The role of complex training in enhancing explosive strength, sprint performance, and change-of-direction ability among hockey players: A narrative synthesis & meta-analysis

Hockey is a physically demanding sport that requires a combination of explosive strength, sprinting capacity, acceleration, and rapid change-of-direction ability. These physical attributes are particularly important because players repeatedly perform brief, high-intensity actions during competitive matches. Complex training, which combines high-load resistance exercises with biomechanically related plyometric or explosive movements, has been proposed as a practical strategy for developing these performance characteristics. The

Purpose: of this narrative synthesis was to examine the potential contribution of complex training to explosive strength, sprint performance, and agility-related movement ability among hockey players. A structured search was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL, supplemented by searches of grey literature, trial registries, and reference lists. Studies were considered eligible when they involved hockey players who participated in complex training or combined strength–plyometric programmes and reported outcomes related to muscular power, sprinting, acceleration, agility, or change-of-direction performance. The review was organized according to a PRISMA-informed approach. Because the available studies differed in participant characteristics, intervention structure, exercise selection, programme duration, comparison conditions, and outcome measurements, the

Findings: were synthesized narratively rather than statistically pooled. The available evidence consisted of five controlled trials involving approximately 98 hockey players. Overall, the studies generally reported favourable changes in lower-limb explosive strength, sprinting ability, and agility-related performance following complex or complex-contrast training. However, the magnitude and consistency of these improvements varied across studies. The most consistent improvements were observed in explosive performance, including vertical-jump ability and lower-limb power output. Several studies also reported beneficial changes in short-distance sprinting and acceleration, although the

findings were not uniform across all intervention groups. Improvements in agility and change-of-direction performance were reported in some studies, particularly when the training programmes included multidirectional movements, plyometric exercises, and sport-specific actions. Nevertheless, differences in training frequency, intervention duration, participant training status, assessment protocols, and comparator programmes make direct comparisons difficult. The overall body of evidence should therefore be interpreted cautiously. The available research is limited by small sample sizes, methodological weaknesses, variation in complex-training protocols, inconsistent outcome measures, and a restricted number of controlled studies. Consequently, complex training appears to be a promising

Method: for developing explosive strength, sprint capacity, and change-of-direction performance in hockey players, but stronger and better-controlled research is required before definitive

Conclusions: can be drawn.