The Effect of Educational Units According to the Information Processing Strategy on Learning the Skill of Ball Control (Trapping) in Football for Students

Abstract

This research aims to develop educational units based on the information processing strategy for teaching students the ball control (bumping) skill in football. It also aims to identify the impact of this information processing strategy on students' learning of this skill and to determine the difference between this strategy and the existing method used in teaching the ball control (bumping) skill.

The research hypotheses are as follows: there are statistically significant differences between the pre-test and post-test scores in the experimental and control groups in ball control (bumping) skill, favoring the experimental group. Furthermore, there are statistically significant differences between the post-test scores in the experimental and control groups in ball control (bumping) skill, again favoring the experimental group. In Chapter Three, the researcher adopted an experimental approach, using a two-group equivalent (experimental and control) design with pre- and post-tests. The research sample consisted of first-year students at the College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Wasit, for the academic year (2025–2026), totaling (176 male and female) students. The sample was selected randomly, with (30) students from Section (H) forming the experimental group and (30) students from section (C) forming the control group, resulting in a total sample size of (60) students.

The field research procedures included conducting pilot experiments and tests, including ball control (trapping) tests. The educational units were implemented according to an information processing strategy, and exercises specific to the skill were developed and incorporated into the main section of the educational units. These exercises were then implemented after the pilot experiments and pre-test completion.

The most prominent conclusion is that the educational units, implemented according to the information processing strategy, proved effective in teaching the ball control (trapping) skill to the participants in the experimental group.