The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the effects of an 8-week strength training program with elastic bands on several physical components in female football players at the U15, U19, and Senior levels. The main question it aims to answer is:
Will a specific elastic band resistance training help improve some components of physical performance in female football players?
Participants will perform a bi-weekly elastic band resistance training program lasting 20 minutes per session over 8 weeks. This program will be incorporated into their in-season regimen, with assessments conducted in the week prior (week 0) and after the intervention (week 9).
belong to the U-15, U-19 or Senior level of a women's football (soccer) club;
be apart of a football championship (district or national)
None
Parallel
EBT
Other interventionElastic Band Resistance Training
Knee extension and flexion isometric strength
Maximal isometric knee extension and flexion force will be measured using a handheld dynamometer (DynaMo Plus, VALD Performance, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia). For the knee extension assessment, participants will be in a seated position, whereas during the knee flexion evaluation, the participants will be in a prone position. To generate their maximal torque, the dynamometer chain length will be adjusted so that their knee angle will be at ∼60° and ∼30°, for the knee extension and flexion, respectively. Participants will then apply a maximal isometric effort, maintaining it for 5s, without any subsidiary body movements.
Vertical jump
Jump height will be evaluated using force plates (ForceDecks, Vald). The players will perform the countermovement jump, where they will begin from an upright position; a rapid downward movement to a knee angle of ∼90°, immediately transitioning to propel themselves upwards into the air.
Change of direction sprint
The Modified T-Test will be implemented to assess change of direction sprint. This evaluation has within itself directional changes such as forward sprinting, left and right-side shuffling, and backpedaling. Photocells (WhittyGate, Microgate, Bolzano, Italy) will be used for a more precise time count.
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Henrique Sousa
Lead sponsor
University Institute of Maia
Sponsor institution
University Institute of Maia
Collaborator
Portugal Football School, Federação Portuguesa de Futebol
Collaborator
