Effect of a 6-week horizontal deceleration training program on youth football players, using a motorized resistance device – a pilot study

Abstract

Purpose: No intervention study has been done, prescribing external loads in the horizontal vectored direction to overload the deceleration of a given task or movement, using a portable motorized resistance device (MRD). The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of a 6-week horizontal deceleration training program, and as well developing a framework regarding the intensity monitoring and prescribing for such training.

Methods: A total of 17 participants (youth footballers) participated in the study, that were divided into an intervention group (IG) (n = 10) and a control group (CG) (n = 7). Both groups performed pre and post tests including several performance tests. An intensity framework for horizontal deceleration training was also developed and used in this present study.

Results: An intensity monitoring framework was successfully implemented. No significant findings were found regarding overall COD times or deceleration performance outcome measurements.

Conclusion: This pilot study provides a foundation for further research on how to use an intensity framework for horizontal deceleration training. Observed improvements in total time, peak deceleration, and deceleration times for both COD tests in the intervention group (IG) from pre- to post 1 were not statistically significant but suggest a trend towards enhanced horizontal deceleration ability.