Effects of Velocity-Based and Traditional Resistance Training on Performance in Trained Male Football Players (VBRT-TRT-FP)

Effects of Velocity-Based and Traditional Resistance Training on Physical Performance, Anaerobic Capacity, and Perceptual Responses in Trained Male Football Players

This study compared the effects of velocity-based resistance training (VBRT) and traditional resistance training (TRT) on physical performance, anaerobic capacity, and perceptual responses in trained male football players. Sixteen participants were randomly assigned to either a VBRT group or a TRT group and completed an 8-week resistance training program. The study aimed to determine whether VBRT provides greater improvements in explosive performance, anaerobic power, balance, football-specific performance, and fatigue-related perceptions compared with traditional percentage-based resistance training.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Resistance Training; Football Players; Resistance Training in Football Players
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Velocity-Based Resistance Training; Behavioral: Traditional Resistance Training

Detailed Description

Resistance training is widely used in football to improve strength, power, and sport-specific performance. Traditional resistance training typically prescribes training loads based on fixed percentages of one-repetition maximum (1RM). However, this approach may not adequately account for daily fluctuations in neuromuscular readiness and fatigue. Velocity-based resistance training (VBRT) has emerged as an alternative method that uses movement velocity to individualize training load and regulate training effort.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of velocity-based resistance training and traditional percentage-based resistance training in trained male football players. Participants were randomly assigned to either a VBRT group or a traditional resistance training (TRT) group and completed an 8-week resistance training intervention consisting of deep squat, half squat, and bench press exercises performed twice weekly.

In the VBRT group, training loads were adjusted using individualized load-velocity profiles and velocity-loss thresholds, whereas the TRT group trained using fixed percentages of baseline one-repetition maximum values. The study was designed to evaluate whether individualized velocity-based load prescription could improve neuromuscular performance and fatigue management compared with traditional resistance training methods.

The findings of this study may contribute to the understanding of practical resistance training strategies for football players and provide information regarding the effectiveness of velocity-based training for improving performance-related and fatigue-related adaptations.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 16
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Sinop
    • Sinop, Sinop, Turkey (Türkiye), 57000
      • Sinop University, Faculty of Sport Sciences

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male football players aged 18 to 25 years
• Actively participating in organized football training and competition
• At least 1 year of structured resistance training experience
• Regular exposure to football-specific training loads
• Willing and able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Musculoskeletal injury within the previous 6 months
• Neurological, orthopedic, or chronic disorders affecting physical performance
• Use of ergogenic aids or supplements that could influence neuromuscular performance
• Participation in additional resistance training outside the study protocol
• Missing more than 10% of the scheduled training sessions

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Velocity-Based Resistance Training (VBRT); Participants completed an 8-week velocity-based resistance training program consisting of deep squat, half squat, and bench press exercises performed twice weekly. Training loads were prescribed using individualized load-velocity profiles and adjusted according to target movement velocities and a 20% velocity-loss threshold.	Behavioral: Velocity-Based Resistance Training; Participants completed an 8-week velocity-based resistance training program performed twice weekly. Training consisted of deep squat, half squat, and bench press exercises. Training loads were prescribed using individualized load-velocity profiles and adjusted according to target movement velocities and a 20% velocity-loss threshold.
Experimental: Traditional Resistance Training (TRT); Participants completed an 8-week traditional percentage-based resistance training program consisting of deep squat, half squat, and bench press exercises performed twice weekly. Training loads were prescribed using fixed percentages of baseline one-repetition maximum values and were not adjusted according to daily performance fluctuations.	Behavioral: Traditional Resistance Training; Participants completed an 8-week traditional percentage-based resistance training program performed twice weekly. Training consisted of deep squat, half squat, and bench press exercises. Training loads were prescribed using fixed percentages of baseline one-repetition maximum values.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change From Baseline in Vertical Jump Height at 8 Weeks	Vertical jump height (cm) measured using a digital vertical jump device to assess lower-body explosive performance.	Baseline and Week 8

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Sinop University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 15, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 18, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): February 18, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 11, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 11, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 17, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 17, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 11, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Strength Training; Anaerobic Capacity; Athletic Performance; Football Players; Neuromuscular Performance; Velocity-Based Resistance Training; Traditional Resistance Training; Load Monitoring
• Other Study ID Numbers: E-57428665-050.04-278713

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