Abstract:
The aim of this study is to examine the effect of strength training on speed, agility and anaerobic power on U-17 football trainees. Strength training has been widely used by trainers recently in order to improve performance of soccer trainees. But the researcher doubt that what effect it brings and how much coaches who works at Ethiopian soccer projects/programs aware its effect. Alloftwenty eight (28) footballtrainees who was the only soccer training project team at DebereTabore town with age U-17 were conveniently selected and participated voluntarily in the research. Among those half of them were randomly selected as EG which specially prepared strength training was applied and the rest were CG. Weight and height averages of U-17 EG and CG were similar which are 56.92 Kg and 57.77 Kg in weight and 1.68m and 1.71m in height respectively. Before training, PT of two groups of fourteen (14) trainees (TT of agility tests, VJ tests of anaerobic power tests and 10m & 40m dash speed tests) were recorded. The strength training were implemented on the EG twice a week, 35 to 40 min a day. Consequently after six (6) weeks of strength training, DT was taken in each parameters and a little improvement in each test results were observed and training was continually given by increasing its intensity. After two months, posttest measurement on the same parameters was taken. The difference between the tests were analyzed statistically, with paired sample “t” test at p<0.05 Consequently it was observed that strength training implemented on junior level trainees brought about significant improvements between pre and post test results of agility, in which duration to complete TT was decreased by a mean difference of 0.75143 seconds at P=0.001. Speed in which duration of 10m and 40m dash speed test result was decreased by a mean difference of .140seconds at P=.00298 and .202seconds at P=.0036 respectively. And power, in which height and length of VJ test result were increased by a mean difference of .057857 at P=.001 respectively. As result the investigator recommended that adding strength training on their soccer training program helps to improve trainees speed, agility and power.