EFFECTS OF A 12-WEEK NEUROMUSCULAR TRAINING INTERVENTION ON JUMP HEIGHT, MAXIMAL FORCE, AND POWER IN U-13 MALE SOCCER PLAYERS

Andi Baze, Elton Spahiu, Gentjan Muca

Abstract


The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 12-week structured neuromuscular training intervention on lower-limb explosive performance, specifically jump height, maximal force, and maximal power in U-13 male soccer players. Fifty-seven youth soccer players (mean age = 12.5 ± 0.6 years) from four U-13 teams in Tirana, Albania, were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 28) or a control group (n = 29). The intervention group completed a structured neuromuscular training program three times per week (15 minutes per session) focusing on coordination, running technique, reaction time, jumping, and multidirectional sprinting, while the control group continued routine soccer training. Explosive performance was assessed before and after the intervention using the Leonardo force platform during a Single Two-Leg Jump (S2LJ). A two-way repeated-measures ANOVA was used to analyze the effects of Time (pre, post) and Type of Intervention (intervention, control). Significant main effects of Time were observed for jump height, maximal force, and maximal power (p < .001), indicating overall improvements across the study period. Significant Time × Type of Intervention interactions were found for all three variables (p < .05), demonstrating greater time-related improvements in the intervention group compared with the control group. Jump height showed the largest intervention effect, followed by maximal force, while maximal power exhibited a smaller but still significant interaction effect. Between-subjects effects were significant for jump height, whereas force and power adaptations were primarily reflected in longitudinal interaction effects. A short, low-volume neuromuscular training intervention integrated into regular soccer practice significantly enhances lower-limb explosive performance in U-13 male soccer players. The findings highlight that jump height, maximal force, and maximal power respond differently to neuromuscular training during early adolescence and underscore the importance of multidimensional force-platform assessment. Incorporating targeted neuromuscular exercises into youth soccer training programs appears to be an effective strategy for optimizing explosive performance development.

 

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youth soccer; neuromuscular training; jump height; maximal force; maximal power; force platform; explosive performance

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejpe.v13i2.6527

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