Effect of the FIFA 11+ Programme on Vertical Jump Performance in Elite Male Youth Soccer Players

Abstract

Despite the success of the FIFA 11+ programme in preventing injury, convincing coaches and players to do these exercises is diffi cult only in order to prevent injury, unless the programme can be shown to have a positive and direct impact on the performance. Th is study aims to investigate the eff ect of the FIFA 11+ programme on vertical jump performance in male elite-youth soccer players. Twenty-four male soccer players (mean ± SD: age = 16.79 ± 1.18 years, height = 174.17 ± 8.12 cm, mass = 62.45 ± 10.01 kg, experience = 6.96 ± 1.26 years) participated in this study and were randomly divided equally into two groups, FIFA 11+ and control. Th e experimental group performed the FIFA 11+ programme three times per week for eight weeks whereas the control group just performed their regular warm-up programme. Th e mixed-repeated measures ANOVA showed that there was a signifi cant improvement in the vertical jump performance between groups in post-test (P=0.002) while no signifi cant improvement was found between groups aft er 1-month of stopping the FIFA 11+ programme (P=0.076). It can be concluded that performing the eight-week FIFA 11+ programme can enhance the jump height in male elite youth soccer players. It seems that the FIFA 11+ programme could be incorporated into regular soccer practice as a warm-up programme instead of a conventional warm-up programme. However, due to the failure to maintain the long-term eff ectiveness of the FIFA 11+ programme on the jump height of soccer players, the continuation of performing this programme is necessary.

Short-Term FIFA 11+ Improves Agility and Jump Performance in Young Soccer Players

“…Positive effects on jump performance in the group of young children were found following FIFA 11+ kids [15]. Recently, Akbari et al [12] examined the impact of the "FIFA 11+" program on the vertical jump of football players aged 17 years. Significant differences were found in favor of FIFA 11+group, but 1 month after the treatment when they stopped applying the program, the vertical jump results were back at the level of the initial measurement, which led to the conclusion that the program should be further applied since the program did not show the presence of long-term effects.…”

“…Zarei et al have shown superior results of 7.5% in vertical jump height, 2.6% in Illinois agility test in favor of the FIFA 11+ program compared to standard warming up, and possible positive effects have been found in 9.1 m sprint test of −3.1% [11]. In another study, Akbari et al found positive effects of the FIFA 11+ program on vertical jump in young football players [12]. The same study showed that 1 month after the FIFA 11+ warm up was abandoned there were no longer statistically significant differences found.…”

A neuromuscular training program enhances dynamic neuromuscular control and physical performance in court‐sport athletes

“…In addition, exercises such as planks, Nordic curls, unilateral balancing, and bounding runs also featured. Previous studies have highlighted the positive relationship between increased neuromuscular activity within the core, hip, and leg muscles all of which contribute toward the efficiency of a CMJ . Previous cohorts of athletes have recorded increased CMJ performance following prolonged interventions utilizing the FIFA 11+ program.…”

“…Bonato et al speculated an increase in postural control due to performing the neuromuscular training program may have attributed toward a significant increase in CMJ height within female basketball athletes. Furthermore, youth soccer populations performing FIFA 11+ intervention have experienced significant increases in CMJ height in comparison with control following interventions lasting 8‐10 weeks …”

“…Neuromuscular training programs include plyometric, balance, perturbation, and strength exercises. These forms of training induce specific neural adaptations within the descending corticospinal tracts, motor units, neuromuscular junctions, and improving the reflex potential of the muscle spindles . One neuromuscular training program that has demonstrated significant promise for decreasing the risk of injury and improving performance variables is the FIFA 11+ .…”