Author(s): S Karthick

Abstract:
Soccer athletes require exceptional cardiovascular endurance and explosive power, traversing approximately 10-12 kilometers during matches at fluctuating intensities. This investigation examined whether an eight-week High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) regimen could enhance various performance dimensions in competitive soccer athletes. Twenty-four male players from Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan College of Physical Education (ages 18-25) participated in this randomized controlled trial, divided equally into intervention and control cohorts. The intervention group completed thrice-weekly HIIT sessions over eight weeks, performing 4-6 repetitions of four-minute intervals at 85-95% maximum heart rate, separated by three-minute active recovery phases. Assessment batteries included maximal oxygen consumption testing, Wingate anaerobic capacity evaluation, 30-meter acceleration trials, and T-test agility assessment. Results demonstrated substantial performance gains in the HIIT cohort: maximal oxygen uptake increased 12.4% (p<0.001), peak anaerobic output improved 8.7% (p<0.01), sprint velocity enhanced 4.2% (p<0.05), and directional change capability improved 6.8% (p<0.01). Control group measurements remained essentially unchanged. These findings support HIIT as an effective methodology for simultaneously developing multiple performance attributes essential for competitive soccer.

DOI: 10.22271/kheljournal.2025.v12.i6j.4167

Pages: 712-716  |  159 Views  115 Downloads

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