Effects of football- and volleyball-based programmes on health-related physical fitness in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract
BackgroundLow physical activity and fitness in youth are associated with poorer health. Football and volleyball are widely used in schools and communities, but effects may differ by fitness domain and programme. We estimated domain-specific effects and assessed robustness and certainty.MethodsWe searched five databases from inception to 30 June 2026 for randomised and controlled non-randomised studies of football or volleyball in participants aged 6–18 years. Prospective programmes lasted ≥4 weeks, with ≥1 weekly session of ≥15 min. Outcomes were pooled separately as Hedges’ g using REML random-effects models with Hartung–Knapp intervals. Cluster trials were adjusted, and three-level models examined within-study dependence. Certainty was assessed with GRADE.ResultsNineteen studies contributing 51 study–outcome effects were included. Cardiorespiratory endurance had a favourable average estimate (10 studies; Hedges’ g = 0.49, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.68; low certainty) that remained favourable in randomised studies (g = 0.52, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.73) and in a sensitivity analysis replacing eligible non-randomised estimates with baseline-sensitive estimates (standardised effect estimate = 0.46, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.67). Only two volleyball studies contributed to the cardiorespiratory analysis, precluding reliable comparative-effectiveness conclusions between the sports. Body composition showed a smaller primary estimate whose interval included no effect (16 studies; g = 0.28, 95% CI − 0.01 to 0.57; very low certainty) and remained uncertain in the baseline-sensitive analysis (standardised effect estimate = 0.20, 95% CI − 0.03 to 0.43). Muscular endurance and strength analyses were exploratory. Flexibility was highly heterogeneous (I2 = 95.6%) and influenced by one study. Evidence for power and other outcomes was uncertain.ConclusionLow-certainty evidence suggests a favourable average cardiorespiratory association, but low certainty means that statistical significance should not be interpreted as established clinical or public-health effectiveness. Evidence does not establish reliable effects in the other fitness domains or support sport-specific prescriptions based on this review alone. Future studies should report reach, adherence, completed exposure, fidelity, equity, costs, and adverse events.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/view/CRD420261374300, PROSPERO Identifier CRD420261374300.
Related
- Effects of vitamin D supplementation on vitamin D status and physical performance in football players: A systematic review and meta-analysis
- School-based mindfulness interventions in children and adolescents: an umbrella review of systematic reviews, with implications for physical education
- Physical activity programmes for promoting bone mineralisation and growth in preterm infants
- The effects of physical exercise on executive function, internalizing symptoms and externalizing symptoms in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Socioeconomic Inequalities in Dietary and Physical Activity Behaviours Among Adolescents: A Systematic Review.
BibTeX
@article{mao2026effects,
title = {{Effects of football- and volleyball-based programmes on health-related physical fitness in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis}},
author = {Yimou Mao and Qingyuan Li and Xing Heng and Yaodong Bai and Lei Zhang and Kim Geok Soh},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1994870},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1994870},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effects of football- and volleyball-based programmes on health-related physical fitness in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis
AU - Yimou Mao
AU - Qingyuan Li
AU - Xing Heng
AU - Yaodong Bai
AU - Lei Zhang
AU - Kim Geok Soh
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/12
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1994870
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1994870
AB - BackgroundLow physical activity and fitness in youth are associated with poorer health. Football and volleyball are widely used in schools and communities, but effects may differ by fitness domain and programme. We estimated domain-specific effects and assessed robustness and certainty.MethodsWe searched five databases from inception to 30 June 2026 for randomised and controlled non-randomised studies of football or volleyball in participants aged 6–18 years. Prospective programmes lasted ≥4 weeks, with ≥1 weekly session of ≥15 min. Outcomes were pooled separately as Hedges’ g using REML random-effects models with Hartung–Knapp intervals. Cluster trials were adjusted, and three-level models examined within-study dependence. Certainty was assessed with GRADE.ResultsNineteen studies contributing 51 study–outcome effects were included. Cardiorespiratory endurance had a favourable average estimate (10 studies; Hedges’ g = 0.49, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.68; low certainty) that remained favourable in randomised studies (g = 0.52, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.73) and in a sensitivity analysis replacing eligible non-randomised estimates with baseline-sensitive estimates (standardised effect estimate = 0.46, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.67). Only two volleyball studies contributed to the cardiorespiratory analysis, precluding reliable comparative-effectiveness conclusions between the sports. Body composition showed a smaller primary estimate whose interval included no effect (16 studies; g = 0.28, 95% CI − 0.01 to 0.57; very low certainty) and remained uncertain in the baseline-sensitive analysis (standardised effect estimate = 0.20, 95% CI − 0.03 to 0.43). Muscular endurance and strength analyses were exploratory. Flexibility was highly heterogeneous (I2 = 95.6%) and influenced by one study. Evidence for power and other outcomes was uncertain.ConclusionLow-certainty evidence suggests a favourable average cardiorespiratory association, but low certainty means that statistical significance should not be interpreted as established clinical or public-health effectiveness. Evidence does not establish reliable effects in the other fitness domains or support sport-specific prescriptions based on this review alone. Future studies should report reach, adherence, completed exposure, fidelity, equity, costs, and adverse events.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/view/CRD420261374300, PROSPERO Identifier CRD420261374300.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -