Agility profile in sub-elite under-11 soccer players: is SAQ training adequate to improve sprint, change of direction speed and reactive agility performance?. Issue 4 (1st October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Trecroci, Athos; Milanović, Zoran; Rossi, Alessio; Broggi, Marco; Formenti, Damiano; Alberti, Giampietro
• Is Part Of: Research in sports medicine. Volume 24:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 331
• Page End: 340
• Publication Date: 2016-10-01
• Subjects: Athletic performance -- complex training -- physical activity -- planning -- youth; Sports medicine -- Periodicals; Athletic Injuries -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Periodicals; Sports Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine du sport -- Périodiques; 617.102705
• DOI: 10.1080/15438627.2016.1228063
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1543-8627

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of speed, agility and quickness (SAQ) training on acceleration (5 and 20 m), change of direction speed (CODS) and reactive agility in preadolescent soccer players. Thirty-five participants (age = 10.57 ± 0.26, body mass = 36.78 ± 5.34 kg, body height = 1.42 ± 0.05 m), randomly assigned to experimental (EG, n = 20) and control groups (CG, n = 15), completed a 12-week training intervention, 2 day/week. A significant interaction was found in 5-m sprint ( P < 0.05, part η 2 = 0.117) and reactive agility ( P < 0.01, part η 2 = 0.248) between EG and CG. In both groups, 20-m sprint time improved significantly ( P < 0.05, effect size = 0.3–0.4) while performance on CODS remained unchanged after 12 weeks. These findings indicated that SAQ training could positively affect cognitive skills and initial sprint acceleration through the middle childhood, offering useful guidance to soccer coaches.