The effects of an 8-week Exer-Genie-assisted speed and ABC drill training program on speed, hamstring strength, and vertical jump performance in female football players

PURPOSE: The increasing physical demands of modern women's football necessitate integrated training approaches capable of simultaneously enhancing acceleration, force production, and neuromuscular control. Although devices such as the Exer-Genie® are frequently implemented in resisted sprint training, scientific evidence regarding their effectiveness in adolescent female athletes remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of an eight-week Exer-Genie®-assisted speed and agility-balance-coordination (ABC drill) training program on sprint performance, hamstring muscle strength, and vertical jump performance in young female football players. METHODS: A total of 37 licensed female football players competing in the Turkish Women's Second League (mean age = 14.4 ± 1.4 years) voluntarily participated in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 20) or a control group (n = 17). The experimental group completed an Exer-Genie®-assisted sprint and agility-balance-coordination training program twice per week for eight weeks, while the control group continued their regular training. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included 0-10 m, 10-30 m, and 30 m sprint performance, hamstring muscle strength and impulse values, and countermovement jump performance.Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. RESULTS: Significant time × group interactions were observed for 0-10 m sprint time (3.9% improvement; F = 10.17, p = .003, η² = 0.038) and 30 m sprint time (3.8% improvement; F = 21.08, p < .001, η² = 0.020). Hamstring maximal strength increased by approximately 20% (left: F = 15.94, p < .001, η² = 0.03), while hamstring impulse improved by approximately 36% (left: F = 10.62, p = .002, η² = 0.05; right: F = 9.75, p = .004, η² = 0.03). No significant improvements were observed in lower-limb strength asymmetry. CONCLUSION: -assisted speed and ABC drill training significantly enhanced acceleration and hamstring strength parameters in young female football players. The observed improvements (~ 4% in sprint performance, ~ 20% in maximal strength, and ~ 36% in impulse capacity) support the potential usefulness of combining resisted sprint training with neuromuscular coordination drills. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT07274566.Registered 28.11.2025 Retrospectively registered.