Comparison of Combined Sprint-Plyometric Training Versus Traditional Strength Training on Speed, Agility, Power, and Movement Quality in Intermediate Rugby Players

Comparison of Combined Sprint-Plyometric Training Versus Traditional Strength Training on Speed, Agility, Power, and Movement Quality in Intermediate Rugby Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Comparison of Combined Sprint-Plyometric Training Versus Traditional Strength Training on Speed, Agility, Power, and Movement Quality in Intermediate Rugby Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Athletic Performance; Neuromuscular Training
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Combined Sprint-Plyometric Training; Other: Traditional Strength Training Group

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial compares combined sprint-plyometric training (Group A) versus traditional strength training (Group B) in 64 intermediate-level rugby players (aged 18-25 years). Both interventions are delivered over 8 weeks at 2 sessions per week. Primary and secondary outcomes include speed (40 m and 80 m sprint via electronic timing gates), agility (T-Test), lower-body explosive power (Standing Long Jump), and movement quality (Functional Movement Screen), assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Randomization is performed via computer-generated sequence.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 64
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Munazza Ahmed, MS Sports Physical Therapy; Phone Number: +923295048527; Email: munazzaahmed39@gmail.com

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Islamabad, Pakistan, 46000
    • Recruiting
    • Ibadat International University, Islamabad (Iiui)
    • Contact: Hafsah Gul Khattak, DPT, MS-NMPT; Phone Number: 923457170732; Email: hafsahgull_khattak@yahoo.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male and female athletes aged 18-25 years
2. A minimum of 2 years of structured rugby training experience
3. Actively training at least 3 hours per week
4. Medically cleared to engage in high-intensity physical activity
5. Willingness to participate and provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1. History of moderate or severe musculoskeletal injuries or surgery within the past 6-12 months
2. Not medically approved to engage in high-intensity physical activities
3. Cardiovascular or cardiopulmonary disease or risk factors that contraindicate high-intensity training
4. Participation in any additional structured strength or plyometric program outside the study protocol during the intervention period

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Combined Sprint-Plyometric Training Group; Participants perform progressive sprint (10-100 m) and plyometric exercises (squat jumps, box jumps, single-leg hops, depth jumps) over 8 weeks. Frequency: 2 sessions/week, 45-60 min/session. Rest between sets: 3 minutes. Rest between sessions: 48-72 hours. Volume and distance progress across 4 two-week blocks.	Other: Combined Sprint-Plyometric Training; Participants perform progressive sprint (10-100 m) and plyometric exercises (squat jumps, box jumps, single-leg hops, depth jumps) over 8 weeks. Frequency: 2 sessions/week, 45-60 min/session. Rest between sets: 3 minutes. Rest between sessions: 48-72 hours. Volume and distance progress across 4 two-week blocks
Active Comparator: Traditional Strength Training Group; Participants perform lower-body resistance exercises (barbell squat, leg press, lunges, Romanian deadlift, leg curl, leg extension) at 60-80% 1RM over 8 weeks. Frequency: 2 sessions/week, 45-60 min/session. Rest between sets: 1.5-3 minutes. Load progressively increased across 4 two-week blocks	Other: Traditional Strength Training Group; Participants perform lower-body resistance exercises (barbell squat, leg press, lunges, Romanian deadlift, leg curl, leg extension) at 60-80% 1RM over 8 weeks. Frequency: 2 sessions/week, 45-60 min/session. Rest between sets: 1.5-3 minutes. Load progressively increased across 4 two-week blocks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Sprint Speed - Electronic Timing Gates (40 m and 80 m)	Sprint time measured in seconds over 40 m and 80 m distances using electronic timing gates. Very high criterion validity (r ≈ 0.95-0.99) and excellent test-retest reliability (ICC ≈ 0.90-0.99)	Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 8)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Agility - T-Test	Time (seconds) to complete the standard agility T-Test course assessing change-of-direction speed. High construct and criterion validity (r ≈ 0.80-0.96); high test-retest reliability (ICC ≈ 0.88-0.98)	Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 8)
Lower-Body Explosive Power - Standing Long Jump Test	Distance (cm) achieved in the standing long jump as a measure of lower-body explosive power. Strong concurrent validity with force-plate measures (r ≈ 0.76-0.91); excellent reliability (ICC ≈ 0.97-0.99)	Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 8)
Movement Quality - Functional Movement Screen (FMS)	Composite FMS score (0-21) assessing fundamental movement quality across 7 movement patterns. Moderate to good construct validity (r ≈ 0.60-0.85); moderate to excellent inter- and intra-rater reliability (ICC ≈ 0.74-0.98)	Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 8)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ibadat International University, Islamabad
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Hafsah Gul Khattak, DPT, MS-NMPT, Ibadat International University, Islamabad (Iiui)

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): April 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 9, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 15, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 18, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 18, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 15, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Agility; Plyometric training; Power; Sprint training
• Other Study ID Numbers: IIUI/RERC/ADT/2026/04/285

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

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