Effects of an Integrated Training Program on Physiological and Soccer-Specific Skill Outcomes in Male Youth Soccer Players Aged 14–16 Years

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined the effect of an integrated training program on selected physiological and soccer-specific skill outcomes in male youth soccer players aged 14–16 years.

Methods: Sixty players were allocated to an experimental group (n=30) and a control group (n=30). The experimental group completed a 10-week integrated training program, with four 80–90-min sessions per week, combining intermittent running, change-of-direction tasks, ball-based speed drills, dribbling exercises, functional strength, and small-sided games. The control group continued its usual soccer training. Outcomes were measured before and after the intervention and included vital capacity, estimated maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) derived from the Cooper 12-min run test, 50-m ball dribbling time, and slalom dribbling time.

Results: The experimental group improved significantly in all outcomes (p<0.001), with increases in vital capacity (+0.81 L) and estimated VO2max (+12.44 mL·kg−1·min−1) and reductions in 50-m ball dribbling time (−1.84 s) and slalom dribbling time (−2.55 s). The control group showed no significant pre–post changes. Post-intervention comparisons favored the experimental group for vital capacity, estimated VO2max, 50-m ball dribbling, and slalom dribbling (all p<0.001).

Conclusion: A structured integrated training program may improve aerobic-related physiological indicators and soccer-specific dribbling performance in youth soccer players. The findings support the use of ball-based, game-relevant conditioning in adolescent soccer training, although future studies should use randomized allocation, maturity assessment, and participant-level effect estimation.