Abstract:
The main objective of this study was to assess long-term football athlete’s development and
training methods among male and female football projects in Shashemene town. Employing a
mixed research approach with triangulation research design, descriptive statistics and one way
anova were utilized for quantitative data analysis, while thematic analysis was employed for
qualitative data. The research was conducted on 120 sample respondents by using a
questionnaire, interview, and observation as data collection tool. The key findings reveal that the
majority of respondents were male (71.7%) and female (28.3%), with a significant portion
falling within the 21-25 age groups (68.3%), indicative of a youthful demographic. Notably,
there was a significant disagreement (37.5%) regarding the effectiveness of periodization
training programs in improving long-term athlete development, highlighting potential
deficiencies in training methodologies. Furthermore, respondents expressed dissatisfaction with
the lack of a dedicated training center (57.5%) and the suitability of training supplies provided
by the club (55.9%). Concerns also arose regarding the utilization of gym training by coaches
(54.2%) and the balance between training load and recovery time (67.5%). While there was a
moderate level of agreement regarding the sufficiency of monitoring and feedback during
training (45.0%), a significant proportion disagreed (60.0%) that training was based on coach
collaboration with sports scientists and professional experts. The study identifies various
barriers, including inadequate resources such as training fields, equipment, and budget
constraints. Additionally, coaches' limited uses of supportive materials like LCD screens and
videos due to lack of awareness and accessibility results challenges to long-term athlete
development. A critical observation was the absence of written short- and long-term plans,
essential for guiding athlete development and setting clear goals. In conclusion, the study
underscores the need for concerted efforts to address these challenges and deficiencies,
emphasizing the enhancement of resources, improvement of coaching practices, fostering
interdisciplinary collaboration, and implementing structured planning and monitoring
mechanisms. By addressing these issues, stakeholders can work towards optimizing athlete
development and maximizing players' potential in football.
