Association Between Weekly Strength Training Load and Perceived Physical Performance in Non-Professional Soccer Players

Association Between Weekly Strength Training Load and Perceived Physical Performance in Non-Professional Soccer Players: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Background. Strength training is a key component of physical performance in soccer. However, in non-professional players, evidence regarding the relationship between weekly strength training load and perceived physical performance remains limited, particularly when considering factors such as fatigue, pain, and motivation.

Objective. To analyze the association between self-reported weekly strength training load and perceived physical performance in non-professional soccer players, and to examine the influence of perceived fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and exercise motivation on this relationship.

Methods. An observational, analytical, cross-sectional study conducted using a structured, self-administered online questionnaire. The dependent variable will be perceived physical performance, assessed using the Perceived Performance in Sports Questionnaire. Independent variables will include weekly strength training load, measured using the session Rating of Perceived Exertion (sRPE), perceived fatigue assessed with the Fatigue Severity Scale, and motivation toward training and sport participation assessed with the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-2. Adjustment variables will include age, sex, playing position, competitive level, sporting experience, mean match playing time (minutes per match), body mass index, and overall weekly training load. Descriptive analyses and multivariable regression models will be performed.

Expected results. To identify the relationship between weekly strength training load and perceived physical performance, and to determine the physical and psychosocial factors associated with lower self-perceived performance in non-professional soccer players.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Athletic Injuries
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Soccer players sample

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 154

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Principality of Asturias
    • Oviedo, Principality of Asturias, Spain, 33006
      • Universidad de Oviedo

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Active non-professional (amateur) soccer players.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 18 and 40 years.
• Competing in the 3ª RFEF category.
• Male sex.
• Having at least two years of seniority in federated football.
• Signing the informed consent document.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Athletes with injuries lasting more than 3 months during the last season.
• Participation in fewer than two weekly group training sessions (one or none).
• Having undergone lower-limb surgery in the last 24 months.
• Players who, despite being able to attend training sessions on a continuous basis, have a regular occupational activity that causes such a high physical workload that their sports performance is limited in training and/or competition.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Observational group; Non-professional soccer players	Other: Soccer players sample; Active non-professional (amateur) soccer players.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Measurement of perceived physical performance	This variable will be assessed using the Spanish version of the Perceived Performance in Sports Questionnaire. This instrument measures athletes' subjective evaluation of their own performance during competition or sport practice. It consists of five items rated on a 1-5 Likert scale, with the final score calculated as the mean of the items; higher scores indicate better perceived performance. As no specific cut-off points are established, the score will be interpreted as a continuous variable.	Screening visit

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Measurement of weekly strength training load	Weekly strength training load will be quantified using the session Rating of Perceived Exertion (sRPE; Borg CR-10). Participants will report session duration and perceived intensity (0-10) for all strength sessions in the previous week. Weekly load will be calculated as the sum of sRPE × duration (minutes) across sessions.	Screening visit
Measurement of perceived fatigue	This variable will be assessed using the Spanish version of the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). This self-reported questionnaire evaluates the impact of fatigue on daily functioning and consists of nine items rated on a 1-7 Likert scale. The final score is calculated as the mean of the items, with higher values indicating greater perceived fatigue; a mean score ≥4 is considered indicative of clinically significant fatigue.	Screening visit
Measurement of motivation toward training and sport participation	This variable will be assessed using the Spanish version of the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-2 (BREQ-2). This self-reported instrument, grounded in Self-Determination Theory, evaluates different types of motivational regulation toward exercise. It consists of 19 items distributed across the dimensions of amotivation, external regulation, introjected regulation, identified regulation, and intrinsic motivation. Higher scores in autonomous regulation, particularly intrinsic motivation, are associated with greater adherence to and engagement in sport practice.	Screening visit

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Measurement of age	This confounding or moderating variable, used to control for individual characteristics, will be measured in years.	Screening visit
Measurement of gender	This confounding or moderating variable, used to control for individual characteristics, will be recorded as a dichotomous variable (male/female).	Screening visit
Measurement of playing position	This confounding or moderating variable, used to control for individual characteristics, will be recorded as an ordinal variable (goalkeeper / defender / midfielder / forward).	Screening visit
Measurement of competitive category	This confounding or moderating variable, used to control for individual characteristics, will be recorded as an ordinal variable (e.g., first regional division / second regional division, etc.).	Screening visit
Measurement of soccer-specific experience	This confounding or moderating variable, used to control for individual characteristics, will be measured as a continuous variable, defined as the number of competitive seasons played.	Screening visit
Measurement of average match playing time	This confounding or moderating variable, used to control for individual characteristics, will be recorded as an ordinal variable (<45 minutes / 45-90 minutes / >90 minutes).	Screening visit
Measurement of body mass index	This confounding or moderating variable, used to control for individual characteristics, will be calculated from body mass and height (kg/m²).	Screening visit
Measurement of overall weekly training load	This confounding or moderating variable, used to control for individual characteristics, will be assessed as the mean perceived exertion of all training sessions (strength training plus field-based sessions) using a 0-10 rating of perceived exertion scale.	Screening visit

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Oviedo

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 12, 2026
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 13, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 11, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 6, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 6, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 1, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 27, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Soccer; Fatigue; Motivation; Strength Training; Athletic Performance
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Fatigue; Athletic Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: FutRend

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No