IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science (IOSRJHSS) ISSN: 2279-0845 Volume 1, Issue 2 (Sep.-Oct. 2012), PP 01-05 www.iosrjournals.org www.iosrjournals.org 1 | Page Effect of Functional Training on Physical Fitness Components on College Male Students-A Pilot Study 1 Alauddin Shaikh, 2 Dr. Samiran Mondal 1 HOD, Department of Physical Education & Sports Dr.Meghnad Saha College, Ranipur Itahar-U/Dinajpur. West Bengal. India. 2 Departments of Physical Education Visva- Bharati, Santiniketan West Bengal, India. Abstract: Introduction: Functional Training is how much certain movement will transfer into the actual activity of sport; it’s a matter of neural complexity and central nervous system demand. The aim of this study was to find out the effects of functional training on physical fitness components on college male students. Procedure: 19 male students from the Dr. Meghnad Saha College of the Gour Banga University, were randomly selected as subjects and their age were 19-25 years served as Functional Training Exercises, its three days per week for the period of eight weeks functional training exercises were given for experiments of a single group design. The functional training exercises was conducted in Ladder Forward & Sideward, Medicine ball throw Overhead-2kg, 3kg & 4kg, Hamstrings/Leg Curl With Stability Ball, Lateral Step Ups, Side Punk/Four Point Stabilizations Series, Forward Step Ups, Modified Pull-Up, Foot elevated hip lifting with medicine ball, Press Up with Stability Ball, Medicine Ball Throw Sideward Direction-4kg, 3kg and 2kg etc. before functional training exercises the functional warming up was to applied for tuning up the all body parts. The selected subjects were measured of their physical fitness components, speed, endurance, muscular endurance, strength, explosive power, agility and flexibility. Descriptive statistics was calculation for statistical treatment. Finding: The functional training exercises significantly increase speed, endurance, muscular endurance, strength, explosive power, flexibility and agility. Conclusion: The functional training has significantly improved speed, endurance, muscular endurance, strength, explosive power, flexibility and agility. Keywords: functional training, physical fitness components, neural complexity, central nervous system demand, descriptive statistics. I. Introduction Functional Training is how much certain movement will transfer into the actual activity of sport. Functional training is a matter of neural complexity and central nervous system demand. The higher the central nervous system demand the more functional movement is there. The brain which control muscular movement thinks in terms of whole motion, not individual muscle. The primary goal of functional training is to transfer improvement achieve in one movement to enhancing the performance of another movement by affecting the entire neuromuscular system. Functional training is a method of training that is based on preparing the body for real-world challenges such as balance, stability, turning, bending, and lifting. Doing this ensures that the nervous system is working properly and that all parts of the body are used in the appropriate manner with the correct muscles firing at the right time, functional exercises are usually trained in upright positions and involve movements in multiple planes of motion simultaneously just like in sport (i.e. football, volleyball, athletics, etc.). The effect of functional training on elderly people and disease and injured person were elaborately studies. Very recently the functional training has been coined in the advanced sports world and now it becomes a buzzword. Rosch D et al. (2000) examined that the effectiveness of functional training on football performance. They found that flexibility, power, speed, endurance and football skills improved after functional training. Oliver and Brezz (2009) examined the effect of functional balance training on women volleyball players. They found improvement in the fitness level. They recommended that functional balance activity are cost effective and should be added to any form of strength and conditioning program in an attempt to enhancing the programs effectiveness’ and to develop functional postural activation will not only ass ist with functional performance, but also in the prevention of injury. Furthermore, experimental research conducted to ascertain the muscular fitness benefits of functional training is limited and focused specifically on improving function in older adults (Milton et al. 2008; de Vreede et al. 2005; Whitehurst et al. 2005). The present researcher observed that in India the effectiveness of functional training in various sports has not yet been studied.