Effects of aerobic exercise and strength training programme on performance related physical fitness components among young footballers in Ikeja Local Government, Lagos State.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise and strength training programme on performance related physical fitness components among young footballers in Ikeja Local Government, Lagos State. Four (4) research objectives were formulated for the study. Pre-test post-test experimental research design was employed for the study. The population for the study comprised of young footballers in Agidingbi, Ikeja Local Government, Lagos state. The sample of the study consisted of 40 young footballers who were purposely selected from Soccergems Football Academy through multistage sampling technique. The research instruments for the study included weighing scales (weight measurement), sphygmomanometer (blood pressure measurement), heart rate measured manually. Other instruments for the study were stop watch, musical instruments, writing materials. Pre-test data was collected. The intervention lasted for 6 weeks, after which the post test data was collected. Pre-test data was gathered. After the administration of 6 weeks aerobic and strength training, post-test data was gathered. Agility was evaluated through the Illinois agility test while the reaction time was evaluated using audio stimulus reaction test. The following were the findings: There is significant effect of aerobic training on agility and reaction time, likewise strength training has significant effect on agility and reaction time among young footballers in Ikeja Local Government, Lagos State. It is recommended that regular aerobic training sessions should be incorporated into the training programs of young footballers in Ikeja Local Government, Lagos State, to enhance their agility and overall athletic performance. Strength training exercises should be part of the training regimens of young footballers in Ikeja Local Government, Lagos State, to improve their agility, reaction time, and overall physical fitness.