ECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP25
INTRODUCTION: Recent advances in strength and conditioning (S&C) have highlighted their importance for enhancing physical performance in youth footballers [1]. Speed, lower-limb power, and agility are key determinants of football performance and are highly trainable during adolescence due to ongoing neuromuscular development [2]. Furthermore, although S&C training has been shown to improve performance in adult footballers, evidence in youth populations remains inconsistent, with few well-controlled randomised studies available. Variability in programme design and methodological quality further limits the ability to draw clear conclusions regarding training effectiveness. Therefore, there is a need for high-quality randomised controlled trials to evaluate the impact of structured S&C programmes on key performance outcomes in young footballers. As such, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an S&C training programme on speed, power, and agility in young male footballers using a randomised controlled trial design. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted over an 8-week period to examine the effects of a structured strength and conditioning (S&C) training programme on physical performance in young male footballers aged 12–16 years. With ethical approval, 40 players meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to a training group (TG; n= 20) or a control group (CG; n = 20). The TG completed a supervised S&C programme twice weekly (16 sessions) alongside regular football training, while the CG continued routine football practice only. Speed, power, and agility were assessed pre- and post-intervention using the vertical jump, standing broad jump,10m sprint, 30m sprint, medicine ball slams, Illinois agility test. Data were analysed using paired-sample t-tests to assess within-group changes, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: TG demonstrated significant improvements (p<0.05) across all metrics, including reduced 10m/30m sprint times and increased vertical/broad jump distances. Illinois Agility Test times also decreased significantly in the TG. Conversely, the CG showed no significant changes, with performance remaining near baseline. These data indicate that the 8-week S&C intervention effectively enhanced explosive power and speed compared to football training alone. CONCLUSION: An 8-week structured S&C programme significantly improves speed, power, and agility in young male footballers. These findings suggest that incorporating evidence-based S&C alongside routine practice is essential for optimising neuromuscular development in adolescent athletes. This study supports the integration of supervised strength training to bridge the gap between technical drills and physical performance. References [1] Turner, AN. Strength and conditioning for soccer players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2014; 28(9) [2] Haff, GG and Nimphius, S. Training principles for power. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2012; 26(12)
Read CV Jeganenthiran SellathuraiECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP25
INTRODUCTION: Football requires repeated high-intensity efforts such as sprinting, jumping, and rapid changes of direction, all of which depend on neuromuscular power and efficient stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) function. Eccentric overload training enhances muscle-tendon stiffness and force production, while blood flow restriction (BFR) training promotes metabolic stress and neuromuscular adaptation even at low loads. Combining these two methods may amplify improvements in explosive performance and fatigue resistance. However, limited research has examined their combined effect on agility, repeated sprint ability (RSA), countermovement jump (CMJ), drop jump performance, and elastic utilization ratio (EUR) in football players. Therefore, this study investigated the influence of eccentric overload combined with BFR on neuromuscular power, SSC efficiency, agility, and RSA among university level football players. METHODS: Forty university level male football players (age 18–25 years) were randomly assigned into four groups: (1) Eccentric Overload + BFR, (2) Eccentric Overload only, (3) BFR training only, and (4) Active Control group. The intervention lasted 8 weeks, three sessions per week. Pre- and post-tests included agility (Illinois Agility Test), RSA (6 × 30 m sprint test), Conter Movement Jump, Drop Jump, and calculation of Elastic Utilization Ratio (CMJ ÷ Squat Jump). Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA with significance set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The Eccentric Overload + BFR group showed significant improvements in agility (p = 0.001), repeated sprint ability (p = 0.002), countermovement jump (p < 0.001), drop jump performance (p = 0.001), and elastic utilization ratio (p = 0.003). The eccentric-only group demonstrated moderate but significant improvements in CMJ (p = 0.012), drop jump (p = 0.018), agility (p = 0.021), and RSA (p = 0.034). The BFR-only group showed smaller yet significant gains in CMJ (p = 0.028) and RSA (p = 0.041). No significant changes were observed in the Active Control Group (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that combining eccentric overload with blood flow restriction produces superior improvements in neuromuscular power, stretch-shortening cycle efficiency, agility, and repeated sprint ability compared to isolated training methods. The enhanced adaptations may result from greater mechanical and metabolic stimulus. This combined approach is effective for improving football-specific performance.
Read CV Anindita DasECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP25
INTRODUCTION: Football performance depends on rapid change of direction, explosive force production, muscular endurance, and dynamic stability. Neuromuscular training enhances motor unit recruitment, coordination, and movement efficiency, while occlusion (blood flow restriction) training promotes metabolic stress and strength adaptations even at low loads. The combination of occlusion and progressive neuromuscular training may amplify lower-limb functional adaptations by improving muscle activation and stretch-shortening cycle efficiency. However, limited evidence exists regarding their combined effects on agility, horizontal explosive strength, isometric endurance, neuromuscular stability, and elastic utilization ratio in male footballers. Therefore, this study examined the combined effects of occlusion and progressive neuromuscular training on selected performance variables among university-level male football players. METHODS: 40 male university football players (aged 18–25 years) were randomly assigned into four groups: (1) Occlusion + Progressive Neuromuscular Training, (2) Progressive Neuromuscular Training only, (3) Occlusion Training only, and (4) Active Control Group. The intervention lasted eight weeks with three sessions per week. The neuromuscular program included multidirectional drills, plyometric progressions, and strength-based control exercises. Occlusion training was applied to the proximal thigh at 60–70% limb occlusion pressure during selected exercises. Pre- and post-tests included agility (505 COD Test), explosive strength (Standing Broad Jump), isometric endurance (Wall Sit Test), neuromuscular stability (Star Excursion Balance Test), and Elastic Utilization Ratio (CMJ ÷ Squat Jump). Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA with significance set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The combined Occlusion + Neuromuscular Training group demonstrated significant improvements in agility performance (p = 0.002), standing broad jump distance (p = 0.001), wall sit endurance (p = 0.003), SEBT reach distances (p = 0.002), and elastic utilization ratio (p = 0.004). The neuromuscular-only group showed moderate but significant improvements in agility (p = 0.021), explosive strength (p = 0.018), and stability (p = 0.026). The occlusion-only group showed smaller yet significant gains in isometric endurance (p = 0.039) and explosive strength (p = 0.041). No significant changes were observed in the active control group (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Combining occlusion with progressive neuromuscular training resulted in greater improvements in agility, explosive strength, isometric endurance, dynamic stability, and elastic utilization ratio compared to isolated methods. These adaptations likely stem from enhanced neuromuscular activation and metabolic stress. This integrated approach effectively improves lower-limb efficiency and functional performance in male footballers.
Read CV Debajit KarmakarECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP25