Impact of a Strength Training Program on Physical Performance in U10 Soccer Players: A Quasi-Experimental Trial

Abstract

Highlights: What are the main findings? A playful strength training program integrated into soccer practice produced greater gains in handgrip strength than usual training. Agility and lower-body power improved only within the intervention group, with no significant differences versus the controls. BMI decreased in the intervention group, but between-group differences were not significant due to higher baseline BMI. RAE did not influence training response in this sample. What is the implication of the main finding? Early strength training in grassroots soccer is safe, feasible, and effective for handgrip strength. Coaching curricula should include strength development early, while further research is needed on transfer to agility, jump performance, and BMI. Background/Objectives: The integration of strength training in grassroots youth soccer remains limited, often due to persistent myths regarding its safety and utility. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a tailored, playful strength training program in young players and analyzed the influence of the Relative Age Effect (RAE) on physical development and training response. Methods: A 14-week quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design was conducted with 27 federated male soccer players aged 9–10 years (experimental: n = 15; control: n = 12). The intervention consisted of twice-weekly, game-based strength training sessions integrated into the regular team routine. Outcomes included validated anthropometric (BMI) and functional (handgrip strength, standing long jump, Illinois agility test) indicators. RAE was analyzed according to birth quartile. Non-parametric statistical analyses and effect size (r) calculations were used. Results: The experimental group achieved significantly greater pre–post gains in handgrip strength than controls (right and left). Agility and standing long jump improved within the experimental group, but between-group differences were not significant. BMI decreased within the experimental group, yet the net between-group difference in BMI change was not significant in the context of a higher baseline BMI (p = 0.047). Although the Relative Age Effect (RAE) influenced baseline BMI, no moderating effect was detected on performance variables or training-induced changes in this sample. Conclusions: In U10 soccer players, a playful, context-integrated strength program produced superior gains in handgrip strength compared with usual practice. Improvements in agility and standing long jump were observed within the intervention group, but did not exceed those of the controls. BMI changes were not different between the groups and must be interpreted with caution, given baseline imbalances. In this sample, RAE did not moderate training response.