Andi Baze1, Bashkim Delia1, Gentjan Muca2, Laura Derhemi3

1Sports University of Tirana, Faculty of Physical Activity and Recreation, Tirana, Albania, 2FK Tirana, Tirana, Albania, 3Sports University of Tirana, Faculty of Movement Sciences, Tirana, Albania

Relationship Between Agility and Speed With Explosive Power of Lower Limbs in Youth Football Players: Field and Laboratory-Based Assessment

Innov. Technol. Sport Phys. Act. 2025, 4(1), 3-8 | DOI: 10.56886/itspa.250601

Abstract


The main objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between agility and speed and the explosive power of the lower limbs in youth football players. A total of 45 male athletes (ages 12–14) participated in this study. Anthropometric measurements (body height, body weight, and waist circumference) were recorded, and participants completed a series of motor performance tests. These included field-based assessments such as the agility 10x5m test, the agility T-test, sprint tests (10m and 20m), and the standing long jump. Laboratory-based assessments included the Leonardo Mechanography platform for measuring maximal force during a two-legged jump (S2LJ), and isometric strength tests using a dynamometric chair to determine maximal torque in both low-er limbs. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analyses were used to examine the associations between agility and speed with explosive lower limb power. Results indicated significant correlations between agility tests and all explosive power measures, particularly between the agility T-test and both isometric torque and S2LJ force. Similarly, sprint performance (10m and 20m) showed strong inverse correlations with the standing long jump, S2LJ, and isometric torque, suggesting that greater explosive strength is associated with faster sprint times. These findings highlight the importance of developing

Keywords


youth football, agility, speed, explosive power, standing long jump

View full article
(PDF – 155KB)

References


Aandstad, A. (2021). Reference data on anthropometrics, aerobic fitness and muscle strength in young Norwegian men and women. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 121(11), 3189–3200. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021- 04784-4

Ateş, B. (2018). Enhanced body composition and physical fitness in prepubescent soccer players. Pedagogical Research, 3(3). https://doi.org/10.20897/pr/3896

Başkaya, G., Ünveren, A., & Karavelioğlu, M. (2023). The effect of static and dynamic core exercises on motor performance and football-specific skills of football players aged 10–12. Gazi Beden Eğitimi Ve Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 28(1), 63–72. https://doi.org/10.53434/gbesbd.1148408

Esco, M., Fedewa, M., Cicone, Z., Sinelnikov, O., Sekulić, D., & Holmes, C. (2018). Field-based performance tests are related to body fat percentage and fat-free mass, but not body mass index, in youth soccer players. Sports, 6(4), 105. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports6040105

França, C., Gouveia, É., Caldeira, R., Marques, A., Martins, J., Lopes, H., … & Ihle, A. (2022). Speed and agility predictors among adolescent male football players. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(5), 2856. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052856

Gaurav, V., Singh, A., & Singh, S. (2015). Comparison of selected physical fitness components among male football players of different playing positions. Turkish Journal of Sport and Exercise, 17(2), 22. https://doi.org/10.15314/tjse.68533

Gísladóttir, Þ., Petrović, M., Sinković, F., & Novak, D. (2024). The relationship between agility, linear sprinting, and vertical jumping performance in U-14 and professional senior team sports players. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2024.1385721

Kounga, P. (2023). Evaluation of physical fitness and motor ability of Brazzaville’s U19 football players according to the playing positions. International Journal of Current Science Research and Review, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.47191/ijcsrr/v6-i3-12

Križaj, J. (2020). Relationship between agility, linear sprinting, and vertical jumping performance in Slovenian elite women football players. Human Movement, 21(2), 78–84. https://doi.org/10.5114/hm.2020.91281

Leão, C., Silva, A., Bădicu, G., Clemente, F., Carvutto, R., Greco, G., … & Fischetti, F. (2022). Body composition interactions with physical fitness: A cross-sectional study in youth soccer players. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(6), 3598. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063598

Lipecki, K. (2019). Footedness in fitness and technical skills in young soccer players. Human Movement, 20(4), 52–58. https://doi.org/10.5114/hm.2019.84004

Marques, A., Henriques‐Neto, D., Peralta, M., Martins, J., Gomes, F., Popović, S., … & Ihle, A. (2021). Field-based health-related physical fitness tests in children and adolescents: A systematic review. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2021.640028

McKinlay, B., Wallace, P., Dotan, R., Long, D., Tokuno, C., Gabriel, D., … & Falk, B. (2017). Isometric and dynamic strength and neuromuscular attributes as predictors of vertical jump performance in 11- to 13-year-old male athletes. Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, 42(9), 924–930. https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2017-0111

Makhlouf, I., Chaouachi, A., Chaouachi, M., Othman, A., Granacher, U., & Behm, D. (2018). Combination of agility and plyometric training provides similar training benefits as combined balance and plyometric training in young soccer players. Frontiers in Physiology, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.01611

Malý, T., Zahálka, F., Malá, L., & Teplan, J. (2014). Profile, correlation and structure of speed in youth elite soccer players. Journal of Human Kinetics, 40(1), 149–159. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2014-0017

Muca, G. (2022). A comparison of biomotor parameters in age groups in football. European Journal of Health and Science in Sports, 9(2), 1–7.

Salles, P., Vasconcellos, F., Salles, G., Fonseca, R., & Dantas, E. (2012). Validity and reproducibility of the Sargent jump test in the assessment of explosive strength in soccer players. Journal of Human Kinetics, 33, 115–121. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10078-012-0050-4

Spencer, M., Pyne, D., Santisteban, J., & Mujika, I. (2011). Fitness determinants of repeated-sprint ability in highly trained youth football players. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 6(4), 497–508. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.6.4.497

Zanini, D., Kuipers, A., Somensi, I., Pasqualotto, J., Quevedo, J., Téo, J., … & Antes, D. (2020). Relationship between body composition and physical capacities in junior soccer players. Brazilian Journal of Kinanthropometry and
Human Performance, 22. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980- 0037.2020v22e60769

Zhang, D., & Yu, J. (2023). Influence of strength training on the explosive power of lower limbs of soccer players. Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte, 29. https://doi.org/10.1590/1517-8692202329012022_0280

Padrón-Cabo, A., Rey, E., Kalén, A., & Costa, P. (2020). Effects of training with an agility ladder on sprint, agility, and dribbling performance in youth soccer players. Journal of Human Kinetics, 73(1), 219–228. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2019-0146

Palmer, T., Blinch, J., Farrow, A., Agu-Udemba, C., & Mitchell, E. (2020). Real-time measurement of isometric peak torque and rate of torque development using a novel strength testing device: A validity and reliability study. Physiological Measurement, 41(11), 115005. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6579/abc40b

Rajesh, C., & KV, S. (2021). Effect of speed based training on speed and agility of inter collegiate men football players. Journal of Sports Science and Nutrition, 2(2), 69–71. https://doi.org/10.33545/27077012.2021.v2.i2a.235