Athletic PerformanceNCT07639190
Acute Effects of a Brief Low-Load Core Activation Warm-Up on Football-Specific Technical Performance in Male Youth Players
A study testing Core Activation Warm-Up and Conventional Dynamic Warm-Up in people with Athletic Performance and Warm-Up Exercise, run by Inonu University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study examined whether a brief, low-load core activation warm-up would acutely improve football-specific technical performance compared with a conventional dynamic warm-up in male youth football players. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 15 to 16 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Athletic Performance, Warm-Up Exercise
- What is being tested?
- Core Activation Warm-Up and Conventional Dynamic Warm-Up
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 24 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 10 Jun 2026to 30 Jun 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 15 to 16 years
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Male youth football players registered in an organised football academy
- Minimum of 2 years of football training history
- Regular participation in training (≥3 sessions per week)
- Free from acute musculoskeletal injury at the time of testing
Who cannot join
- History of lower limb, trunk, or spinal injury within 6 months prior to testing
- Participation in a competitive match or high-intensity training within 48 hours prior to testing
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Manisa Celal Bayar University, Faculty of Sport Sciences
Manisa
About this study
Official title: Acute Effects of a Brief Low-Load Core Activation Warm-Up on Football-Specific Technical Performance in Male Youth Players: A Counterbalanced Crossover Study
This study examined whether a brief, low-load core activation warm-up would acutely improve football-specific technical performance compared with a conventional dynamic warm-up in male youth football players. Twenty-four players (aged 15-16 years) completed both warm-up conditions in a single-session, counterbalanced crossover design separated by a 10-minute passive recovery period. Following each warm-up, players performed standardised tests of dribbling speed, passing accuracy, shooting accuracy, and ball control. The study was designed as an exploratory pilot to estimate effect sizes and inform the design of a future definitive trial.
Read the detailed description
Warm-up routines in football increasingly incorporate neuromuscular activation components; however, evidence regarding the acute effects of core activation on football-specific technical performance in youth players remains limited. This single-session, counterbalanced crossover study randomly assigned 24 male youth football players (age: 15.6 ± 0.5 years) to one of two condition sequences (core activation first or conventional warm-up first) using a computer-generated random number list with a 1:1 allocation ratio. Both warm-up protocols were duration-matched (~8-10 minutes). The core activation protocol consisted of body-weight exercises targeting anterior, lateral, and posterior trunk musculature (front plank, side plank, glute bridge, dead bug, bird-dog). The conventional warm-up consisted of dynamic mobility and low-intensity running drills. Following each warm-up condition, players completed standardised assessments of dribbling time (slalom test), passing accuracy (target-based test), shooting accuracy (target-based test), and ball control (first-touch control test). A 10-minute passive recovery period separated the two conditions. Linear mixed models with condition, period, and sequence as fixed effects and participant as a random intercept were used for analysis. The study was not powered for equivalence or non-inferiority testing and was conceived as feasibility evidence for a subsequent definitive multi-session trial.
- Conditions
- Athletic Performance, Warm-Up Exercise
- Being tested
- Core Activation Warm-Up, Conventional Dynamic Warm-Up
- Keywords
- core activation, youth football, technical performance, crossover design, post-activation performance enhancement, warm-up
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Core Activation Warm-UpOther
A brief (~8-10 min) body-weight core activation protocol consisting of front plank (2x25s), side plank (2x20s each side), glute bridge (2x10 reps), dead bug (2x8 reps each side), and bird-dog (2x8 reps each side), with 10-15 s rest between sets.
Conventional Dynamic Warm-UpOther
A duration-matched (~8-10 min) conventional warm-up consisting of dynamic leg swings, walking lunges, high knees, butt kicks, and low-intensity running drills.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Core Activation First (Sequence AB) | Experimental | Participants first completed the core activation warm-up, followed by a 10-minute passive recovery, then completed the conventional dynamic warm-up. Receives: Other: Core Activation Warm-Up; Other: Conventional Dynamic Warm-Up |
| Conventional First (Sequence BA) | Active comparator | Participants first completed the conventional dynamic warm-up, followed by a 10-minute passive recovery, then completed the core activation warm-up. Receives: Other: Core Activation Warm-Up; Other: Conventional Dynamic Warm-Up |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Dribbling Time
Time to complete a standardised slalom dribbling test (8 cones, 2 m apart). Best of 2 trials recorded in seconds using a handheld stopwatch. Lower time indicates better performance.
Measured: Within 3-5 minutes after each warm-up condition
Passing Accuracy
Accuracy percentage from a target-based passing test (6 passes from 10 m toward a 1.5 m-wide target). Higher percentage indicates better performance.
Measured: Within 3-5 minutes after each warm-up condition
Shooting Accuracy
Accuracy percentage from a target-based shooting test (5 shots from 11 m toward 1x1 m corner targets). Higher percentage indicates better performance.
Measured: Within 3-5 minutes after each warm-up condition
Ball Control
Total successful first-touch contacts within a 2x2 m area in a standardised ball control test. Higher count indicates better performance.
Measured: Within 3-5 minutes after each warm-up condition
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Jun 2026
- Study start10 Jun 2026
- Primary completion25 Jun 2026
- Study completion30 Jun 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Athletic PerformanceStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Inonu UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Model description
- All participants completed both conditions (core activation warm-up and conventional warm-up) in a single session separated by a 10-minute passive recovery period. Condition order was counterbalanced using a computer-generated random number list with a 1:1 allocation ratio (Sequence AB: core activation first; Sequence BA: conventional first).
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 24 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Inonu University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Manisa Celal Bayar University
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özgür EKEN, Inonu University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07639190
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 20.478.476/3469
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 5 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 27 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 27 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Acute Effects of a Brief Low-Load Core Activation Warm-Up on Football-Specific Technical Performance in Male Youth Players: A Counterbalanced Crossover Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07639190
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 20.478.476/3469
- Conditions
- Athletic Performance, Warm-Up Exercise
- Keywords
- core activation, youth football, technical performance, crossover design, post-activation performance enhancement, warm-up
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 24 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Inonu UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Manisa Celal Bayar University
- Study start
- 10 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 25 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 10 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study examined whether a brief, low-load core activation warm-up would acutely improve football-specific technical performance compared with a conventional dynamic warm-up in male youth football players. Twenty-four players (aged 15-16 years) completed both warm-up conditions in a single-session, counterbalanced crossover design separated by a 10-minute passive recovery period. Following each warm-up, players performed standardised tests of dribbling speed, passing accuracy, shooting accuracy, and ball control. The study was designed as an exploratory pilot to estimate effect sizes and inform the design of a future definitive trial.
Detailed description
Warm-up routines in football increasingly incorporate neuromuscular activation components; however, evidence regarding the acute effects of core activation on football-specific technical performance in youth players remains limited. This single-session, counterbalanced crossover study randomly assigned 24 male youth football players (age: 15.6 ± 0.5 years) to one of two condition sequences (core activation first or conventional warm-up first) using a computer-generated random number list with a 1:1 allocation ratio. Both warm-up protocols were duration-matched (~8-10 minutes). The core activation protocol consisted of body-weight exercises targeting anterior, lateral, and posterior trunk musculature (front plank, side plank, glute bridge, dead bug, bird-dog). The conventional warm-up consisted of dynamic mobility and low-intensity running drills. Following each warm-up condition, players completed standardised assessments of dribbling time (slalom test), passing accuracy (target-based test), shooting accuracy (target-based test), and ball control (first-touch control test). A 10-minute passive recovery period separated the two conditions. Linear mixed models with condition, period, and sequence as fixed effects and participant as a random intercept were used for analysis. The study was not powered for equivalence or non-inferiority testing and was conceived as feasibility evidence for a subsequent definitive multi-session trial.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- All participants completed both conditions (core activation warm-up and conventional warm-up) in a single session separated by a 10-minute passive recovery period. Condition order was counterbalanced using a computer-generated random number list with a 1:1 allocation ratio (Sequence AB: core activation first; Sequence BA: conventional first).
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Core Activation First (Sequence AB) | Experimental | Other: Core Activation Warm-Up, Other: Conventional Dynamic Warm-UpParticipants first completed the core activation warm-up, followed by a 10-minute passive recovery, then completed the conventional dynamic warm-up. |
| Conventional First (Sequence BA) | Active comparator | Other: Core Activation Warm-Up, Other: Conventional Dynamic Warm-UpParticipants first completed the conventional dynamic warm-up, followed by a 10-minute passive recovery, then completed the core activation warm-up. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 15 to 16 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Male youth football players registered in an organised football academy
- Minimum of 2 years of football training history
- Regular participation in training (≥3 sessions per week)
- Free from acute musculoskeletal injury at the time of testing
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- History of lower limb, trunk, or spinal injury within 6 months prior to testing
- Participation in a competitive match or high-intensity training within 48 hours prior to testing
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Core Activation Warm-UpA brief (~8-10 min) body-weight core activation protocol consisting of front plank (2x25s), side plank (2x20s each side), glute bridge (2x10 reps), dead bug (2x8 reps each side), and bird-dog (2x8 reps each side), with 10-15 s rest between sets. | Other | Conventional First (Sequence BA), Core Activation First (Sequence AB) |
| Conventional Dynamic Warm-UpA duration-matched (~8-10 min) conventional warm-up consisting of dynamic leg swings, walking lunges, high knees, butt kicks, and low-intensity running drills. | Other | Conventional First (Sequence BA), Core Activation First (Sequence AB) |
Primary outcome
Dribbling Time
Time frame: Within 3-5 minutes after each warm-up condition
Time to complete a standardised slalom dribbling test (8 cones, 2 m apart). Best of 2 trials recorded in seconds using a handheld stopwatch. Lower time indicates better performance.
Passing Accuracy
Time frame: Within 3-5 minutes after each warm-up condition
Accuracy percentage from a target-based passing test (6 passes from 10 m toward a 1.5 m-wide target). Higher percentage indicates better performance.
Shooting Accuracy
Time frame: Within 3-5 minutes after each warm-up condition
Accuracy percentage from a target-based shooting test (5 shots from 11 m toward 1x1 m corner targets). Higher percentage indicates better performance.
Ball Control
Time frame: Within 3-5 minutes after each warm-up condition
Total successful first-touch contacts within a 2x2 m area in a standardised ball control test. Higher count indicates better performance.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 27 Aug 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Core Activation Warm-Up and Conventional Dynamic Warm-Up in people with Athletic Performance and Warm-Up Exercise, run by Inonu University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 27 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Dribbling Time (time frame: Within 3-5 minutes after each warm-up condition). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 27 Aug 2026.