Effects of the FIFA 11+ kids program on hip and knee muscle torque in soccer players of different age groups: a prospective quasi-experimental study.

Abstract

This study compares the effects of the FIFA 11+ Kids program on lower limb isometric torque among young soccer athletes. Sixty-six male soccer athletes (aged 6-14 years) were allocated for convenience into three groups of different ages: G1 = 12-14 years, G2 = 9-11 years, and G3 = 6-8 years, on whom muscle assessments of isometric knee flexor and extensor torque and of isometric hip abductor and adductor torque were conducted before and after 8 weeks of the intervention. There was an increase in knee extensor torque (p < 0.001) in G1 and G2 and in knee flexor torque in G1 and G3 (p < 0.05) after the intervention, as well as an increase in hip abductor torque in G3 (p = 0.012). Further observations include an increase in hip adductor torque among all groups (p < 0.05) and in time-to-peak knee extensor torque in G1 (p = 0.005), as well as a decrease in time-to-peak knee extensor and hip adductor torque in G3 (p < 0.05) and in time-to-peak knee flexor torque in G2 (p = 0.022). As such, the FIFA 11+Kids program may produce a positive effect on knee extensor/flexor torque and hip abductor/adductor torque in young soccer athletes of different age groups, with an even greater effect when applied early (6-8 years).