The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of after-school soccer training on the development of personality characteristics in elementary school male students. The results may provide us information about the role and value of th...
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of after-school soccer training on the development of personality characteristics in elementary school male students. The results may provide us information about the role and value of the elementary school students' participation in sports activities and the educational need for the development of their personality. Twenty elementary school male students participated in the after-school soccer training for 12 weeks and 20 aged-matched students served as a control group. Personality characteristics were evaluated just before the first training session, after 6 weeks, 9 weeks, and 12 weeks of the training session, respectively. The assessed personality traits included (a) activity, (b) dominance, (c) emotional stability, (d) sociability, (e) self-regulation, (f) consideration, (g) anxiety, and (h) obstinacy. The results of one-way ANOVAs for the background variables and t-test for the participation indicated that the participation in the after-school soccer training positively affected on the development of 8 personality characteristics. In addition, the participation duration also resulted in positive development of the personality. However, there were no significant differences in parents' educational level, the aged level, economic circumstances between the groups with and without the training.