Effects of Neuromuscular Training on Agility Performance in Elite Soccer Players

Abstract

Background Agility in general and change-of-direction speed (CoD) in particular represent important performance determinants in elite soccer. Objectives The 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 Methods Twenty 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). Results No 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). Conclusion Our 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.

Effects of a 10-Week Combined Coordination and Agility Training Program on Young Male Soccer Players

“…This multidirectional coordination training may play an important role in improving agility, since some of the main skills involved in coordination and agility are the same. In fact, in concordance with our results, a study conducted on 20 elite U18 soccer players showed improved agility performance after a 6-week multidirectional-based training intervention [ 24 ]. Interestingly, another study that used a coordination training intervention with competition (e.g., using pairs) and without competition (e.g., individually), but using the same drills, found that coordination training with competition produced greater adaptations in agility after eight weeks [ 37 ].…”

“…Other studies have shown that coordination is directly related to strength, agility and speed [ 22 , 23 ]. Thus, this type of intervention may be related to potential improvements in agility performance, compared to a control group without such an intervention [ 24 , 25 ]. The main hypotheses of the current study were that a combined coordination and agility training program would enhance (i) agility performance, (ii) power, and (iii) linear sprint.…”

The Effects of a 10-Week Neuromuscular Training on Postural Control in Elite Youth Competitive Ballroom Dancers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…As a non-traditional form of training, neuromuscular training (NMT) is receiving increasing research attention in the sports field, mainly because NMT is purported to be effective for the rehabilitation of sports injuries ( Zech et al, 2009a ) and prevention of lower limb injuries ( Hübscher et al, 2010 ), through its unique capacity of provoking physiological sensory feedback alterations and therefore enhance joint functionalities ( Hewett et al, 1999 ; Coughlan and Caulfield, 2007 ; Zech et al, 2009b ; Myer et al, 2013 ). The effects of NMT on improving sport performance had also been examined in various physical fitness components, including jumping ( Chappell and Limpisvasti, 2008 ), agility ( Zouhal et al, 2019 ), abdominal endurance ( Barber-Westin et al, 2015 ), and postural control performance ( Paterno et al, 2004 ; Filipa et al, 2010 ; Asadi et al, 2015 ; Benis et al, 2016 ; Zemková and Hamar, 2018 ).…”

Effect of FIFA 11+ intervention on change of direction performance in soccer and futsal players: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Table 1 summarizes the basic characteristics of the 16 studies included in the review. 9,10,12,13,21,22–32 All of these studies are randomized controlled trials. The sample size ranges from 20 to 122, with a mean of 23 participants.…”