EFFECTIVENESS OF AN 8-WEEK STRENGTH-ORIENTED TRAINING PROGRAM ON THE STRENGTH QUALITIES OF 14–16-YEAR-OLD RUGBY PLAYERS
Keywords:
youth rugby players; strength training; physical preparation; training methodology; sports performanceAbstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of strength-oriented training programs aimed at improving strength qualities in 14–16-year-old rugby players. The research was conducted at an Olympic and Paralympic Sports Training Center and involved 20 healthy male rugby players. A pre-test–post-test experimental design was applied over an 8-week training intervention. Training sessions were held twice daily from Monday to Friday, each lasting 90 minutes, while one 120-minute session was conducted on Saturdays. The strength-oriented exercises were primarily integrated into the morning training sessions, focusing on both general and rugby-specific strength development. Strength indicators were assessed before and after the intervention using standardized physical fitness tests. The results demonstrated statistically significant improvements in key strength parameters following the training program, confirming the effectiveness of the proposed methodology. The findings suggest that a systematically structured strength training program can significantly enhance strength qualities in young rugby players and may be effectively implemented in specialized sports training centers.
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