Does functional strength training program improve ice speed and agility in young elite ice hockey players? Functional strength training's impact on hockey performance

Anna Bieniec ¹ Małgorzata Grabara ^2*

• ¹ Department of Health-related Physical Activity and Tourism, Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Katowice, Silesian Voivodeship, Poland
• ² Institute of Sport Sciences, Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Katowice, Poland

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a functional strength training (FST) program on ice speed and agility in young elite male ice hockey players.Methods: Forty-three ice hockey players, aged 15 to 18 years participated in the study. The athletes were randomly assigned to either a functional strength training group (FSTG), which completed an additional FST program consisting of two 60-minute training sessions per week, or a control group (CG), which participated in other team games and swimming sessions, each lasting 60 minutes. Ice skating speed was assessed using the professional Smart Speed measurement system in forward and backward skating tests over 5, 15, and 30 meters, as well as in an agility test.The intervention elicited significant performance improvements in ice skating speed and agility in the FSTG compared to the CG. Significant time × group interactions were observed in the 5-meter (p=0.041, 𝜂𝑝 2 =0.098), 15-meter (p=0.047, 𝜂𝑝 2 = 0.093), and 30-meter (p=0.011, 𝜂𝑝 2 =0.149) forward skating tests, highlighting differential responses between groups. Post hoc analysis confirmed significant improvements in the FSTG, particularly in the 15-meter and 30-meter tests, where post-test results were superior to those of the CG. No significant effects were found for the backward skating tests. Regarding agility, a significant main effect of time (p=0.023, 𝜂𝑝 2 =0.12) and group (p=0.001, 𝜂𝑝 2 =0.226) was detected. In the full speed test, only a group effect (p=0.026, 𝜂𝑝 2 =0.116) was observed, with no significant time x group interaction or time effects.Conclusions: These results underscore the effectiveness of FST in enhancing forward skating speed and agility.