Influence of SAQ Training on Selected Health-Related Fitness Components in Amateur University Athletes

Abstract

Background: Speed, Agility, and Quickness (SAQ) training is a systematic euromuscular conditioning approach developed during the 1990s that has attracted considerable attention in sports science due to its effectiveness in improving several physical fitness parameters concurrently. However, limited research has explored its application within Pakistani university sports environments, particularly among female amateur athletes. Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of a 12-week SAQ training program on selected health-related fitness components, including muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility, among amateur university athletes. Methodology: An experimental pretest–posttest research design was utilized. Seventy-two female amateur athletes aged 18–22 years from Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University were randomly divided into a Control Group (CG, n = 36) and an Experimental Group (EG, n = 36). Participants in the EG underwent a structured SAQ training intervention lasting 12 weeks, with sessions of 50–60 minutes, whereas the CG maintained their regular daily activities. Muscular strength was measured using the Vertical Jump Test (VJT), muscular endurance through the Push-Up Test (PUT), and flexibility through the Sit-and-Reach Test (SRT). Due to the non-normal distribution of the data, the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was employed for statistical analysis.      Results: After the intervention period, the EG exhibited significant improvements in muscular strength (32.53 ± 4.09 to 44.06 ± 1.86 cm; Z = −5.244, p < .001), muscular endurance (8.36 ± 1.41 to 18.03 ± 2.97 repetitions; Z = −5.243, p < .001), and flexibility (−5.47 ± 2.27 to 4.06 ± 1.19 cm; Z = −5.244, p < .001). In contrast, the CG showed no statistically significant changes across any of the assessed health-related fitness variables (p > .05). Conclusion: The findings indicate that a 12-week SAQ training intervention significantly enhances health-related fitness components among female amateur university athletes. The study provides practical support for incorporating SAQ training protocols into university-level athletic conditioning programs, especially within developing-country contexts.

Keywords: SAQ training; muscular strength; muscular endurance; flexibility; university athletes; health-related fitness; female athletes; pretest-posttest design