Development of Functional Training Program to Improve Sprinting Ability in University Students

Background and Aim: This study was to develop and evaluate a functional training program to enhance sprinting ability among university students. The research objectives included: 1) to compare the mean of sprinting ability between experimental and control groups, 2) to compare the mean of sprinting ability within experimental groups, pretest, midtest, and posttest, and 3) to develop a functional training program to improve sprinting ability in university students. Materials and Methods: The study employed a quasi-experimental design involving 30 track and field students with simple random sampling and divided into experimental and control groups. Research instruments included a functional training program developed and validated through expert consultation (CVI = 0.82), an infrared laser timer for measuring sprinting ability, and a standing long jump test. The experiment was conducted over 8 weeks, 4 days per week; the functional training program was used for the experimental group, and a conditioning training program for the control group. Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation, independent t-tests, repeated measures ANOVA, and Bonferroni post hoc pairwise comparisons between pretest, midtest, and posttest, with significance set at p < .05. Results: The results found that the experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in sprinting ability compared to the control group, including reduced sprint times and enhanced explosive power. Within the experimental group, significant progressive improvements were observed across pretest, midtest, and posttest evaluations. The functional training program was of excellent quality, with a content validity index (CVI = 0.82), and the tryout with sample results was adequate in terms of exercise drills, training volume, and recovery times. Conclusion: Highlighting the effectiveness of the training program in enhancing sprinting performance metrics such as acceleration and maximum speed. The functional training program can improve sprinting ability in university students.