Power training in elite young soccer players: Effects of using loads above or below the optimum power zone

• Published in: Journal of sports sciences Vol. 38; no. 11-12; pp. 1416 - 1422
• Main Authors: Loturco, Irineu, Pereira, Lucas A., Reis, Valter P., Bishop, Chris, Zanetti, Vinicius, Alcaraz, Pedro E., Freitas, Tomás T., Mcguigan, Michael R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Routledge 17.06.2020; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: football; optimal loads; Physical training; Soccer; speed ability; Team-sports; Velocity; vertical jump; optimal loads; Team-sports; speed ability; football; vertical jump
• ISSN: 0264-0414; 1466-447X
• DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2019.1651614

This study aimed to examine the effects of two jump squat (JS) training programs involving different loading ranges in under-20 soccer players during a preseason period. Twenty-three elite young soccer players performed sprint speed (at 5-, 10-, and 20-m), change-of-direction (COD) speed, JS peak-power (PP), and countermovement jump (CMJ) tests pre and post four weeks of training. Athletes were pair-matched in two groups according to their optimum power loads (OPL) as follows: lower than OPL (LOPL; athletes who trained at a load 20% lower than the OPL) and higher than OPL (HOPL; athletes who trained at a load 20% higher than the OPL). Magnitude-based inferences were used to compare pre- and post-training measures. Meaningful increases in the PP JS were observed for both groups. Likely and possible improvements were observed in the 5- and 10-m sprint velocity in the LOPL group. Meanwhile, possible and likely improvements were observed in the CMJ, 5- and 10-m sprint velocity, and COD speed in the HOPL group. Overall, both training schemes induced positive changes in athletic performance. Soccer coaches and sport scientists can implement the JS OPL-based training schemes presented here, either separately or combined, to improve the physical performance of youth soccer players.