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Updated: Jun 25, 2026
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Effects of a Novel Neuromuscular Training Intervention on Jump, Sprint, and Change of Direction in Adult Female Soccer Players
Published on: June 10, 2025
Sprint training in preadolescent soccer players
Massimo Venturelli1, David Bishop, Lorenzo Pettene
1Neuroscienze, Università degli Studi de Verona, Verona, Italy.
International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
|February 19, 2009
Summary
Coordination training, not sprint training, significantly improved 20-m sprint speed with a soccer ball in young players. Both training types enhanced speed without the ball equally.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric sports science
- Exercise physiology
- Soccer training
Background:
- Young soccer players often use adult training methods, despite different physiological adaptations.
- There's a debate on whether preadolescents benefit more from coordination training versus traditional sprint training.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of coordination training versus repeated-sprint training on 20-m sprint speed in young soccer players.
- To determine improvements with and without a soccer ball.
Main Methods:
- Sixteen young soccer players (mean age 11) were randomly assigned to a sprint-training group (STG) or a coordination-training group (CTG).
- Training programs lasted 12 weeks, with STG performing repeated sprints and CTG performing speed ladder drills.
- Evaluations included 20-m sprint times (with/without ball) and maximal jump height before and after the intervention.
Main Results:
- Both groups improved 20-m sprint speed without the ball (P<.05), with no significant difference between groups.
- Only the coordination-training group showed significant improvement in 20-m sprint speed with the ball (P<.05).
- Post-training, the CTG demonstrated significantly faster sprint times with the ball compared to the STG (P<.05).
Conclusions:
- Coordination training appears more effective than repeated-sprint training for enhancing soccer-specific speed (with a ball) in young players.
- Improved running speed with the ball in the CTG may be attributed to the enhanced coordination demands of dribbling.
- These findings suggest tailoring training programs to the specific developmental needs of preadolescent athletes.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Motion of a Projectile
Projectile motion becomes evident when a player kicks the ball into the air. The launch angle, or the angle at which the ball is kicked, plays a crucial role in determining the trajectory of the projectile. As the ball soars through the air, influenced solely by gravity, its motion can be dissected into two independent velocity components: the horizontal and the vertical.
Horizontal motion, governed by the initial kick, maintains a constant velocity throughout the flight of the soccer ball.
Horizontal motion, governed by the initial kick, maintains a constant velocity throughout the flight of the soccer ball.
01:27Exercise and Muscle Performance
Exercise induces a range of adaptations in muscle tissue, depending on the type and duration of activity. Such physical training can be broadly categorized into two types: endurance exercises and resistance exercises.
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
01:17Exercise and Cardiac Output
Regular physical activity is essential for maintaining cardiovascular health, with aerobic exercises being particularly effective. According to the American Heart Association, 150 minutes of moderate to intense aerobic exercise per week is recommended for a healthy heart. Aerobic activities may include brisk walking, running, bicycling, cross-country skiing, and swimming, ideally performed three to five times per week.
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be met...
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be met...
01:26Exercise Stress Test
Introduction
Exercise stress testing, commonly known as a treadmill test, is a noninvasive procedure used to evaluate cardiovascular function and diagnose heart conditions.
Definition
An exercise stress test measures the heart's response to exertion using a treadmill or stationary bicycle. Chest electrodes record the heart's electrical activity through an ECG, and blood pressure is monitored regularly.
Purposes
Exercise stress testing, commonly known as a treadmill test, is a noninvasive procedure used to evaluate cardiovascular function and diagnose heart conditions.
Definition
An exercise stress test measures the heart's response to exertion using a treadmill or stationary bicycle. Chest electrodes record the heart's electrical activity through an ECG, and blood pressure is monitored regularly.
Purposes