Abstract The present study aimed to examine the comparative effect of altitude training and Speed–Agility–Quickness (SAQ) training on selected physical parameters among college-level men hockey players from Cheran College of Physical Education. In modern competitive sports, particularly in hockey, physical fitness components such as speed, cardio-respiratory endurance, and muscular endurance play a crucial role in determining athletic performance. Various scientific training methods are adopted to enhance these physical components, among which altitude training and SAQ training have gained considerable importance in recent years. This study was undertaken to analyze and compare the effectiveness of these two training approaches in improving specific physical fitness variables. For the purpose of the investigation, thirty male hockey players aged between 18 and 22 years were selected as subjects from Cheran College of Physical Education. The selected participants were randomly divided into two equal experimental groups: the Altitude Training Group (ATG) and the SAQ Training Group (SAQG), with fifteen subjects in each group. The training programme was administered for a duration of eight weeks, with three training sessions per week. The selected dependent variables for the study were speed, cardio-respiratory endurance, and lower body muscular endurance. Standardized field tests were used to assess these variables: the 50-meter dash test was employed to measure speed, the Cooper 12-minute run/walk test was used to evaluate cardio-respiratory endurance, and the squat endurance test was utilized to assess lower body muscular endurance. Pre-test and post-test measurements were recorded before and after the training intervention. The collected data were analyzed using appropriate statistical techniques to determine the significance of the differences between the groups. The findings indicated that both altitude training and SAQ training significantly improved the selected physical parameters. However, altitude training showed a greater improvement in cardio-respiratory endurance, whereas SAQ training produced more pronounced improvements in speed and lower body muscular endurance. The study concludes that both training methods are effective in enhancing physical performance among hockey players, and an integrated training approach may further optimize athletic development. Keywords: Altitude Training, SAQ Training, Speed, Cardio-Respiratory Endurance, Muscular Endurance, Hockey Players Top of Form Citation M. Niraipandiyan, V. Amutha “A Comparative Effect of Altitude Training and SAQ Training on Selected Physical Parameters among College-Level Men Hockey Players” International Journal of Current Science Research (IJCSR) e-ISSN: 2454-5422: 12(4): 2026: 89 - 95.
V. Amutha M. Niraipandiyan (Wed,) studied this question.