2023, Vol. 10, Issue 2, Part D

Muscular fitness and cardiovascular endurance training plays a key role in adding value to the overall performance of soccer players. However, in Kenya, few soccer players, especially those of high school age, have embraced muscular fitness and cardiovascular endurance training. The study assessed the efficacy of an eight-week soccer training program on the cardiovascular fitness of Kenyan high school soccer team players. The study aimed to find out the impact of cardiovascular fitness training on the physical performance of the high school soccer players. The respondents comprised of the Strathmore school soccer team with a sample size (n=30) who underwent a before training test, the training programme, and after the programme test. The program involved their regular skill work, muscular fitness, and cardiovascular endurance training routine. STATA version 16 (IBM limited, UK, 2016) was used for processing data. To obtain means, percentages, standard deviations, and frequencies, descriptive statistics were calculated to analyze the status of the athletes after the training period. A paired T-test was used to test the hypotheses. The pre-test score of the athletes was (38.9133±5.73102) V02max. When compared to the test norms, it is in the fair category. After passing through the workout program, there was a significant improvement (41.663±5.34199) V02 max. This was a statistically significant increase of 2.75 t (29) =4.093, and effect size d = 0.741. The significant improvement of the of the V02 max of the participants shows that the V02max can be improved through the cardiovascular fitness training that was implemented.