Resistance Training Versus Interval Training in Female Youth Soccer Players

This study compared the effects of resistance and high-intensity interval training on sprinting, agility, and vertical jumping. Participants included 32 female youth soccer players who were randomly assigned to one of two groups: resistance training group (RTG; n = 16, age: 16.25 +/- 1.83 years, height: 164.95 +/- 4.22 cm, body mass: 57.21 +/- 5.28 kg, body mass index: 21.36 +/- 1.34 kg/m(2)) or high-intensity interval training group (HIITG; n = 16, age: 16.06 +/- 1.48 years, height: 163.98 +/- 7.60 cm, body mass: 57.63 +/- 6.51 kg, body mass index: 21.73 +/- 1.75 kg/m(2)). Pre- and posttesting included a 36.5-m sprint, countermovement jump (CMJ), and Illinois agility test. The participants completed an 8-week training regimen for their respective groups, training 3 days/week, for 1 hr per session. No difference was found in the 36.5 m sprint time between groups, but both groups improved sprint time after 8 weeks of training (RTG: -0.18 +/- 0.13 s; HIITG: -0.16 +/- 0.16 s). CMJ height improved in both groups, but the improvement was greater for the HIITG than RTG (6.39 +/- 3.10 cm vs. 1.19 +/- 2.71 cm). For the agility times, RTG improved at -0.75 +/- 0.89 s, whereas the HIITG improved at -1.76 +/- 1.15 s. An 8-week preseason training period resulted in univariate tests with significant time effect in the sprint time (p <.001), CMJ height (p <.001), and Illinois agility test time (p <.001). A Time x Group effect existed in the CMJ height ( p <.001) and Illinois agility test time (p =.009).