The Effect of 8-Week Combined Strength and Power Training on Performance Development in Elite Youth Soccer Players

This study examined the effects of an eight-week combined strength and power training program on body composition and physical performance in well-trained youth soccer players. Twenty-one male participants from the same professional club’s U14 (n = 12; 159.1 ± 11.4 cm, 41.7 ± 10.7 kg) and U16 (n = 9; 167.4 ± 4.2 cm, 53.2 ± 4.3 kg) age categories participated in baseline testing after a two-week familiarization period. Tests included body fat percentage (via BIA), countermovement jump, single-leg jump (SLJ), eccentric hamstring strength (NordBord), 30 m sprint, T-test, and submaximal intermittent shuttle-run. During the eight-week protocol, in addition to regular soccer training, resistance training sessions focusing on high-load/low-velocity (MD-4) and low-load/high-velocity (MD-2) were applied twice a week. Post-tests revealed significant improvements in body fat percentage (−9 to 11%) and eccentric hamstring strength (≈+17%) in both groups (p < .01). While countermovement jump performance increased in U16 players (≈+8%), the U14 group showed greater improvements in SLJ (≈+8%) and T-test agility (−3.3%) (p < .05). No statistical changes were detected in sprint times or submaximal recovery. Between-group comparisons indicated that agility performance differed significantly in favor of the U14 group. Data were evaluated using paired t-tests, ANCOVA, and 2 × 2 ANOVA after checking for normality with Shapiro–Wilk; effect sizes were reported according to Cohen’s classification. The findings suggest that age-specific structured combined strength and power programs can improve body composition and neuromuscular abilities in youth soccer players; however, sprint performance may require longer-duration or more specific stimuli.

Cite this article as: Atabaş, EG., & Yapıcı, A. (2026). The effect of 8-week combined strength and power training on performance development in elite youth soccer players. Research in Sports Science, 16, 0084, doi: 10.5152/rss.2026.25084.