This study aims to evaluate the effects of Speed, Agility, and Quickness (SAQ) training on the physical, cognitive, and skill performance of university soccer major students in China. The hypothesis is that SAQ training will significantly improve students' physical fitness (e.g., speed, agility), cognitive functions (e.g., reaction time, decision-making), and soccer skills (e.g., ball control, passing). The study will recruit 52 university soccer major students, randomly assigned to an intervention group and a control group, with 26 students in each group. The study will last for 12 weeks, and tests will be conducted before, during, and after the intervention. The expected outcome is that the intervention group will show superior performance in various tests compared to the control group, thereby validating the effectiveness of SAQ training.

This study adopts a cluster randomized controlled trial (CRCT) design to evaluate the impact of SAQ training on the physical, cognitive, and skill performance of university soccer major students. The study will recruit 52 eligible university soccer major students, randomly assigned to the intervention group and the control group, with 26 students in each group. The study will last for 12 weeks, with the intervention group undergoing SAQ training three times a week, while the control group continues their regular training.

The SAQ training program includes the following components:

Warm-up and Cool-down: Each training session begins and ends with a 10-minute warm-up and cool-down to ensure safety.

Training Content: The SAQ training includes speed runs, agility exercises, and quick reaction drills, each session lasting 60 minutes.

Assessment Metrics: The study will assess students' physical fitness (speed, agility), cognitive functions (reaction time, decision-making), and soccer skills (ball control, passing).

Testing Time Points:

Pre-test: Initial assessment of all participants before the intervention. Mid-test: Mid-term assessment after 6 weeks of intervention. Post-test: Final assessment after the completion of the intervention.

Data Collection and Analysis:

Data Collection: Standardized testing methods will be used to assess all participants before, during, and after the intervention.

Data Analysis: Data will be analyzed using SPSS software, employing independent sample t-tests and ANOVA to compare differences between the intervention and control groups across various metrics.

Quality Assurance and Data Validation:

Quality Assurance Plan: An independent quality control team will oversee data collection and entry to ensure accuracy and completeness.

Data Validation: Data will be validated by comparing it with external sources (e.g., medical records, paper reports) to ensure authenticity and representativeness.

Sample Size Estimation and Statistical Analysis Plan:

Sample Size Estimation: Based on preliminary studies, the required sample size is estimated to be 52 to ensure statistical significance of the results.

Statistical Analysis Plan: Multivariate regression analysis and other methods will be used to control for confounding variables and analyze the impact of SAQ training on various metrics in detail.

Inclusion Criteria

• Male soccer major students (age ≥18 years old)
• At least 3 years of professional soccer training
• No recent history of surgery or injury
• No participation in SAQ training programs within 8 weeks prior to the study
• Able to provide written informed consent and willing to participate in the entire study and complete all assessments

Exclusion Criteria

• Recent history of fractures or other injuries
• Currently participating in an SAQ training program

individual participant data will not be shared. The data is intended solely for research purposes and will only be accessible to the research team. Data confidentiality will be maintained, and no individual data will be made available to external parties.

In this study, both the participants and the outcomes assessor will be blinded to the group assignments to prevent bias. Participants will not be informed whether they are receiving SAQ training or regular training, and the outcomes assessor will also be unaware of the group assignments to ensure objective evaluation of the results. Care providers and investigators involved in administering the training sessions will know the group assignments due to the nature of the interventions.