Off-season Training Effects on U19 Soccer Players

NCT05534191 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 438956
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 53
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate whether functional strength and power training or traditional strength and power training during the off-season can improve soccer-specific performance in trained male U19 Norwegian soccer players. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does functional training lead to greater improvements in technical soccer skills (passing, shooting, dribbling) compared to traditional training? Do both training modalities improve mobility, dynamic balance, sprint speed, change of direction, and jumping performance? Researchers will compare the functional training group, the traditional training group, and a control group to see if either training approach provides superior performance benefits. Participants will: Take part in an 8-week intervention. Complete two weekly strength sessions (functional or traditional depending on allocation). Attend two weekly soccer sessions during the first 4 weeks (all groups). Undergo a standardized test battery measuring mobility, balance, technical skills, sprinting, change of direction, and vertical jump before and after the intervention.

Conditions

Soccer Performance

Keywords

Technical skills; Power; Coordination; Speed

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

• Loughborough soccer passing test

  Measure precision in passing (Seconds)

  Day 1

• Loughborough soccer passing test

  Measure precision in passing (Seconds)

  2 months

• Loughborough soccer shooting test

  Measure precision in shooting and reaction (Points and secounds )

  Day 1

• Loughborough soccer shooting test

  Measure precision in shooting and reaction (Points and secounds )

  2 months

• Agility with ball

  Measure technical abilities with the ball (Seconds)

  Day 1

• Agility with ball

  Measure technical abilities with the ball (Seconds)

  2 months

Secondary Outcomes (16)

• Active knee extension test

  Day 1

• Active knee extension test

  2 months

• Hip External rotation

  Day 1

• Hip External rotation

  2 months

• Hip Internal rotation

  Day 1

Study Arms (3)

Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

This group will use a functional training system developed specifically for football players to improve their physical strength and movement abilities on the field.

Other: Experimental, comparator and control

Positive control

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

This group will use general strength exercises with the purpose of improving physical strength.

Other: Experimental, comparator and control

Negative control

NO INTERVENTION

Control group A group that is not treated

Interventions

Experimental, comparator and control OTHER

To quantify the effect of a strength intervention for footballers on improved range of motion, balance, speed, jump height, and technical football skills compared to a training group performing basic power exercises and machine-based strength training and a control group.

Intervention; Positive control

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 16 Years - 20 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Male soccer players aged 16-20 years.
• Active competitors in the Norwegian G19 0. Division or the Norwegian Tipping League (Senior 3. Division).
• Minimum of eight years of organized soccer experience.
• At least two years of structured resistance training experience.
• No concurrent involvement in other structured physical activity programs.

You may not qualify if:

• History of lower-limb injury within the past three months.
• Inability to meet the required training attendance (≥14 out of 16 sessions).
• Participation in additional structured training programs outside the intervention.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Aalborg University: lead
• The Research Council of Norway: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

SSA Steinkjer

Steinkjer, Trøndelag, 7714, Norway

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: FACTORIAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Ph.D. candidate

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 26, 2022
• First Posted: September 9, 2022
• Study Start: September 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: January 14, 2024
• Study Completion: January 14, 2024
• Last Updated: September 4, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Locations

NO (1)