Effects Integrated Neuromuscular Training Program on Agility, Sprint Performance, and Ball Control in Male Football Players
Keywords:
integrated neuromuscular training, agility, sprint performance, ball control, football
Abstract
Background: Integrated Neuromuscular Training (INT) has emerged as a potent strategy for concurrently enhancing physical capacities and technical skills in football. However, evidence regarding the simultaneous effects of INT on agility, sprint performance, and ball control remains limited. Methods: A randomized controlled trial (pretest–posttest control group design) was conducted with 40 male football players (age: 19.95 ± 1.25 years). Participants were randomly assigned to an INT group (n = 20) or a control group (n = 20). The INT group performed a structured neuromuscular program (45–60 min/session, 3 sessions/week for 8 weeks) comprising dynamic stabilization, plyometrics, resisted sprinting, change-of-direction drills, and ball control tasks under fatigue. The control group maintained regular football training. Agility was assessed via the Illinois Agility Test (IAT), sprint performance via a 30-m sprint, and ball control via a standardized timed dribbling test. Results: The INT group demonstrated significant improvements in agility (7.34%, p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.43), 30-m sprint (6.85%, p < 0.001, d = 1.06), and ball control (16.28%, p < 0.001, d = 1.37). Between-group posttest comparisons favored INT for all variables (p < 0.001). The control group exhibited only marginal changes (agility: 2.95%; sprint: 2.29%; ball control: 4.77%). Conclusion: An 8-week INT program elicits large, statistically significant improvements in agility, sprint performance, and ball control in football players. These findings support the integration of structured neuromuscular protocols into periodized football preparation.
References
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Oliver, J. L., Ramachandran, A. K., Singh, U., Ramirez-Campillo, R., & Lloyd, R. S. (2024). The effects of strength, plyometric and combined training on strength, power and speed characteristics in high-level, highly trained male youth soccer players: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, 54, 623–643. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-023-01944-8
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Pareja-Blanco, F., Asian-Clemente, J. A., & Saez de Villarreal, E. (2024). Combined squat and light-load resisted sprint training for improving athletic performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 38(2), 2457–2463. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003171
Pomares-Noguera, C., Ayala, F., Robles-Palazón, F. J., Del Pilar García-Vaquero, M., Ruiz-Pérez, I., Hernández-Sánchez, S., De Ste Croix, M., & Vera-Garcia, F. J. (2018). Acute and chronic effects of the FIFA 11+ on several physical performance measures in adolescent football players. European Journal of Human Movement, 36, 116–136.
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Ramirez-Campillo, R., Alvarez, C., Garcia-Hermoso, A., García-de-Alcaraz, A., & Ibrahim, A. (2020). Effects of plyometric jump training on physical fitness in amateur and professional volleyball players: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Physiology, 11, 529. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2020.00529
Ramirez-Campillo, R., Moran, J., Oliver, J. L., Pedley, J. S., Lloyd, R. S., & Granacher, U. (2022). Programming plyometric-jump training in soccer: A review. Sports, 10(6), 94. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports10060094
Rojas-Jaramillo, D., Pareja-Blanco, F., & Saez de Villarreal, E. (2024). Effects of velocity-based training on strength and power in young soccer players: A systematic review. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 38(10), e600–e625. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000004904
Sheppard, J. M., & Young, W. B. (2006). Agility literature review: Classifications, training and testing. Journal of Sports Sciences, 24(9), 919–932. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410500457109
Sofuoğlu, C., Güçhan Topçu, Z., & Bayrakcı Tunay, V. (2024). The effect of core stability training on ball-kicking velocity, sprint speed, and agility in adolescent male football players. PLOS ONE, 19(6), e0305245. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0305245
Steffen, K., Emery, C. A., Romiti, M., Kang, J., Bizzini, M., Dvorak, J., Finch, C. F., & Meeuwisse, W. H. (2024). High adherence to a neuromuscular injury prevention programme (FIFA 11+) improves functional balance and reduces injury risk in Canadian youth female football players: A cluster randomised trial. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 47(12), 794–802. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2013-093222
Ward, P., Coutts, A. J., Pruna, R., & McCall, A. (2022). Putting the “i” back in team: A proposed framework for measuring training load in individual and team sports. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 17(8), 1141–1149. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2021-0439
Zarei, M., Abbasi, H., Daneshjoo, A., Barghi, T. S., Rommers, N., Faude, O., & Rössler, R. (2018). Long-term effects of the 11+ warm-up injury prevention programme on physical performance in adolescent male football players: A cluster-randomised controlled trial. Journal of Sports Sciences, 36(21), 2447–2454. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1462001
Ayala, F., Pomares-Noguera, C., Robles-Palazón, F. J., Del Pilar García-Vaquero, M., Ruiz-Pérez, I., Hernández-Sánchez, S., De Ste Croix, M., & Vera-Garcia, F. J. (2017). Training effects of the FIFA 11+ and Harmoknee on several neuromuscular parameters of physical performance measures. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 38(4), 278–289. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-121260
Bekris, E., Mylonis, E., & Gissis, I. (2020). The effect of proprioceptive training on technical soccer skills in youth professional soccer players. Medicina, 61(2), 252. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61020252
Bizzini, M., & Dvorak, J. (2015). FIFA 11+: An effective programme to prevent football injuries in various player groups worldwide—A narrative review. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 49(9), 577–579. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-094765
Chaabene, H., Prieske, O., Moran, J., Negra, Y., Attia, A., & Granacher, U. (2020). Effects of resistance training on change-of-direction speed in youth and young physically active and athletic adults: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, 50(8), 1483–1499. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-020-01293-w
Daneshjoo, A., Mokhtar, A. H., Rahnama, N., & Yusof, A. (2012). The effects of comprehensive warm-up programs on proprioception, static and dynamic balance on male soccer players. PLOS ONE, 7(12), e51568. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0051568
Falces-Prieto, M., González-Fernández, F. T., García-Delgado, G., Silva, R., Nobari, H., & Clemente, F. M. (2022). Relationship between sprint, jump, dynamic balance with the change of direction on young soccer players’ performance. Scientific Reports, 12, 12272. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-16558-9
Hachana, Y., Chaabene, H., Nabli, M. A., Attia, A., Moualhi, J., Farhat, N., & Elloumi, M. (2014). Test-retest reliability, criterion-related validity, and minimal detectable change of the Illinois agility test in male team sport athletes. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28(12), 3315–3320. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000605
Haugen, T. A., Tønnessen, E., & Seiler, S. (2019). Anaerobic performance testing of professional soccer players 1995–2010. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 8(2), 148–156. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.8.2.148
Held, S., Speer, K., Rappelt, L., Wicker, P., & Donath, L. (2022). The effectiveness of traditional vs. velocity-based strength training on explosive and maximal strength performance: A network meta-analysis. Frontiers in Physiology, 13, 926972. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.926972
Impellizzeri, F. M., Bizzini, M., Dvorak, J., Pellegrini, B., Schena, F., & Junge, A. (2013). Physiological and performance responses to the FIFA 11+ (part 2): A randomised controlled trial on the training effects. Journal of Sports Sciences, 31(13), 1491–1502. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2013.802926
Lloyd, R. S., Oliver, J. L., Faigenbaum, A. D., Howard, R., De Ste Croix, M. B. A., Williams, C. A., Best, T. M., Alvar, B. A., Micheli, L. J., Thomas, D. P., Hatfield, D. L., Cronin, J. B., & Myer, G. D. (2020). Long-term athletic development—Part 1: A pathway for all youth. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 29(5), 1439–1450. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000567
McBurnie, A. J., Harper, D. J., Jones, P. A., & Dos’Santos, T. (2022). Deceleration training in team sports: Another potential ‘vaccine’ for sports-related injury? Sports Medicine, 52(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-021-01537-9
Morin, J. B., Samozino, P., Murata, M., & Cross, M. R. (2019). A simple method for assessing lower limb force, velocity, and power capabilities from field jumping tests. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 14(4), 478–485. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2018-0402
Myer, G. D., Kushner, A. M., Faigenbaum, A. D., Kiefer, A., Kashikar-Zuck, S., Clark, J. F., & McGuire, T. (2022). The back to basketball campaign: A rationale for a targeted neuromuscular training program to reduce injury and optimize performance in youth basketball players. Sports Medicine, 52(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-021-01552-w
Oliver, J. L., Ramachandran, A. K., Singh, U., Ramirez-Campillo, R., & Lloyd, R. S. (2024). The effects of strength, plyometric and combined training on strength, power and speed characteristics in high-level, highly trained male youth soccer players: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, 54, 623–643. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-023-01944-8
Orange, S. T., Hritz, A., Pearson, L., Jeffries, O., Jones, T. W., & Steele, J. (2022). Comparison of the effects of velocity-based vs. traditional resistance training methods on adaptations in strength, power, and sprint speed: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and quality of evidence appraisal. Journal of Sports Sciences, 40(11), 1220–1234. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2022.2084367
Ortega, J. A. F., De Los Reyes, Y. G., & Peña, F. R. G. (2020). Effects of strength training based on velocity versus traditional training on muscle mass, neuromuscular activation, and indicators of maximal power and strength in girls soccer players. Apunts Sports Medicine, 55(205), 53–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apunsm.2020.04.002
Pareja-Blanco, F., Asian-Clemente, J. A., & Saez de Villarreal, E. (2024). Combined squat and light-load resisted sprint training for improving athletic performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 38(2), 2457–2463. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003171
Pomares-Noguera, C., Ayala, F., Robles-Palazón, F. J., Del Pilar García-Vaquero, M., Ruiz-Pérez, I., Hernández-Sánchez, S., De Ste Croix, M., & Vera-Garcia, F. J. (2018). Acute and chronic effects of the FIFA 11+ on several physical performance measures in adolescent football players. European Journal of Human Movement, 36, 116–136.
Radnor, J. M., Oliver, J. L., Waugh, C. M., Myer, G. D., Moore, I. S., & Lloyd, R. S. (2018). The influence of growth and maturation on stretch-shortening cycle function in youth. Sports Medicine, 48(1), 57–71. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0785-0
Ramirez-Campillo, R., Alvarez, C., Garcia-Hermoso, A., García-de-Alcaraz, A., & Ibrahim, A. (2020). Effects of plyometric jump training on physical fitness in amateur and professional volleyball players: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Physiology, 11, 529. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2020.00529
Ramirez-Campillo, R., Moran, J., Oliver, J. L., Pedley, J. S., Lloyd, R. S., & Granacher, U. (2022). Programming plyometric-jump training in soccer: A review. Sports, 10(6), 94. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports10060094
Rojas-Jaramillo, D., Pareja-Blanco, F., & Saez de Villarreal, E. (2024). Effects of velocity-based training on strength and power in young soccer players: A systematic review. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 38(10), e600–e625. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000004904
Sheppard, J. M., & Young, W. B. (2006). Agility literature review: Classifications, training and testing. Journal of Sports Sciences, 24(9), 919–932. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410500457109
Sofuoğlu, C., Güçhan Topçu, Z., & Bayrakcı Tunay, V. (2024). The effect of core stability training on ball-kicking velocity, sprint speed, and agility in adolescent male football players. PLOS ONE, 19(6), e0305245. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0305245
Steffen, K., Emery, C. A., Romiti, M., Kang, J., Bizzini, M., Dvorak, J., Finch, C. F., & Meeuwisse, W. H. (2024). High adherence to a neuromuscular injury prevention programme (FIFA 11+) improves functional balance and reduces injury risk in Canadian youth female football players: A cluster randomised trial. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 47(12), 794–802. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2013-093222
Ward, P., Coutts, A. J., Pruna, R., & McCall, A. (2022). Putting the “i” back in team: A proposed framework for measuring training load in individual and team sports. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 17(8), 1141–1149. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2021-0439
Zarei, M., Abbasi, H., Daneshjoo, A., Barghi, T. S., Rommers, N., Faude, O., & Rössler, R. (2018). Long-term effects of the 11+ warm-up injury prevention programme on physical performance in adolescent male football players: A cluster-randomised controlled trial. Journal of Sports Sciences, 36(21), 2447–2454. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1462001
Published
2026-08-15
How to Cite
Iskandar, A., Ilham, A., & Hidayat, J. T. (2026). Effects Integrated Neuromuscular Training Program on Agility, Sprint Performance, and Ball Control in Male Football Players. International Journal of Education, Vocational and Social Science , 5(03), 7620-7632. https://doi.org/10.63922/ijevss.v5i03.5636
Contact Person +6282139474255
Email : ijevss@citakonsultindo.or.id / editor.ijevss@gmail.com
