Effect of 12-week SPARQ training on the ability of youth football players

Abstract

Aim To evaluate the effect of a 12-week physical training regime comprising five components – speed, power, agility, reaction, quickness – on young football players’ performance in terms of their capacity to move quickly in different phases.

Methods The football players were randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 12) and a control group (n = 12). The rapid change of direction mobility was systematically investigated by using outdoor tests, the Illinois 505 Agility Test, the Square Pace Test, the Nebraska Agility Test, and the T-Shape Agility Test.

Results With the intervention of training, considerable improvements were detected in all indicators, with the SPARQ training approach outperforming.

Conclusion The combined results indicate that SPARQ training can deliver favourable efficiency in terms of enhancing the agility of young football players.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel Evaluierung des Einflusses eines 12-wöchigen Trainingsregimes, das die 5 Komponenten Geschwindigkeit, Kraft, Agilität, Reaktion und Schnelligkeit umfasst, auf die Leistung junger Fußballspieler hinsichtlich ihrer Fähigkeit, sich in verschiedenen Phasen schnell zu bewegen.

Methoden Die Fußballspieler wurden nach dem Zufallsprinzip in Versuchsgruppen (n=12) und Kontrollgruppen (n=12) unterteilt. Der schnelle Richtungswechsel der Mobilität wurde systematisch mit Outdoor-Tests, dem Illinois-505-Agility-Test, dem Square-Pace-Test, dem Nebraska-Agility-Test und dem TShape-Agility-Test untersucht.

Ergebnisse Durch die Trainingsintervention wurden bei allen Indikatoren deutliche Verbesserungen festgestellt, wobei diese beim SPARQ-Training am stärksten ausgeprägt waren.

Schlussfolgerung Die kombinierten Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass SPARQ-Training eine günstige Effizienz in Bezug auf die Agilität junger Fußballspieler haben kann.

Keywords

Youth football players - SPARQ training - direction mobility - agility

Schlüsselwörter

Jugendfußballspieler - SPARQ-Training - Richtungsmobilität - Agilität

Publication History

Received: 02 July 2023

Accepted after revision: 21 January 2024

Article published online:
12 March 2024

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