REVIEW PAPER
Strength and conditioning programs in youth athletes: a systematic review
1
Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal
2
LARSyS, Interactive Technologies Institute, Funchal, Portugal
3
CIPER, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
4
ISAMB, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
5
Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
6
Center of the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
7
Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research LIVES – Overcoming Vulnerability: Life Course Perspectives, Lausanne, Switzerland
8
Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation, University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal
Submission date: 2022-07-25
Acceptance date: 2023-02-22
Publication date: 2023-07-17
Hum Mov. 2023;24(3):1-16
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Purpose:
The relationship between strength, power, and sports performance may have long-term effects on the development pathways of youth athletes. This study systematically reviewed the current evidence of strength and conditioning interventions among youngsters in competitive sports.
Methods:
The research was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines.
Results:
A total of 415 articles were identified, and 20 remained for analysis. All studies reported resistance training (RT) and/or plyometric training (PT) interventions as beneficial to improving youngsters’ overall physical fitness. The lower-body explosive strength, speed, and agility improvements were more evident in training plans that combined heavy RT and PT programs. The training frequency of twice a week was sufficient to induce strength gains. The results indicate that strength and conditioning programs positively influence sport-specific skills performance.
Conclusions:
PT and RT should not be implemented as single exercise interventions but as complementary programs to optimise physical and game performance. This study contributes to creating awareness among sports agents and coaches for integrating planned strength and conditioning programs with qualified instruction at least two times per week to improve young athletes’ physical development.
The relationship between strength, power, and sports performance may have long-term effects on the development pathways of youth athletes. This study systematically reviewed the current evidence of strength and conditioning interventions among youngsters in competitive sports.
Methods:
The research was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines.
Results:
A total of 415 articles were identified, and 20 remained for analysis. All studies reported resistance training (RT) and/or plyometric training (PT) interventions as beneficial to improving youngsters’ overall physical fitness. The lower-body explosive strength, speed, and agility improvements were more evident in training plans that combined heavy RT and PT programs. The training frequency of twice a week was sufficient to induce strength gains. The results indicate that strength and conditioning programs positively influence sport-specific skills performance.
Conclusions:
PT and RT should not be implemented as single exercise interventions but as complementary programs to optimise physical and game performance. This study contributes to creating awareness among sports agents and coaches for integrating planned strength and conditioning programs with qualified instruction at least two times per week to improve young athletes’ physical development.
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