Effects of Complex Training and High-Intensity Interval Training on Speed and Agility among Male College-Level Handball Players

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@article{1724736,
      author = {Cetakor Sravani, Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, Dr. Sudhakara Babu Mande},
      title = {Effects of Complex Training and High-Intensity Interval Training on Speed and Agility among Male College-Level Handball Players},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2025},
      volume = {9},
      number = {5},
      pages = {2918-2923},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1724736.pdf},
      abstract = {Background: Handball is an intermittent invasive sport in which repeated sprints, sudden changes of direction and explosive take-offs decide many match situations. Complex training (CT), which pairs a heavy resistance exercise with a biomechanically similar plyometric exercise, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which alternates brief maximal-effort bouts with recovery, are both widely used to develop these qualities. Direct comparisons of the two methods in college handball players are scarce. Objective: To examine and compare the effects of a 12-week complex training programme and a 12-week HIIT programme on sprint speed and agility in male college-level handball players. Methods: Ninety male handball players (18–21 years) from undergraduate colleges in Hyderabad were randomly allocated to a Complex Training Group (CTG, n = 30), a High-Intensity Interval Training Group (HIITG, n = 30) or a Control Group (CG, n = 30). The two experimental groups trained three days a week for twelve weeks; the control group continued its usual routine. Speed was measured with a 50 m sprint and agility with a 4 × 10 m shuttle run (both in seconds) before and after the intervention. Pre-to-post changes were examined with paired t-tests, baseline equivalence with one-way ANOVA, and between-group differences in change scores with one-way ANOVA (Welch-corrected because variances were unequal) followed by Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Baseline values did not differ among groups (speed p = 0.996; agility p = 0.995). Sprint time fell by 0.273 s in CTG (3.67%), 0.228 s in HIITG (3.06%) and 0.024 s in CG (0.32%). Shuttle-run time fell by 0.425 s in CTG (4.18%), 0.350 s in HIITG (3.44%) and 0.038 s in CG (0.37%). Group differences in change scores were significant for both variables (speed F = 493.65; agility F = 214.09; both p < 0.001). Both experimental groups improved significantly more than the control group, and CTG improved significantly more than HIITG in speed (p < 0.001) and agility (p = 0.010). Conclusion: Twelve weeks of either complex training or HIIT improved speed and agility in male college handball players, with complex training producing the larger gains. Coaches seeking to develop sprinting and change-of-direction ability may therefore prioritise complex training and use HIIT as an effective complementary method.},
      keywords = {agility, college athletes, complex training, handball, high-intensity interval training, sprint speed},
      month = {November},
  }