Effects of Sprint Training With and Without Weighted Vests on Speed in Youth Baseball Players

NCT07030296 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: Tecnológico de Antioquia
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Brief Summary We want to find out whether training with a weighted vest can help improve speed in U-14 baseball players. To do this, we will conduct a study with athletes like you, comparing performance before and after the training program. How will we do it? Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: Group 1: Will train with a weighted vest. Group 2: Will train without a weighted vest. Both groups will follow the same training program over 16 sessions. Running speed will be measured before and after the program to evaluate any improvements. Who can participate? Boys aged 13 to 14 years. Members of the Tigres Baseball Club from San Pedro de Urabá. Must have permission from a parent or legal guardian. Who cannot participate? Players with current injuries. Those who regularly practice another sport. Those who leave the club or are unable to complete the pre- and post-tests. Is it safe? Yes! All procedures follow safety guidelines and will be conducted with informed consent from players and their families. Our goal is to enhance sports performance in a safe and effective way.

Conditions

Youth Baseball Speed, Sprint Training, Weighted Vest, Change of Direction

Keywords

Sprint training, weighted vest, baseball, youth athletes, speed performance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change in 30-yard sprint time

  Time (in seconds) to complete a linear 30-yard sprint. Used to assess improvements in short-distance speed after the intervention.

  Measured at baseline (pre-intervention) and after 16 training sessions (post-intervention), approximately 6 weeks apart.

• Change in 60-yard sprint time

  Time (in seconds) to complete a 60-yard linear sprint. Assesses improvements in extended sprint speed.

  Pre- and post-intervention (6 weeks apart)

Study Arms (2)

Sprint Training With Weighted Vest

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm performed sprint training while wearing a weighted vest equivalent to approximately 10% of their body weight. The program consisted of 16 sessions over six weeks and included linear sprints and change-of-direction drills. Sprint speed was assessed before and after the intervention.

Behavioral: Sprint Training With Weighted Vest

Sprint Training Without Weighted Vest

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this group completed the same sprint training program as the experimental group but without wearing a weighted vest. The program lasted 16 sessions over approximately six weeks and included linear sprints and agility drills. Sprint performance was measured before and after the intervention.

Behavioral: Sprint Training Without Weighted Vest

Interventions

Sprint Training With Weighted Vest BEHAVIORAL

Participants performed a sprint training program wearing a weighted vest equal to approximately 10% of their body weight. The program lasted 6 weeks and included 16 sessions of linear and change-of-direction sprint drills. The goal was to examine whether the added external load improved running speed over 30 and 60 yards.

Also known as: Resisted Sprint Training

Sprint Training With Weighted Vest

Sprint Training Without Weighted Vest BEHAVIORAL

Participants completed the same sprint training program as the experimental group but without the use of a weighted vest. The intervention lasted 6 weeks and consisted of 16 sessions including sprint and agility exercises. This group served as the control condition to assess the effect of external resistance.

Also known as: Unresisted Sprint Training

Sprint Training Without Weighted Vest

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 13 Years - 14 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Male athletes aged 13 to 14 years
• Member of the Tigres Baseball Club of San Pedro de Urabá
• Signed informed consent from parent or legal guardian
• Regular attendance at training sessions during the intervention period

You may not qualify if:

• Current musculoskeletal injury
• Regular participation in other sports or physical training programs
• Failure to complete pre- and post-intervention tests
• Withdrawal from the club during the study period

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Federal University of Vicosa: lead

Study Sites (1)

Club de Baseball Tigers de San Pedro de Uraba

Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD

Model Details: This was a parallel-group randomized controlled trial. Participants (U-14 male baseball players) were randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group performed sprint training with a weighted vest (approximately 10% of body weight), and the other group performed the same sprint training protocol without a vest. The intervention included 16 training sessions over approximately 6 weeks. Sprint performance was measured before and after the intervention using 30-yard, 60-yard, and 60-yard change-of-direction tests. Randomization was conducted using simple random allocation.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 12, 2025
• First Posted: June 22, 2025
• Study Start: February 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: April 10, 2025
• Study Completion: April 10, 2025
• Last Updated: June 22, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF
• Time Frame: IPD and supporting documents will be available beginning 6 months after publication of the main findings and will remain available for up to 3 years.
• Access Criteria: De-identified individual participant data (IPD) will be available to qualified researchers upon reasonable request. Requests should include a brief research proposal and ethical approval (if applicable). Data will be shared via secure file transfer upon agreement with the principal investigator.

Locations

CO (1)