Agility and Sprint Performance in Youth Soccer: A Comparison of FIFA 11+ and RAMP Protocols

NCT07244107 | Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: REC/RCR&AHS/ADILMUNIR
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 34
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized clinical trial investigates the comparative effects of the FIFA 11+ and RAMP (Raise, Activate, Mobilize, Potentiate) warm-up protocols on the agility and sprint performance of young soccer players. The study involves 34 male players aged 8 to 15, who will be randomly assigned to one of the two warm-up groups for a six-week intervention period. Key performance outcomes-agility, measured by the Illinois Agility Test, and sprint speed, measured by a 30-meter sprint test-will be assessed both before and after the intervention. The research aims to address a gap in sports science by directly comparing these two popular protocols in a youth population, with the goal of providing coaches with clear, evidence-based recommendations for optimizing athlete development and reducing injury risk. Data will be analyzed through SPSS version 27.00.

Conditions

Children, Adult

Keywords

Youth soccer; Warm-up protocols; FIFA 11+; RAMP; Agility; Sprint

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Illinois Agility Test (IAT)

  The Illinois Agility Test is a field-based assessment designed to measure an athlete's ability to accelerate, decelerate, and change direction rapidly. The test involves sprinting and weaving through a set course marked by cones. The total time to complete the course is recorded using a stopwatch. The IAT is a highly valid and reliable tool for assessing agility. Recent studies report high content validity (Aiken's V = 0.93) and strong reliability (r = 0.81), confirming its effectiveness for evaluating agility in athletes. Additional research has shown the IAT to have excellent interrater reliability and moderate to good test-retest reliability, making it suitable for both research and applied sports settings.

  [Time Frame: Baseline, 1st week and 6th week]

• Stopwatch for Sprint Speed

  A standard handheld stopwatch is used to measure sprint speed over set distance 30m. The assessor starts and stops the watch as the participant crosses the start and finish lines. The best time from two trials is recorded for analysis. Manual timing with a stopwatch is a practical and cost-effective method for field-based sprint assessment. Research shows that hand-held stopwatches have strong concurrent validity compared to electronic timing systems (R² = 0.981-0.994) and excellent inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.980-0.994) when used by experienced raters. The typical measurement error is small (about 1.6-2.5%), making this method acceptable for sports performance testing.

  [Time Frame: Baseline, 1st week and 6th week]

Study Arms (2)

FIFA 11+ Protocol Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this group will perform the FIFA 11+ warm-up protocol at the beginning of each training session for six weeks. This comprehensive, 20-minute program consists of 15 exercises, 3 days a week. Participants with receive total 18 sessions.

Other: FIFA 11+ Warm-Up Program

RAMP Protocol Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this group will perform the RAMP warm-up protocol at the beginning of each training session for six weeks. This protocol is a systematic, four-phase approach designed to progressively prepare athletes for high-intensity activity, 20 minutes session, 3 days a week. Participants with receive total 18 sessions.

Other: RAMP Warm-Up Program

Interventions

FIFA 11+ Warm-Up Program OTHER

The intervention for the first group is the FIFA 11+ warm-up protocol, a standardized 20-minute program developed by FIFA for injury prevention and performance enhancement. It consists of 15 exercises performed in a specific sequence at the start of each training session, divided into three parts: the first part (8 minutes) involves slow-speed running combined with active stretching and partner contacts to practice cutting, deceleration, and proper landing; the second part (10 minutes) focuses on strength, plyometrics, and balance exercises, including core stability, eccentric hamstring strengthening, and proprioceptive training, with three progressive difficulty levels; and the third part (2 minutes) consists of high-intensity running drills with planting and cutting movements to prepare for game-speed activities.

FIFA 11+ Protocol Group

RAMP Warm-Up Program OTHER

The intervention for the second group is the RAMP (Raise, Activate, Mobilize, Potentiate) protocol, a systematic, four-phase warm-up designed to progressively prepare athletes for high-intensity performance. The first phase, Raise (5 minutes), uses light cardiovascular activities like jogging and skipping to elevate body temperature and heart rate. The second phase, Activate (5 minutes), involves dynamic mobility exercises such as leg swings, lunges, and bodyweight squats to activate key muscle groups. The third phase, Mobilize (5 minutes), focuses on enhancing joint range of motion and movement patterns through dynamic stretches and sport-specific drills. The final phase, Potentiate (5 minutes), includes high-intensity, explosive activities like sprint accelerations, box jumps, and change-of-direction drills to activate the nervous system and optimize neuromuscular readiness for peak performance.

RAMP Protocol Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 8 Years - 15 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: This study is limited to male participants only. The focus on a single gender is intended to reduce potential confounding variables related to sex-based differences in physiological development, neuromuscular control, and response to training during adolescence. By restricting the study population to males, the research aims to achieve a more homogenous sample, thereby increasing the internal validity of the comparison between the FIFA 11+ and RAMP warm-up protocols.
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Male, aged 8-15 years.
• Minimum one year of organized soccer experience.
• Currently training at least three times per week.
• Willingness to participate and provide informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Cardiovascular, neurological, or musculoskeletal disorders.
• Musculoskeletal injury in the past six months.
• Participation in other structured injury prevention or strength programs.
• Inability to complete baseline testing.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Model Town Football Club

Lahore, Punjab Province, 54000, Pakistan

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

• Panchal R, Rizvi MR, Sharma A, Ahmad F, Hasan S, Shaik AR, Seyam MK, Uddin S, Ahamed WM, Iqbal A, Alghadir AH. Comparing the effectiveness of the FIFA 11+ warm-up and conventional warm-up in enhancing cyclist performance and mitigating injury risk. Sci Rep. 2025 Mar 19;15(1):9430. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-91005-z.

  PMID: 40108222 BACKGROUND

Study Officials

• Adil Munir, MS-PT

  Riphah International University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

IMRAN AMJAD, PhD

CONTACT

9233224390125; imran.amjad@riphah.edu.pk

Muhammad Asif Javed, MS-PT

CONTACT

923224209422; a.javed@riphah.edu.pk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: Participants will get separate treatment protocols and possible efforts will be put to mask the both group about the treatment.
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: This is a randomized clinical trial (RCT) designed to compare the effectiveness of two different warm-up routines on the physical performance of young soccer players. The study will involve 34 male participants between the ages of 8 and 15. These participants will be randomly divided into two groups. One group will follow the FIFA 11+ protocol, a warm-up designed for injury prevention and neuromuscular control, which consists of specific running, strength, and balance exercises. The other group will use the RAMP protocol, which systematically prepares athletes for high-intensity activity through four phases: Raise, Activate, Mobilize, and Potentiate. The trial will last for six weeks, with performance in agility and sprinting measured before and after the intervention to determine which protocol yields greater improvements.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 17, 2025
• First Posted: November 24, 2025
• Study Start: October 22, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 2, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 16, 2026
• Last Updated: November 24, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)