PMID 41028022

Research
All papers

Effects of change of direction during high-intensity interval training on physical performance in young football players

Bibić E, Milić V, Radaković M, Ćeremidžic D, Andrašić S, Korobeynikov G, Trajković N

Question

Does adding change-of-direction turns to running-based HIIT improve speed and agility outcomes more than linear running HIIT in young football players?

Summary

In 57 adolescent male football players, 4 weeks of twice-weekly running HIIT improved linear sprint speed and Illinois agility time, whether the intervals were run straight or included change-of-direction turns. The study did not find group differences between linear HIIT and change-of-direction HIIT, and reactive agility and planned change-of-direction tests did not significantly improve.

Methodology

  • Advanced adolescent male football players from a professional club academy
  • 57 participants.
  • running.
  • Work intervals: 15 seconds.
  • Recovery: 15 seconds.
  • Intensity: 90% to 95% VIFT.
  • 20 to 25 minutes.
  • 2 sessions per week.
  • 4 weeks.
  • Randomized two-arm training study without a non-HIIT control group
  • Linear sprint speed, and Agility were tracked.

Outcomes

Group differences

No significant group-by-time effects were found for any performance outcome.

Favours: no_difference

No clear change

Sprint speed

Both groups improved 5 m, 10 m, and 20 m sprint times over time.

Effect: 5 m F=48.2; 10 m F=36.5; 20 m F=42.8; P value/detail: <0.01; Favours: both

Improved

Illinois agility

Both groups improved Illinois agility time over time.

Effect: F=33.1; P value/detail: <0.01; Favours: both

Improved

Reactive agility

Reactive agility and planned change-of-direction speed did not significantly improve.

Favours: no_difference

No clear change

Insights

  • For already-trained youth athletes, adding 15-second field HIIT twice weekly can coexist with regular team practices over a short block.
  • Adding turns to HIIT should not be assumed to improve reactive agility beyond straight-line HIIT.
  • Field HIIT prescription can be individualized from 30-15 intermittent fitness test velocity.

Limitations

  • No non-HIIT control group.
  • Short 4-week duration.
  • Male adolescent football players only.
  • Concurrent team training limits attribution.
  • Study tests athlete performance, not general fitness or health outcomes.

Safety

  • No adverse-event counts were reported.
  • The authors cautioned that HIIT could pose risks in young athletes if not monitored.