Comparative Effects of High-Intensity Interval and Functional Training on Performance Outcomes in Adolescent Female Volleyball Players

NCT07181031 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 09.2021.06
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 32
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Background Volleyball requires repeated explosive actions, agility, and technical precision, demanding contributions from both aerobic and anaerobic energy systems. Time-efficient training methods such as high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and high-intensity functional training (HIFT) have been proposed to enhance multidimensional performance in young athletes. However, direct comparisons of their effects in adolescent female volleyball players are limited. Methods Thirty-two licensed female volleyball players (aged 15-18 years) were randomly assigned to HIIT (n=10), HIFT (n=11), or control (n=11). Training interventions lasted 12 weeks with two sessions per week, in addition to regular volleyball practice. The HIIT program consisted of progressive resistance-based high intensity intervals performed at 85-95% HRmax, while the HIFT program comprised multimodal circuit-style functional exercises performed at comparable intensities (\~85-95% HRmax). Pre- and post-tests included countermovement jump (CMJ), standing long jump (SLJ), medicine ball throw (MBT), pro-agility, 20 m sprint, repeated sprint fatigue index (RSI), volleyball skill test, Yo-Yo IR1 distance, VO₂max, blood lactate, and maximal heart rate (MaxHR). A 3×2 mixed-model ANOVA with Tukey post hoc tests was conducted, and effect sizes were reported as Cohen's d and ηp².

Conditions

Youth Volleyball; Sports Performance; Neuromuscular Function; Aerobic Capacity; Explosive Strength; Agility; Motor Skill Development

Keywords

High-Intensity Interval Training; High-Intensity Functional Training; Explosive Strength; Strength Training; Sports Performance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Change in Countermovement Jump (CMJ) Height

  Vertical jump height assessed using infrared timing device to evaluate explosive lower-limb power.

  Change from baseline to week 12

• Change in Maximal Oxygen Uptake (VO₂max)

  Measured using portable breath-by-breath metabolic analyzer during Yo-Yo IR1; reflects aerobic capacity.

  Change from baseline to week 12

• Change in Volleyball Skill Test Score

  Serve, pass, set, block, and spike accuracy under standardized conditions.

  Change from baseline to week 12

Secondary Outcomes (9)

• Standing Long Jump (SLJ) Distance

  Change from baseline to week 12

• Medicine Ball Throw Distance

  Change from baseline to week 12

• Pro-Agility Test (5-10-5 Shuttle)

  Change from baseline to week 12

• 20 m Sprint Time

  Change from baseline to week 12

• Repeated Sprint Fatigue Index (RSI)

  Change from baseline to week 12

Study Arms (3)

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in the HIIT group engaged in a 12-week resistance-based high intensity interval training program, designed to target both aerobic and anaerobic energy systems. Training sessions were conducted twice per week in addition to the athletes' regular volleyball practice schedule. Each session commenced with a standardized 10-minute warm-up involving low-intensity jogging and dynamic stretching, and concluded with a 5-minute cool-down of light jogging and static stretching to promote recovery. The main training component consisted of short, repeated high intensity bouts (30 s) of multi-modal exercises-including sprint drills, plyometric movements, functional bodyweight resistance exercises, multi-joint strength movements, agility drills, and aerobic conditioning-performed at 85-95% of maximal heart rate (HRmax) \[28,13\]. Each bout was followed by 30 s of active recovery (e.g., walking or light movement).

Behavioral: High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants completed a 12-week high intensity functional training program aimed at developing aerobic capacity, anaerobic power, muscular strength, and agility. Training sessions were performed twice weekly in addition to regular volleyball practices. Each training session followed a standardized structure, beginning with a 10-minute warm-up of light jogging and dynamic mobility exercises, followed by a main training phase consisting of circuit-style functional workouts that combined sprint drills, plyometric exercises, bodyweight resistance movements, multi-joint strength exercises, agility drills, and aerobic activities; each exercise was performed for 30 seconds at maximal effort with no fixed rest between exercises (≤10 seconds transition allowed), and participants completed 4-6 sets per session with 1-2 minutes of rest between sets, while emphasizing maximal movement speed and explosive execution of all repetitions, and concluding with a 5-minute cool-down of low-intensity jogg

Behavioral: High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT)

Control (Routine Volleyball Training)

NO INTERVENTION

articipants continued their standard volleyball training program (3-4 sessions per week). To balance training exposure, they also completed the same number of additional supervised sessions as the intervention groups, consisting of regular volleyball practice only, without HIIT or HIFT conditioning.

Interventions

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the HIIT group engaged in a 12-week resistance-based high intensity interval training program, designed to target both aerobic and anaerobic energy systems. Training sessions were conducted twice per week in addition to the athletes' regular volleyball practice schedule. Each session commenced with a standardized 10-minute warm-up involving low-intensity jogging and dynamic stretching, and concluded with a 5-minute cool-down of light jogging and static stretching to promote recovery. The main training component consisted of short, repeated high intensity bouts (30 s) of multi-modal exercises-including sprint drills, plyometric movements, functional bodyweight resistance exercises, multi-joint strength movements, agility drills, and aerobic conditioning-performed at 85-95% of maximal heart rate (HRmax) \[28,13\]. Each bout was followed by 30 s of active recovery (e.g., walking or light movement).

Also known as: Resistance-based HIIT

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT) BEHAVIORAL

Participants completed a 12-week high intensity functional training program aimed at developing aerobic capacity, anaerobic power, muscular strength, and agility. Training sessions were performed twice weekly in addition to regular volleyball practices. Each training session followed a standardized structure, beginning with a 10-minute warm-up of light jogging and dynamic mobility exercises, followed by a main training phase consisting of circuit-style functional workouts that combined sprint drills, plyometric exercises, bodyweight resistance movements, multi-joint strength exercises, agility drills, and aerobic activities; each exercise was performed for 30 seconds at maximal effort with no fixed rest between exercises (≤10 seconds transition allowed), and participants completed 4-6 sets per session with 1-2 minutes of rest between sets, while emphasizing maximal movement speed and explosive execution of all repetitions, and concluding with a 5-minute cool-down of low-intensity joggi

Also known as: High Intensity Functional Circuit Training

High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 15 Years - 18 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Female volleyball players aged 15-18 years
• Licensed athletes competing in a regional league
• Minimum of 2 years of regular volleyball training experience
• Healthy, without chronic illness or musculoskeletal injury
• Provided informed consent (with parental/guardian approval for minors)

You may not qualify if:

• Current musculoskeletal injury or recent surgery
• History of chronic disease (e.g., cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory)
• Regular use of medication, nutritional supplements, alcohol, or tobacco
• Non-compliance with training sessions or inability to complete testing procedures
• Decline of informed consent or parental permission

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Duvenciler Anadolu Lİsesi: lead

Study Sites (1)

Marmara University, Faculty of Sport Sciences Research Center

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Bilici OF, Topates TK. Comparative effects of high intensity interval and functional training on performance outcomes in adolescent female volleyball players. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2025 Dec 23. doi: 10.1186/s13102-025-01476-w. Online ahead of print.

  PMID: 41437127 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Interventions

High-Intensity Interval Training

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Physical Conditioning, Human; Exercise; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: No masking was applied; both participants and investigators were aware of group assignments (HIIT, HIFT, or control).
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: Thirty-two adolescent female volleyball players were randomly assigned into three parallel groups: high-intensity interval training (HIIT, n=10), high-intensity functional training (HIFT, n=11), or control (n=11). The intervention period lasted 12 weeks, with two supervised training sessions per week in addition to routine volleyball practices. Pre- and post-tests were conducted to evaluate physical, physiological, and volleyball-specific performance outcomes.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 4, 2025
• First Posted: September 18, 2025
• Study Start: September 15, 2021
• Primary Completion: December 15, 2021
• Study Completion: January 15, 2022
• Last Updated: September 25, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)