The Effects of Pre-Event Warm Up Protocols on Some Selected Physical Fitness Components of Junior Soccer Players of Ambo FIFA Goal Project Academy

Objectives: To investigate the effects of pre-event lower limb massage, traditional warm-up and the combination of massage with a traditional warm-up on some selected physical fitness components. Design: Experimental study design was employed with six weeks intervention for each protocol. Methods: Thirty five (35) junior soccer players (19 male and 16 female) were included as a subject using purposive and availability sampling technique. Descriptive statistics were produced for each of the parameters. The results presented as mean ± SD. Paired T-test was used to compare the pre-test values with the three conditions. The significance level was set at P< 0.05 for each of the statistical tests. The SPSS 20 software was used for the statistical analysis. Result: The mean age of male and female soccer trainees was 17.89 and 16.81 years old respectively. BMI in kg/m2 of male and female soccer trainees was 19.9 and 20.4 kg/m2 respectively. Traditional warm up intervention showed significantly increases the performance in female on speed and agility and sit & reach test in both male and female trainees. Pre-event lower limb massage intervention can show significant increases of performance in standing broad jump and sit & reach test in both male and female trainees. In contrast, the combined warm-up protocol can show significant increases of performance in standing broad jump in female, while in speed, agility and sit & reach test in both male and female trainees. Conclusion: Massage should not be recommended for warm-ups separately. Further studies should examine the effectiveness of shorter duration and various types and frequencies of massage manipulations for their utility immediately prior to activities.