The aim of the master thesis was to determine whether a 10-week Pilates training programme has an effect on improving core stability and smash accuracy in young badminton players. The study involved 20 young players from the Badminton Club Mladost Lendava, aged between 12 and 15 years. The study was conducted in the form of an intervention study with baseline and endline measurements. The participants performed a 20-minute Pilates session 4 times a week for 10 weeks before the start of badminton training. Core stability was evaluated using the McGill Test Battery (TFT, LMT right, LMT left and TET) and smash accuracy was assessed using the Forehand Smash Stroke Performance Test. The results showed a statistically significant improvement in core stability and a marked increase in smash accuracy after completion of the Pilates programme. The effect sizes were very large, confirming the practical relevance of the findings. However, the linear regression analysis did not confirm a statistically significant effect of the improvement in core stability on the improvement in smash accuracy, suggesting that other factors also influence accuracy. The aim of this study was to contribute to a more effective formulation of complementary training programmes for young badminton players. The findings confirm the utility value of Pilates as a safe, accessible and effective form of exercise for strengthening core stabilisers and improving smash stroke accuracy in young badminton players.
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