Abstract
BackgroundAgility in general and change-of-direction speed (CoD) in particular represent important performance determinants in elite soccer.ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to determine the effects of a 6-week neuromuscular training program on agility performance, and to determine differences in movement times between the slower and faster turning directions in elite soccer players.Materials and MethodsTwenty male elite soccer players from the Stade Rennais Football Club (Ligue 1, France) participated in this study. The players were randomly assigned to a neuromuscular training group (NTG, n = 10) or an active control (CG, n = 10) according to their playing position. NTG participated in a 6-week, twice per week neuromuscular training program that included CoD, plyometric and dynamic stability exercises. Neuromuscular training replaced the regular warm-up program. Each training session lasted 30 min. CG continued their regular training program. Training volume was similar between groups. Before and after the intervention, the two groups performed a reactive agility test that included 180° left and right body rotations followed by a 5-m linear sprint. The weak side was defined as the left/right turning direction that produced slower overall movement times (MT). Reaction time (RT) was assessed and defined as the time from the first appearance of a visual stimulus until the athlete’s first movement. MT corresponded to the time from the first movement until the athlete reached the arrival gate (5 m distance).ResultsNo significant between-group baseline differences were observed for RT or MT. Significant group x time interactions were found for MT (p = 0.012, effect size = 0.332, small) for the slower and faster directions (p = 0.011, effect size = 0.627, moderate). Significant pre-to post improvements in MT were observed for NTG but not CG (p = 0.011, effect size = 0.877, moderate). For NTG, post hoc analyses revealed significant MT improvements for the slower (p = 0.012, effect size = 0.897, moderate) and faster directions (p = 0.017, effect size = 0.968, moderate).ConclusionOur results illustrate that 6 weeks of neuromuscular training with two sessions per week included in the warm-up program, significantly enhanced agility performance in elite soccer players. Moreover, improvements were found on both sides during body rotations. Thus, practitioners are advised to focus their training programs on both turning directions.
Highlights
In soccer, players are required to accelerate, decelerate, and change direction quickly throughout the game. Bloomfield et al (2007) observed a mean of 727 body rotations and changes of direction per game and per player in the English Premier League
High test-retest reliability was found for reaction times (RT) (r = 0.899) and movement time (MT) (r = 0.913)
Significant group × time interactions were found for MT performances on the slower direction (p = 0.011, effect size = 0.627, moderate) and for the faster direction (p = 0.021, effect size = 0.897, moderate)
Summary
Players are required to accelerate, decelerate, and change direction quickly throughout the game. Bloomfield et al (2007) observed a mean of 727 body rotations and changes of direction per game and per player in the English Premier League. Bloomfield et al (2007) observed a mean of 727 body rotations and changes of direction per game and per player in the English Premier League. In field sports like soccer, agility represents an important performance determinant that should be included in the training regime of young players (Davids et al, 2000; Young and Willey, 2010). Agility is an essential performance determinant in soccer and is composed of perceptual and decision-making factors like visual scanning, anticipation, etc. According to Sheppard and Young (22), agility is a rapid whole-body movement with change of velocity or direction in response to a stimulus. Agility contains a CoD component (Chaabene et al, 2018) and a perceptual and decision-making component. Agility in general and change-of-direction speed (CoD) in particular represent important performance determinants in elite soccer
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