Pre-season integrative neuromuscular training improves selected measures of physical fitness in highly trained youth male soccer players

This study examined the effects of an 8-week integrative neuromuscular training (INT) program, including balance, strength, plyometric, and change of direction exercises, on measures of physical fitness in youth male soccer players. Twenty-four male soccer players participated in this study. They were randomly allocated into an INT (n 5 12; age 5 15.7 6 0.6 years, body height 5 179.75 6 6.54 cm, body mass 5 78.20 6 7.44 kg, maturity-offset 5 +2.2 6 0.6 years) or an active control (CG, n 5 12; age 5 15.4 6 0.8 years, body height 5 178.4 6 6.4 cm, body mass 5 72 6 8.3 kg, maturity-offset 5 +1.9 6 0.7 years) group. Before and after training, tests to measure dynamic balance (Y-Balance test [YBT]), muscle strength (one repetition maximum [1RM]), muscle power (five jump test [FJT], single-leg hop test [SLHT], and countermovement jump [CMJ] height), linear sprint time (10 and 30-m), and change of direction with ball (CoDball) were performed. The analysis of covariance was used to test between-group differences (INT vs. CG) at posttest using baseline values as covariates. Significant, large, between-group differences at posttest were noted for the YBT (p 5 0.016; d 5 1.1), 1RM (p 5 0.011; d 5 1.2), FJT (p 5 0.027; d 5 1.0), SLHT (p 5 0.04; d 5 1.4), CMJ height (p , 0.001; d 5 1.9), 10-m sprint (p , 0.01; d 5 1.6), and CoDball (p , 0.05; d 5 0.9) in favor of the INT group. Significant moderate-to-large pre-to-post changes were detected in the INT group for YBT, 1RM, CMJ height, SLHT, FJT, 10-m and 30-m sprint time, and CoDball test (d 5 0.7 to 3.07, p , 0.05). No significant pre-to-post changes were observed in the CG (p . 0.05), except for 10-m sprint time (d 5 1.3; p , 0.05). Exposure to INT twice weekly is effective and time efficient to improve various measures of physical fitness in highly trained youth male soccer players.