Acute Effects of a Brief Low-Load Core Activation Warm-Up on Football-Specific Technical Performance in Male Youth Players

Acute Effects of a Brief Low-Load Core Activation Warm-Up on Football-Specific Technical Performance in Male Youth Players: A Counterbalanced Crossover Study

This study examined whether a brief, low-load core activation warm-up would acutely improve football-specific technical performance compared with a conventional dynamic warm-up in male youth football players. Twenty-four players (aged 15-16 years) completed both warm-up conditions in a single-session, counterbalanced crossover design separated by a 10-minute passive recovery period. Following each warm-up, players performed standardised tests of dribbling speed, passing accuracy, shooting accuracy, and ball control. The study was designed as an exploratory pilot to estimate effect sizes and inform the design of a future definitive trial.

Warm-up routines in football increasingly incorporate neuromuscular activation components; however, evidence regarding the acute effects of core activation on football-specific technical performance in youth players remains limited. This single-session, counterbalanced crossover study randomly assigned 24 male youth football players (age: 15.6 ± 0.5 years) to one of two condition sequences (core activation first or conventional warm-up first) using a computer-generated random number list with a 1:1 allocation ratio. Both warm-up protocols were duration-matched (~8-10 minutes). The core activation protocol consisted of body-weight exercises targeting anterior, lateral, and posterior trunk musculature (front plank, side plank, glute bridge, dead bug, bird-dog). The conventional warm-up consisted of dynamic mobility and low-intensity running drills. Following each warm-up condition, players completed standardised assessments of dribbling time (slalom test), passing accuracy (target-based test), shooting accuracy (target-based test), and ball control (first-touch control test). A 10-minute passive recovery period separated the two conditions. Linear mixed models with condition, period, and sequence as fixed effects and participant as a random intercept were used for analysis. The study was not powered for equivalence or non-inferiority testing and was conceived as feasibility evidence for a subsequent definitive multi-session trial.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male youth football players registered in an organised football academy
• Minimum of 2 years of football training history
• Regular participation in training (≥3 sessions per week)
• Free from acute musculoskeletal injury at the time of testing

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of lower limb, trunk, or spinal injury within 6 months prior to testing
• Participation in a competitive match or high-intensity training within 48 hours prior to testing