Developing the Football Training Program Based on Competition Game Analysis of the 2024 Men's European Football Championship

Background and Aim: The development of youth football players requires training programs that replicate the demands of elite competition. This study aims to develop a training program for youth players based on the analysis of the 2024 Men's European Football Championship. Materials and Methods: The research followed a mixed-methods approach with three phases: (1) Analysis of the competition statistics of the 2024 Men's European Football Championship, with purposive sampling employed. As of November 29, 2024, 184 athletes from 8 teams of the quarterfinal round were selected as the research sample. (2) development of a football training program for youth players through a focus group of 9 experts. (3) The program’s effectiveness was evaluated by 7 experts. Data analysis included mean, standard deviation, and percentages. Results: Key findings include: (1) Variations in team performance during the 2024 Men's European Football Championship, with Spain leading in total goals (15) and Switzerland achieving the highest shooting accuracy (36.21%). (2) The expert focus group recommended training emphasis on passing precision, purposeful possession, attacking overloads, spatial exploitation, compact defending, quick transitions, technical versatility, and tactical understanding for youth players aged 13-14. (3) The developed training program received high evaluations, particularly in age-appropriate development (4.86±0.38), attacking principles (4.86±0.38), and defending principles (4.86±0.38). Conclusion: The study provides a football training program for youth players aged 13-14, derived from the 2024 Men's European Football Championship analysis and validated by expert evaluation, designed to improve youth football development.