Quadrant training: a simple typology-based approach to improve strength and endurance in youth soccer players.
- 1Integrative and Experimental Exercise Science and Training, Department of Sport Science, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
- 2Institute of Sport Science, University of the Bundeswehr Munich, Neubiberg, Germany.
Abstract
Introduction
Youth soccer players show heterogeneous performance profiles, yet individualized conditioning is often impractical outside professional settings. We examined whether a typology-based training allocation into four quadrants ("Quadrant Training"; QT) improves endurance- and strength-related performance compared with regular soccer training alone.Methods
Male U16-U17 players from two youth academies completed a non-randomized, longitudinal controlled intervention (academy-level and intervention effects are confounded); one academy served as intervention group (n = 38), the other as control (n = 22). Players were classified into four endurance quadrants, i.e., below and above team mean based on 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test velocity [vIFT] and velocity at 4 mmol·L⁻¹ blood lactate [V4] and four strength quadrants based on relative isometric mid-thigh pull strength [IMTP] and countermovement jump height [CMJ], completing quadrant-specific endurance training plus one weekly strength session.Results
Between-group ANCOVA models using heteroscedasticity-robust standard errors showed the most precise effect for CMJ (p = 0.020), with V4 (p = 0.066) and vIFT (p = 0.054, favoring controls) showing smaller effects and IMTP showing no between-group difference (p = 0.490). None of these effects survived correction for multiple comparisons (adjusted p = 0.078-0.490). This CMJ effect was itself baseline-dependent, negligible at low baseline values and more pronounced at higher ones. For descriptive comparison, the intervention group improved significantly in V4, CMJ, and IMTP (all p ≤ 0.05), while controls showed no significant pre-post changes in any outcome. Exploratory individual responder analyses showed the highest proportion of improvers for V4 and IMTP, followed by CMJ.Discussion
QT proved feasible to implement as an individualized training framework, and effect sizes for V4 and CMJ suggested a beneficial impact on submaximal endurance capacity and explosive lower-body power. These preliminary findings warrant confirmation in adequately powered trials.
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BibTeX
@article{steidle2026quadrant,
title = {{Quadrant training: a simple typology-based approach to improve strength and endurance in youth soccer players.}},
author = {Timo Steidle and Benedikt Meixner and Mascha Lenk and Marcelle Schaffarczyk and Billy Sperlich},
journal = {Frontiers in sports and active living},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fspor.2026.1936767},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908822},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Quadrant training: a simple typology-based approach to improve strength and endurance in youth soccer players.
AU - Timo Steidle
AU - Benedikt Meixner
AU - Mascha Lenk
AU - Marcelle Schaffarczyk
AU - Billy Sperlich
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/07
JO - Frontiers in sports and active living
DO - 10.3389/fspor.2026.1936767
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908822
AB - Introduction Youth soccer players show heterogeneous performance profiles, yet individualized conditioning is often impractical outside professional settings. We examined whether a typology-based training allocation into four quadrants ("Quadrant Training"; QT) improves endurance- and strength-related performance compared with regular soccer training alone.Methods Male U16-U17 players from two youth academies completed a non-randomized, longitudinal controlled intervention (academy-level and intervention effects are confounded); one academy served as intervention group (n = 38), the other as control (n = 22). Players were classified into four endurance quadrants, i.e., below and above team mean based on 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test velocity [vIFT] and velocity at 4 mmol·L⁻¹ blood lactate [V4] and four strength quadrants based on relative isometric mid-thigh pull strength [IMTP] and countermovement jump height [CMJ], completing quadrant-specific endurance training plus one weekly strength session.Results Between-group ANCOVA models using heteroscedasticity-robust standard errors showed the most precise effect for CMJ (p = 0.020), with V4 (p = 0.066) and vIFT (p = 0.054, favoring controls) showing smaller effects and IMTP showing no between-group difference (p = 0.490). None of these effects survived correction for multiple comparisons (adjusted p = 0.078-0.490). This CMJ effect was itself baseline-dependent, negligible at low baseline values and more pronounced at higher ones. For descriptive comparison, the intervention group improved significantly in V4, CMJ, and IMTP (all p ≤ 0.05), while controls showed no significant pre-post changes in any outcome. Exploratory individual responder analyses showed the highest proportion of improvers for V4 and IMTP, followed by CMJ.Discussion QT proved feasible to implement as an individualized training framework, and effect sizes for V4 and CMJ suggested a beneficial impact on submaximal endurance capacity and explosive lower-body power. These preliminary findings warrant confirmation in adequately powered trials.
SN - 2624-9367
ER -