Vol 10 No 1 (2025): June (In Progress)
Geography. Anthropology. Recreation

Complex Training Improves Physical and Functional Capabilities in Football Players
Latihan Kompleks Meningkatkan Kemampuan Fisik dan Fungsional pada Pemain Sepak Bola


Mohammed Ghani Hussein
Al-Mustansiriya University / College of Basic Education / Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Iraq *

(*) Corresponding Author
Picture in here are illustration from public domain image or provided by the author, as part of their works
Published March 26, 2025
Keywords
  • physical abilities,
  • functional abilities,
  • football players
How to Cite
Hussein, M. G. (2025). Complex Training Improves Physical and Functional Capabilities in Football Players. Academia Open, 10(1), 10.21070/acopen.10.2025.10785. https://doi.org/10.21070/acopen.10.2025.10785

Abstract

General Background: The development of football players’ physical and functional capabilities is crucial for optimizing performance, particularly in the latter stages of a match. Specific Background: Many players experience premature exhaustion, sluggish recovery, and reduced concentration due to inadequate training methodologies. Knowledge Gap: Existing training approaches often fail to integrate complex exercises that enhance both physical and functional attributes simultaneously. Aims: This study investigates the impact of complex exercises using a training intervention method on the physical and functional capabilities of football players. Methods: An experimental approach with a one-group pre-test and post-test design was applied to 17 players from Al-Masafi Sports Club competing in the Iraqi Premier League (2024–2025). Functional and physical performance was assessed before and after an eight-week training intervention. Results: Statistical analysis revealed significant improvements in key functional variables, including vital lung capacity and relative oxygen consumption (VO₂ Max), as well as enhancements in physical abilities such as sprinting speed and explosive power. Novelty: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of high-intensity interval training combined with complex exercises tailored to match-specific demands, bridging the gap between conventional conditioning and real-game performance. Implications: Coaches and sports scientists should incorporate targeted complex training methodologies to optimize players’ endurance, recovery, and concentration, ultimately enhancing competitive performance.

Highlights:

 

  1. Players experience fatigue, slow recovery, and reduced concentration.

  2. Complex training interventions improve physical and functional capabilities.

  3. Enhances endurance, recovery, and performance in competitive football.

Keywords: physical abilities, functional abilities, football players

 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

No metrics found.

References

  1. W. Mahjoub, Scientific Research and Its Methods, Baghdad, Iraq: Dar Al-Kutub for Printing and Publishing, 2002, p. 81.
  2. A. Salloum, Tests, Measurements, and Statistics in the Field of Sports, Al-Tayf for Printing, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Al-Qadisiyah University, 2004, p. 91.
  3. Q. H. Hussein and B. Ahmed, Isotonic Muscle Training in the Field of Sports Activities, Al-Watan Al-Arabi Press, 1979, p. 155.
  4. M. N. D. Radwan, Methods of Measuring Physical Effort in Sports, Cairo, Egypt: Al-Kutub Publishing Center, 1998, p. 116.
  5. H. A. Rahim, "The Effect of Training Types on Some Functional Variables in the Preparation of Fighters of the First Special Duties Regiment," Ph.D. dissertation, College of Physical Education, Univ. of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq, 1993.
  6. G. Metivier and R. Gautheir, "The Effect of Acute Exercise on T3, T4, and Free Thyroxine Index in Male," J. Sports Med., vol. 21, pp. 371, 2012.
  7. A. C. Guyton et al., Textbook of Medical Physiology, 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA, USA: Elsevier, 2009, p. 257.
  8. A. R. Magill, Motor Learning: Concepts and Applications, Boston, MA, USA: McGraw-Hill, 2007.