Guided Recreational Training as a Catalyst for Improving Agility, Flexibility, and Motor Coordination in 16-Year-Old Youth Football Players

Background: Adolescence at 16 years is a critical stage for developing agility, flexibility, and coordination in football players. Globally, many adolescents fail to meet recommended physical activity levels, and organized sports participation often declines due to burnout and low engagement. Structured recreational training can enhance motor skill development while fostering motivation, engagement, and psychosocial growthAim: This study aims to implement a guided recreational training program specifically designed to enhance agility, flexibility, and coordination in 16-year-old youth football players in Iraq, addressing the research gap related to the limited availability of multi-component programs in resource-constrained settingsMethods: Forty-eight male football players were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20), with a pilot group…