@Article{Bouzouraa2025,
journal="Biology of Sport",
issn="0860-021X",
volume="42",
number="3",
year="2025",
title="Enhancing problem-solving skills and creative thinking abilities 
in U-13 soccer players: the impact of rondo possession games’ 
training",
abstract="To investigate the impact of Rondo possession games, played in different field geometries with complex rules, on the development of problem-solving skills and creative thinking abilities in U-13 youth soccer players. In a repeated-measures and a randomized controlled trial study design, twenty-four competitive young male U-13 soccer players were split into: the training (TG,  n  = 12) and control (CG,  n  = 12) groups (matched for age, body height body mass index; and training experience; with weekly training of ~5.5 hours/week for both groups). TG performed a training programme once a week for 8 weeks integrating Rondo possession games with periodized variations, such as player formats, field shapes, duration, pitch sizes, and rest times. Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT) – Graphic-Figural-Creativity (abstractness-title, resistance-closure, originality, elaboration, and fluency – GFC), Problem Solving-Inventory (problem-solving-confidence, approachavoidance-style and personal-control – PSI) and Verbal-Creativity (flexibility, originality, fluency – VC) – were performed over time and between groups. We observed significant main effects of time ( p  < 0.001–0.005, ƞ 2 p: 0.30–0.76 [ large ]) and group ( p  < 0.001–0.002, ƞ 2 p: 0.36–0.60 [ large ]), as well as a significant interaction effect of time×group ( p : < 0.001–0.013, ƞ 2 p: 0.24–0.48 [ large ]) of all GFC, PSI and VC test indices. In the TG group, all TTCT indices showed significant improvement in all indices at the post-test compared to pre-test (-29.90%-227.27%, d: 1.03–4.66 [ large ]). This study showed that 8 weeks of integrated Rondo possession games with structured geometric variations and rule complexity significantly boosted problem-solving skills and creative thinking in U-13 soccer players. These findings suggest a promising direction for youth soccer training, focusing on developing well-rounded players capable of intelligent and flexible gameplay in diverse scenarios.",
author="Bouzouraa, Mohamed Mansour
and Dhahbi, Wissem
and Ghouili, Hatem
and Hamaidi, Jaouher
and Ben Aissa, Mohamed
and Dergaa, Ismail
and Guelmami, Noomen
and Souissi, Nizar
and Weiss, Katja
and Rosemann, Thomas
and Zghibi, Makrem
and Chamari, Karim
and Knechtle, Beat",
pages="227--238",
doi="10.5114/biolsport.2025.146782",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2025.146782"
}