Investigation of the Relationship Between Dynamic Leg Force and Change of Direction Running in Youth Football Players

Dynamic lower limb force, characterized by explosiveness, speed, and muscular strength of the lower extremities, plays a significant role in the athletic performance of soccer players. However, previous studies have reported inconsistent findings regarding the relationship between agility and dynamic leg force. When agility is defined specifically as running involving changes of direction, the likelihood of a correlation with physical capacities such as speed and dynamic leg power increases. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between dynamic lower limb force and change of direction (CoD) performance. Specifically, we investigated how these two physical qualities relate in youth athletes aged 10 to 13 years participating in individualized training programs. Dynamic leg power was assessed using the standing broad jump test, while change of direction speed was evaluated with the T-test. The results revealed significant improvements in both measured capacities following training. However, no statistically significant correlation was found between dynamic leg force and change of direction performance. Although a weak relationship was observed, it did not reach statistical significance.