Micro-Dosed vs. Traditional Plyometric Training in Elite Youth Soccer (TRMD-PLYO_U19)

Matej Bel University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Microdosing; Explosive Strength; Speed; Plyometric Exercises; Soccer Performance

Treatments: Behavioral: Traditional group training program; Behavioral: Micro-dosed group training program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07193706

409/2024

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a micro-dosed plyometric training program works as well as a traditional plyometric program for improving speed and explosive abilities in elite under-19 soccer players during the pre-season.

The main questions are:

1. Does micro-dosed training improve explosive and speed abilites, such as jumping and sprinting, as much as traditional training?
2. Does it improve reactivity and change-of-direction ability ?

Researchers will compare two groups:

• Traditional Training Group: 2 sessions per week, about 40 minutes each.
• Micro-dosed Group: 3-4 shorter sessions per week, about 20 minutes each. Both groups will complete the same total weekly training volume.

Participants will:

• Take part in an 8-week plyometric training program during pre-season.
• Complete performance tests (CM jump tests, a 30-meter sprint, and a 15-0-5 change-of-direction test, broad jump test, drop jump test) before and after 8-week plyometric intervention, .

This study will help coaches and players understand if shorter, more frequent plyometric training sessions can be a good alternative to traditional longer sessions when weekly training load is matched.

Enrollment: 24 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 17 to 19 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Active membership in a U19 elite soccer club during the intervention.
• Medical fitness to participate in plyometric training and testing.
• Attendance at ≥75% of training sessions.
• Completion of all mandatory pre- and post-tests.
• Previous experience with plyometric training and testing procedures.

Exclusion criteria

• Medical limitations preventing safe participation in training or testing.
• Attendance lower than 75% of scheduled intervention sessions.
• Failure to complete mandatory baseline or follow-up testing.
• Injury preventing completion of the intervention.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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24 participants in 2 patient groups

Traditional Plyometric Training Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants in this group completed a traditional plyometric training program during the 8-week pre-season period. The program consisted of 2 sessions per week, each lasting about 40 minutes. Exercises included countermovement jumps, drop jumps, broad jumps, and other standard plyometric drills. The total weekly training volume was matched to the micro-dosed group.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Traditional group training program

Micro-dosed Plyometric Training Group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this group completed a micro-dosed plyometric training program during the 8-week pre-season period. The program consisted of 3 to 4 shorter sessions per week, each lasting about 20 minutes. The same types of plyometric exercises were used as in the traditional group (e.g., countermovement jumps, drop jumps, broad jumps). The total weekly training volume was matched to the traditional group.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Micro-dosed group training program