Investigating the Effects of High Intensity Resistance Training on Physical Fitness of University Male Football Players

Abstract

High-Intensity Resistance Training (HIRT) is posited to augment various attributes essential for football performance, including strength, power, speed, agility, and endurance. HIRT has potential implications for injury prevention, thereby contributing to enhanced on-field performance. The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of an eight-week HIRT regimen on the physical attributes of male university-level football players. Employing a randomized controlled design, this study involved 24 football players, aged between 19 and 25 years from University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. To ensure a comprehensive evaluation, participants were assessed both prior to and throughout the intervention, which encompassed three training sessions weekly. Physical fitness parameters assessed included the YoYo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (YYIRT1), the 30-meter sprint time (ST), the Running Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST), and the Change of Direction time (COD). Subsequent to the eight-week HIRT intervention, a significant difference was noted in all variables for the experimental group between pre-and post-test measurements.