Which strength training boosts soccer skills best? study tests two methods
NCT ID NCT05534191
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looked at 53 male U19 soccer players in Norway to see if functional strength training (like bodyweight and movement-based exercises) or traditional strength training (like weight machines) improves soccer performance more during the off-season. Players did 8 weeks of training, and researchers measured passing, shooting, dribbling, speed, and jumping. The goal is to find out which method helps young athletes perform better on the field.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Strength training programs (functional vs traditional)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could help coaches choose better training methods to improve soccer skills and physical performance in young players.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed study in a specific group (male U19 Norwegian players), so results may not apply to other athletes or settings. No major risks beyond normal training.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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53 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Sep 2023
- Finished
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Jan 2024
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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16 to 20 years
- Sex
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Male participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria Male soccer players aged 16-20 years. Active competitors in the Norwegian G19 0. Division or the Norwegian Tipping League (Senior 3. Division). Minimum of eight years of organized soccer experience. At least two years of structured resistance training experience. No concurrent involvement in other structured physical activity programs. Exclusion Criteria History of lower-limb injury within the past three months. Inability to meet the required training attendance (≥14 out of 16 sessions). Participation in additional structured training programs outside the intervention.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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SSA Steinkjer
Steinkjer, Trøndelag, 7714, Norway
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