Effects of velocity-based and traditional resistance training on physical performance, anaerobic capacity, and perceptual responses in trained male football players

Abstract

Velocity-based resistance training (VBRT) has emerged as a prominent method for optimizing neuromuscular adaptations by accommodating daily fluctuations in athlete performance. Despite its growing popularity, comparative evidence on VBRT versus traditional resistance training (TRT) across multiple performance and perceptual outcomes in trained football players remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effects of two 8-week, strength-focused resistance-training programs, VBRT and TRT, on explosive performance, anaerobic capacity, balance, football-specific performance, and perceptual responses in trained male football players. Sixteen trained male football players (age: 19.60 ± 1.26 years; height: 174.75 ± 5.49 cm; weight: 73.49 ± 5.24 kg; body mass index (BMI): 24.09 ± 2.35 kg/m²; training age: 10.10 ± 1.37 years) were randomly assigned to a VBRT group ( n  = 8) or a TRT group ( n  = 8). Both groups completed two resistance training sessions per week for 8 weeks. Performance assessments, including vertical jump (VJ), running anaerobic sprint test (RAST), 30-m sprint, T-change of direction (T-CoD), balance, ball speed, and perceptual measures (rating of perceived exertion (RPE), visual analogue scale (VAS)), were conducted before and after the intervention under standardized conditions. No significant group x time interactions were observed for any outcome ( p  > 0.05). Significant time effects were observed for VJ performance ( p  = 0.013, η² p  = 0.56), estimated anaerobic power ( p  = 0.018, η² p  = 0.53), balance ( p  = 0.003, η² p  = 0.70), fatigue index ( p  = 0.042, η² p  = 0.42), and muscle soreness assessed using the VAS ( p  = 0.014, η² p  = 0.55). A significant group effect was observed for estimated anaerobic power ( p  = 0.004, η² p  = 0.67); however, the groups already differed at baseline for this outcome ( p  = 0.013). No significant group x time interactions were observed for any outcome, providing no clear evidence that training adaptations differed between VBRT and TRT over the 8-week intervention. Velocity-based load autoregulation may still provide a practical approach to adjusting resistance-training loads based on current performance capacity in trained football players. The randomized controlled trial was retrospectively registered on 11/06/2026 at ClinicalTrials.gov, under the registration number NCT07652307 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07652307 ).