Effects of Twelve Weeks Resistance Training on Physical Performance of Young Football Players of Dessie City, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study scrutinizes effects of resistance training on physical performance of young male football players. 34 amateur volunteered football players were grouped randomly as control or nonresistance training group (n=17, age = 19.47±1.33 years, weight = 58.74±3.23 kilogram and height = 166.24±4.44 centimeter) and experimental or resistance training group (n=17, age = 19.88±1.36 years, weight = 59.65±2.46 kilogram and height = 167.12±4.39 centimeter). During the intervention, both groups continued their customary training sessions but the experimental group performed resistance exercises 2 times a week for 12 weeks, while control group did not. Participants’ agility, speed, and power skills of both groups were assessed by Illinois agility run test, 30-meters sprint test, and vertical jump test respectively before and after 12 weeks of resistance training. The result of the investigation indicated that the mean difference of speed, agility, and power in the control group was found to be (0.03 seconds, 0.01 seconds, and 0.53 centimeters respectively) revealed insignificant (p>0.05) when compared to the pre and post-test mean scores. While the mean difference of speed, agility, and power in the experimental group was found to be (0.67 seconds, 0.75 seconds, and 4.82 centimeters respectively) showed that there were significant differences between the pre-test and post-test results (p<0.05). According to the outcomes of this study, resistance training which was employed in addition to football training can improve players' agility, speed, and power skills.