SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Physiol.
Sec. Exercise Physiology
Effects of different training on lower limb explosive power in youth soccer players: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Huaibin Tan 1
ZhiGao Yan 1
Cong Shao 2
YiFei Lin 3
1. China West Normal University, Nanchong, China
2. Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
3. Tianjin University of Sport, Tianjin, China
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Abstract
Background: Football demands high lower-limb explosive power for sprinting and jumping. Traditional youth training often emphasizes aerobic endurance and heavy resistance training, which may not optimally develop such power. Purpose: To compare the effects of five different training modes, including optimal power load (OPL), resistance training (RT), high-intensity interval training (HIIT), jump training (JT) and combined training (CT), on the lower limb explosive strength of 12-19 years old adolescent soccer players. Methods: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted, with 29 studies identified from databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang, and VIP. Data were analyzed using Stata 17.0, with effect sizes calculated for 10 m and 30 m sprint times, squat jump (SJ), and countermovement jump (CMJ). Result: All five training interventions showed statistically significant improvements lower-limb explosive power compared to control training. Network meta-analysis suggested that CT might be the most effective for improving SJ height (MD=4.86 [95%CI:2.67 to 7.05], P<0.01, SUCRA=82.7) and CMJ height (MD = 3.33 [95%CI:2.15 to 4.52], P < 0.01, SUCRA=65.7), while the conventional meta-analysis suggested that OPL might be the most effective for reducing 10m sprint time (MD = -1.47 [95%CI:-2.68 to -0.26] and 30m sprint time (SMD = -2.06 [95%CI: -3.40 to -0.72]) .The effects of other interventions such as RT, HIIT, and JT were also significant, but the effects were relatively small. Subgroup analyses suggest that this effect may be most pronounced in younger athletes, with diminishing returns observed in older adolescents. Conclusions: Combining resistance and plyometric training is likely to be a highly effective strategy to optimize limb explosive power development in youth football players within the training parameters examined. The findings suggest that coaches could consider incorporating CT and OPL into their programs to enhance both sprinting and jumping capabilities. Future research may need to explore the long-term impacts and physiological mechanisms underlying these training effects.
Summary
Keywords
Explosive Power 3, Network Meta analysis 4, Physical Fitness Training 1, Ranked Probability 5, Youth Soccer 2
Received
16 December 2025
Accepted
16 February 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Tan, Yan, Shao and Lin. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: ZhiGao Yan
Disclaimer
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