Effects of a Six-Week Change-of-Direction Repeated Sprint Training Program on Explosive Power and Agility in Youth Basketball Players

This randomized controlled study investigated the effects of a six-week change-of-direction repeated sprint training program on lower-limb explosive power and agility in youth basketball players. Repeated sprint ability and rapid changes of direction are essential physical performance components in basketball, as the sport requires frequent accelerations, decelerations, and multidirectional movements during gameplay. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group. The experimental group performed a structured change-of-direction repeated sprint training program in addition to their regular basketball training, while the control group continued their usual basketball training routines without the additional intervention. The training intervention lasted six weeks. Before and after the intervention period, participants completed a series of performance tests designed to evaluate lower-limb explosive power and agility. These assessments allowed researchers to determine whether the additional sprint training program produced improvements beyond those achieved through routine basketball training. The findings of this study aim to provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of change-of-direction repeated sprint training as a practical conditioning strategy for improving physical performance in youth basketball players.