Agility and Sprint Performance in Youth Soccer: A Comparison of FIFA 11+ and RAMP Protocols

Official title

Comparative Effects of FIFA 11+ and RAMP Protocols on Agility and Sprint Performance Outcomes in Young Soccer Players

Overview

This randomized clinical trial investigates the comparative effects of the FIFA 11+ and RAMP (Raise, Activate, Mobilize, Potentiate) warm-up protocols on the agility and sprint performance of young soccer players. The study involves 34 male players aged 8 to 15, who will be randomly assigned to one of the two warm-up groups for a six-week intervention period. Key performance outcomes-agility, measured by the Illinois Agility Test, and sprint speed, measured by a 30-meter sprint test-will be assessed both before and after the intervention. The research aims to address a gap in sports science by directly comparing these two popular protocols in a youth population, with the goal of providing coaches with clear, evidence-based recommendations for optimizing athlete development and reducing injury risk. Data will be analyzed through SPSS version 27.00.

Detailed description

This randomized clinical trial provides a detailed comparison of the FIFA 11+ and RAMP (Raise, Activate, Mobilize, Potentiate) warm-up protocols to determine their respective impacts on agility and sprint performance in young male soccer players. The study is grounded in the understanding that soccer requires exceptional speed and agility, and that well-structured warm-ups are critical for enhancing performance and preventing injuries, especially during the crucial developmental years of youth athletes. While both FIFA 11+ (a program focused on neuromuscular control and injury prevention) and RAMP (a systematic, four-phase preparation protocol) are widely used, there is a notable lack of research directly comparing their acute effectiveness in a youth soccer context. This study seeks to fill that gap by providing empirical evidence to guide coaches and practitioners in selecting the most effective warm-up strategy.

The study will recruit 34 male soccer players between the ages of 8 and 15, who will be randomly assigned to either the FIFA 11+ or the RAMP intervention group for a six-week period. Performance will be measured using standardized, valid, and reliable tests: the Illinois Agility Test (IAT) to assess agility and a 30-meter sprint test to measure speed. These assessments will be conducted at baseline before the intervention begins and again immediately following the six-week training period. The collected data will be analyzed to compare within-group improvements and between-group differences, with statistical adjustments for baseline values to ensure a robust comparison. The findings are expected to offer practical, evidence-based recommendations for optimizing warm-up routines to specifically enhance agility and sprint capabilities in young soccer players, thereby supporting superior athletic development. Data will be analyzed through SPSS version 27.00.

Interventions

• Other FIFA 11+ Warm-Up Program
  The intervention for the first group is the FIFA 11+ warm-up protocol, a standardized 20-minute program developed by FIFA for injury prevention and performance enhancement. It consists of 15 exercises performed in a specific sequence at the start of each training session, divided into three parts: the first part (8 minutes) involves slow-speed running combined with active stretching and partner contacts to practice cutting, deceleration, and proper landing; the second part (10 minutes) focuses o
• Other RAMP Warm-Up Program
  The intervention for the second group is the RAMP (Raise, Activate, Mobilize, Potentiate) protocol, a systematic, four-phase warm-up designed to progressively prepare athletes for high-intensity performance. The first phase, Raise (5 minutes), uses light cardiovascular activities like jogging and skipping to elevate body temperature and heart rate. The second phase, Activate (5 minutes), involves dynamic mobility exercises such as leg swings, lunges, and bodyweight squats to activate key muscle

Primary outcome measures

• Illinois Agility Test (IAT) [Time frame: [Time Frame: Baseline, 1st week and 6th week]]
• Stopwatch for Sprint Speed [Time frame: [Time Frame: Baseline, 1st week and 6th week]]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Male, aged 8-15 years.
• Minimum one year of organized soccer experience.
• Currently training at least three times per week.
• Willingness to participate and provide informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Cardiovascular, neurological, or musculoskeletal disorders.
• Musculoskeletal injury in the past six months.
• Participation in other structured injury prevention or strength programs.
• Inability to complete baseline testing.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

Randomized

Model

Parallel assignment

Masking

Single blind

Primary purpose

Other

Study locations

Pakistan · 1 center

• Model Town Football Club — Lahore

Publications

• Panchal R, Rizvi MR, Sharma A, Ahmad F, Hasan S, Shaik AR, Seyam MK, Uddin S, Ahamed WM, Iqbal A, Alghadir AH. Comparing the effectiveness of the FIFA 11+ warm-up and conventional warm-up in enhancing cyclist performance and mitigating injury risk. Sci Rep. 2025 Mar 19;15(1):9430. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-91005-z. PMID 40108222

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07244107 · REC/RCR&AHS/ADILMUNIR

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗