Abstract:
Interval training is an efficient training approach for developing players' match fitness and endurance levels. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of interval training on some selected physical fitness and technical skill variables of U-16 football project players at Bahir Dar University. The variables investigated were speed, agility, dribbling, and passing. To facilitate this study, some hypotheses were formulated, and they provided the anchor for the study. The study employed an experimental research design. The samples of 30 football project players at Bahir Dar University with an age of (EG = 15.13± 0.834, CG = 15.00±0.756) formed the sample for the study. Using comprehensive sampling, subjects were randomly assigned to two equal groups. Both the experimental (n = 15) and control group (n = 15) participated in the regular football training. But only EG performed additional interval training for 8 weeks, with 3 sessions per week, each lasting 30 to 50 minutes. Subjects were measured on speed, agility, dribbling, and passing skills on two occasions: first, before administration of interval training as a pre-test, and second, after eight weeks of the training as a post-test. The data collected from study subjects via primary data sources were analyzed using ANCOVA using SPSS version 26 software to compare within groups, between, and to observe the effect sizes of interval training on physical fitness and technical skill levels at the 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed that interval training significantly improved speed, agility, dribbling, and passing performance in EG at (p<0.05). But no significant improvements were found in all the variables in CG (P > 0.05). Based on this finding, it can be concluded that eight weeks of interval training has a positive effect on the improvement of physical fitness variables and technical skills. As a result, this type of training method is recommended for football players and coaches to improve the physical fitness and technical skills of football players.
Keywords: interval training, physical fitness, technical skills