those trainees who have higher score in engagement and adequacy scales are likely to achieve better development of football skills. Engagement and adequacy were found, not only to be significantly correlated with but also predict youth football development. The regression analysis indicated that more than 49% of the variance in the youth football development of the participants was explained by the variables entered in the model (i.e. trainee’s engagement Training adequacy, social support regression model, R2=.494; F (3, 51) = 16.590, p<.001. As indicted by its Beta value, from the three factors entered in the regression analysis, adequacy of the training contributed more for the variance in youth football development (β=.885, p<.001). (β=.238, p<.238) while trainee’s engagement in training contributed the least. Social support was also found to have significant but negative contribution to the youth football development (β =-.618, p<.001). The coaches involved in the interview were to disclose the challenges they face. The findings were discussed with previous studies. Based on the findings recommendations were made.