Abstract

Background: Warm-up exercises play a crucial role in enhancing physical performance in sports. They improve body movements and awareness, leading to greater dynamism, heightened reflexes, and improved balance. Despite their importance, warm-up protocols are often neglected by amateur athletes, increasing the risk of injury and poor performance. Aims: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the FIFA 11+ warm-up protocol in improving agility, leg power, and skill levels among amateur male football players aged 19-24 years. Study Setting & Design: The study was conducted with 15 male amateur football players within the age group of 19-24 years, all of whom engaged in sports for a minimum of one hour per day, five days a week. A pre- and post-intervention design was utilized to evaluate the effects of the warm-up protocol over a three-week period. Methods and Material: Participants underwent three assessments, Vertical Jump Test, Wall-Volley Test, and Agility T Test, both prior to and following a three-week intervention of the FIFA 11+ warm-up protocol (20 minutes per session, 7 days a week). Ethical approval was obtained, and subjects meeting inclusion criteria were selected for the study. Statistical Analysis: Statistical analysis was performed using paired t-tests to compare pre- and post-intervention results for all assessments, determining the significance of improvements observed. Result: The analysis revealed significant improvements across all tests: the Agility T Test showed a mean difference of 10.61 (p=0.00001), indicating enhanced agility; the Vertical Jump Test exhibited a mean difference of 14.93 (p=0.00002), reflecting substantial increases in leg power; and the Wall Volley Test demonstrated a mean difference of 13.43, indicating improved skill and accuracy in kicking. Conclusion: The FIFA 11+ warm-up protocol notably improves agility, leg power, and skill levels in amateur football players. Incorporating structured warm-up routines is crucial for enhancing physical performance and minimizing injury risk, underscoring the importance of greater awareness and commitment to these practices among amateur athletes.

• 1.   Rahnama N. Prevention of football injuries. International journal of preventive medicine. 2011 Jan;2(1):38.
• 2.   Bakken A. The benefits of periodic health evaluation in professional football: A focus on musculoskeletal screening.
• 3.   Ekstrand J, Hägglund M, Waldén M. Injury incidence and injury patterns in professional football: the UEFA injury study. British journal of sports medicine. 2011 Jun 1;45(7):553-8.
• 4.   Daneshjoo A, Mokhtar AH, Rahnama N, Yusof A. Effects of the 11+ and Harmoknee warm-up programs on physical performance measures in professional soccer players. Journal of sports science & medicine. 2013 Sep;12(3):489.
• 5.   Sadigursky D, Braid JA, De Lira DN, Machado BA, Carneiro RJ, Colavolpe PO. The FIFA 11+ injury prevention program for soccer players: a systematic review. BMC sports science, medicine and rehabilitation. 2017 Dec;9:1-8.
• 6.   Allen G. The Diffusion of Sports and the Problem of Cultural Imperialism. În Eric Dunning, Joseph A. Maguire, Robert E. Pearton. The Sports Process: A Comparative and Developmental Approach. Champaign: Human Kinetics. 1993:129.
• 7.   Henry I. Transnational and comparative research in sport: Globalisation, governance and sport policy. Routledge; 2013 Jan 11.

Data Sharing Statement

Funding