Effect of yoga training intervention on health-related physical fitness performance of U- 17 male football project players

Yoga training can significantly improve multiple health-related aspects of physical fitness of female subjects. Previous research findings recommend the need to evaluate the impact of yoga in different age groups, components of fitness, and measurement tools, along with the other regular training. So this study was aimed to assess the effectiveness of yogic exercise on selected health-related physical fitness performance of U- 17 male football project players in Dilla Town. A quasi-experimental study design was carried out for 8 weeks. The study was done on 30 players by using a convenient sampling method. The measure of cardiovascular endurance, leg strength, and flexibility of each player was taken and recorded immediately before and shortly after the 8-week yogic training. The mean and standard deviation were determined by using paired sample T-test. Data were analyzed by Statistical Package for scientific solution (SPSS version 20.0). The level of statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. It was found that yoga exercise has a significant effect on cardiovascularendurance (10.73 ±1.1 and 12.73±0.88 level) of the yogic group but, almost no change (10.60±1.183 and 10.87±0.990) in a non-yoga group. Yoga exercise improves flexibility (3.30±0.643 and 4.60 ±0.632 cm) of the yogic group but, almost no change in (3.34±0.83 and 3.68±0.60 centimeter) non-yogic group. It also improves leg strength (35.67±3.84 and 38.60±3.24 number) of the yogic group but, almost no change (37.67±3.28 and 37.87±3.38 number) in the non-yogic group. The results of this study showed that yoga exercise has a significant effect on the flexibility, strength, and cardiovascular endurance of football players. Therefore, yoga exercises can be installed in regular football training sessions.