Muhammad Iftiqar Ahmad Termizi, Raja Mohammed Firhad Raja Azidin, Raihana Sharir
The aim for this study is to investigate the effects of 8 weeks of complex training (CT) on speed, change of direction and power performance between complex training group and control group. Thirty soccer players (n = 30) were recruited from Sultan Idris Shah II Secondary School, Perak, Malaysia, comprising two age groups: under 15 (n = 15; aged 13–15 years) and under 18 (n = 15; aged 16–18 years). The participants underwent three physical tests assessing speed, change of direction (COD) and explosive power for the pre-test. Then, they were divided into two groups which were complex training (CT) group and control group. They underwent 8 weeks of intervention which comprised of CT program. Paired Sample T-Test revealed that all 4 assessments had significant results which were 20 m Sprint Test (p < 0.005, 0.001), Arrowhead Test (Right) (p < 0.05, P = 0.001), Arrowhead Test (Left) (p < 0.005, p = 0.001) and Counter-Movement Jump Test (CMJ) (p < 0.005, p = 0.001). In aspect of differences between the two groups in speed, COD and explosive power after 8 weeks of intervention, Independent T-Test revealed a significant difference (p < 0.05, p = 0.03) only in power performance (CMJ Test) between CT and control group. Current findings indicated that CT training method is a good strategy to be implemented to improve sport specific power performance and at the same time, the current findings may help in understanding and provides valuable insights for coaches, highlighting the effectiveness of CT in improving sport performance. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2026.
Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia; School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Faculty of Sport Science, Malang State University, Malang, Indonesia
