The effect of functional movement training on sprint performance in youth males

Abstract or Summary

Introduction Understanding the role biological maturity plays in responsiveness to changes in speed post training may have implications for athlete development programmes. The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of functional movement training on sprint performance in youth males. Methods High school youth males were categorised by maturation (pre, circa, or post peak height velocity (PHV)) and allocated to either a 6-week (2 sessions per week) functional movement training group or control group. Forty seven participants completed a 10m sprint assessment pre and post 6-week intervention period. Training consisted of body weight strength and sprint technique activities that were progressively overloaded to induce a training stimulus. Results Relative to the control group the training group netted small to moderate improvements in 10m sprint time post 6-weeks of training for pre PHV (N=8; %change= -2.4, ±2.4%; d=-0.35; p=0.085), circa PHV (N=8; %change= -3.7, ±2.3%; d=-0.78; p=0.012) and post PHV individuals (N=8; %change= -1.8, ±1.1%; d=-0.25; p=0.014). Discussion Within training group responses seem to be sensitive to the maturation status of the individuals. Specifically, training elicited small effects on 10m sprint performance for pre and circa PHV individual’s whereas post PHV individual’s responses were trivial. Take home message A 6-week functional movement training programme consisting of body weight strength and sprint technique activities induces meaningful improvements in sprint performance for youth males circa PHV.