NCT07076017

Dry-land Strength and Conditioning for Competitive Youth Swimmers

Effects of a 10-week Dry-land Strength and Conditioning Programme on the Start and Turn Performance of Regional- and National-level Age-group Swimmers

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 38 (actual)
• Sponsor: York St John University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 12 Years – 21 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Starts and turns play an important role in swimming performance, with starts accounting for around a quarter of the total time achieved in a 50m freestyle race and have been recommended as a high priority area for improvement by York City Baths Club (YCBC). The relationship between starts and turns and plyometric and general strength training is well documented. However, few studies have explored this relationship in competitive youth swimmers. This non-randomised controlled trial will evaluate the effects of a dry-land strength and conditioning programme, when added to usual swim training, on the physical fitness and start and turn performance of regional- and national-level age-group swimmers. The study intervention will involve two supervised gym sessions per week for 10 weeks. Study outcomes will be assessed before the intervention, at the midpoint and at 1 week and 3 weeks post-intervention. The following testing will occur: Pool-based testing (50m Freestyle; a Time to 7.5m test; Turn time); Gym-based testing (Counter-movement jump; Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull; Athletic Shoulder (ASH)) The dive and turn measures will be assessed via video recordings.

Conditions

• Swimming
• Strength Training Effects
• Power Training Exercise Protocols

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Dry-land strength and conditioning programme	Participants in the experiment group will be asked to complete two supervised gym sessions per week for 10 weeks. Each session will include a variety of plyometric and strength exercises, selected for their relevance to start and turn performance in swimming.
BEHAVIORAL	Active control condition	The control group will complete their usual swimming training which comprises of several pool-based session and one land-based session each week.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-08-08
• Primary completion: 2025-12-10
• Completion: 2026-05-31
• First posted: 2025-07-20
• Last updated: 2026-01-12

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United Kingdom