The Effects of High Intensity Functional Interval Training on Selected Fitness Components Among Young Badminton Players

The main objective of this study was to measure the effect of high intensity functional interval training on aerobic fitness, agility and sprint among young badminton players. A total of 16 male badminton players aged between 13 and 15 years old volunteered for this study. Participants were randomly divided into two groups, Experiment (n = 8) and Control (n = 8) based on aerobic fitness assessment result. The Experimental group (EG) performed a high intensity functional interval training exercise while the Control group (CG) performed traditional training whereby a routine exercise that was usually carried out in their training program over a period of 10 weeks. The high intensity functional interval training consisted of change of direction (COD) elements where the athlete moved to respond to a sound stimuli that was activated by a wireless sensors. The training intensity was 80–95% HR_max; work-to-rest ratios of each repetition is 1:1 (3 min work: 3 min rest) 2 sets training (with had 5 repetitions per set) and rest between each set of training is 4 min. Data was collected at three-time points; T₁-pre, T₂-post five weeks and T₃-post ten weeks training. Repeated measures mixed ANOVA yielded significant interactions over time in the performance of the 20 m Multistage Fitness; Four Corner Agility and Sprint 20 m. The results show that there were a significant difference between EG and CG for 20 m Multistage Fitness and Four Corner Agility; F(1,14) = 4.663, (p < .05) and F(1,14) = 5.443, (p < .05). Whereas no significant different for sprint performance; F(1,14) = .351, (p > .05) between the EG and CG. In conclusion, the EG showed \( {\dot{V}}\text{O}_{{2\text{max}}} \) and agility performance increased significantly after 10 weeks of high intensity functional interval training without negatively influencing the sprinting ability.