Effects of speed, agility, and quickness training on athletic performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: Previous studies have demonstrated the effects of SAQ training on sprint, change-of-direction, and jump performance in soccer players. However, further research is needed to assess its broader impact on different athletic populations and performance metrics. This study aims to expand the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BioMed Central Ltd
2025
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120126/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120126/1/120126.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848868117525037056 |
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| author | Sun, Min Soh, Kim Geok Cao, Shudian Yaacob, Azhar Ma, Shuzhen Ding, Cong |
| author_facet | Sun, Min Soh, Kim Geok Cao, Shudian Yaacob, Azhar Ma, Shuzhen Ding, Cong |
| author_sort | Sun, Min |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background: Previous studies have demonstrated the effects of SAQ training on sprint, change-of-direction, and jump performance in soccer players. However, further research is needed to assess its broader impact on different athletic populations and performance metrics. This study aims to expand the existing evidence by incorporating a wider range of outcomes and providing a more comprehensive analysis of SAQ training effects. Methods: A thorough search of databases, including Web of Science Core, SPORTDiscus, PubMed, and SCOPUS, was conducted, with data up to July 2024. The PEDro scale assessed study quality and RevMan 5.3 evaluated bias risk. Effect sizes (ES) were calculated from means and standard deviations, with heterogeneity assessed using the I² statistic. Publication bias was evaluated using an extended Egger test. Results: Eleven RCTs involving 499 healthy athletes from sports such as soccer, basketball, tennis, and handball met the inclusion criteria. The SAQ interventions lasted between 4 and 12 weeks, with a frequency of two to three sessions per week. The analysis revealed significant improvements in 5-meter sprint (ES = 0.63, p < 0.01), 20-meter sprint (ES = 0.49, p < 0.01), 30-meter sprint (ES = 0.55, p = 0.015), change of direction (COD) performance (ES = 0.39, p < 0.01), reaction time (ES = 0.52, p = 0.01), lower limb power (ES = 0.96, p < 0.01), and flexibility (ES = 0.57, p < 0.01), with effect sizes ranging from small to moderate. Subgroup analysis indicated that only session duration had a near-significant effect on COD performance (≤ 60 min: ES = 0.58; >60 min: ES = 0.24; p = 0.059). Conclusions: SAQ training effectively enhances sprint performance, COD ability, reaction time, lower limb strength, and flexibility, with effect sizes ranging from small to moderate. The findings suggest that shorter training durations (≤ 60 min) may be more beneficial for improving COD performance, although this effect did not reach statistical significance. Further trials are recommended to determine the optimal training dosage, along with high-quality studies covering a broader range of sports, particularly in athletes aged 14 to 18. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T14:47:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm-120126 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T14:47:18Z |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publisher | BioMed Central Ltd |
| recordtype | eprints |
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| spelling | upm-1201262025-09-23T07:57:13Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120126/ Effects of speed, agility, and quickness training on athletic performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis Sun, Min Soh, Kim Geok Cao, Shudian Yaacob, Azhar Ma, Shuzhen Ding, Cong Background: Previous studies have demonstrated the effects of SAQ training on sprint, change-of-direction, and jump performance in soccer players. However, further research is needed to assess its broader impact on different athletic populations and performance metrics. This study aims to expand the existing evidence by incorporating a wider range of outcomes and providing a more comprehensive analysis of SAQ training effects. Methods: A thorough search of databases, including Web of Science Core, SPORTDiscus, PubMed, and SCOPUS, was conducted, with data up to July 2024. The PEDro scale assessed study quality and RevMan 5.3 evaluated bias risk. Effect sizes (ES) were calculated from means and standard deviations, with heterogeneity assessed using the I² statistic. Publication bias was evaluated using an extended Egger test. Results: Eleven RCTs involving 499 healthy athletes from sports such as soccer, basketball, tennis, and handball met the inclusion criteria. The SAQ interventions lasted between 4 and 12 weeks, with a frequency of two to three sessions per week. The analysis revealed significant improvements in 5-meter sprint (ES = 0.63, p < 0.01), 20-meter sprint (ES = 0.49, p < 0.01), 30-meter sprint (ES = 0.55, p = 0.015), change of direction (COD) performance (ES = 0.39, p < 0.01), reaction time (ES = 0.52, p = 0.01), lower limb power (ES = 0.96, p < 0.01), and flexibility (ES = 0.57, p < 0.01), with effect sizes ranging from small to moderate. Subgroup analysis indicated that only session duration had a near-significant effect on COD performance (≤ 60 min: ES = 0.58; >60 min: ES = 0.24; p = 0.059). Conclusions: SAQ training effectively enhances sprint performance, COD ability, reaction time, lower limb strength, and flexibility, with effect sizes ranging from small to moderate. The findings suggest that shorter training durations (≤ 60 min) may be more beneficial for improving COD performance, although this effect did not reach statistical significance. Further trials are recommended to determine the optimal training dosage, along with high-quality studies covering a broader range of sports, particularly in athletes aged 14 to 18. BioMed Central Ltd 2025-04-02 Article PeerReviewed text en cc_by_nc_nd_4 http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120126/1/120126.pdf Sun, Min and Soh, Kim Geok and Cao, Shudian and Yaacob, Azhar and Ma, Shuzhen and Ding, Cong (2025) Effects of speed, agility, and quickness training on athletic performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 17. art. no. 66. pp. 1-13. ISSN 2052-1847; eISSN: 2052-1847 https://bmcsportsscimedrehabil.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13102-025-01101-w 10.1186/s13102-025-01101-w |
| spellingShingle | Sun, Min Soh, Kim Geok Cao, Shudian Yaacob, Azhar Ma, Shuzhen Ding, Cong Effects of speed, agility, and quickness training on athletic performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title | Effects of speed, agility, and quickness training on athletic performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | Effects of speed, agility, and quickness training on athletic performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Effects of speed, agility, and quickness training on athletic performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of speed, agility, and quickness training on athletic performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | Effects of speed, agility, and quickness training on athletic performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | effects of speed, agility, and quickness training on athletic performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120126/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120126/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120126/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120126/1/120126.pdf |