properly with strong evidence-based support. Ball-drills and repeated sprint ability training have begun to be widely used by coaches to improve physical fitness. 7 Ball-drills training consists of a series of short duration matches with a small number of players and which replicate match-like technical
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Effects of Ball Drills and Repeated-Sprint-Ability Training in Basketball Players
Martina A. Maggioni, Matteo Bonato, Alexander Stahn, Antonio La Torre, Luca Agnello, Gianluca Vernillo, Carlo Castagna, and Giampiero Merati
Short-Term Creatine Supplementation and Repeated Sprint Ability—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Mark Glaister and Lauren Rhodes
& Ren, 1989 ), it is reasoned that creatine supplementation could enable better recovery between successive sprints, resulting in an overall improvement in performance (or repeated sprint ability; Glaister et al., 2006 ; Yquel et al., 2002 ). However, the results of studies examining the effects of
Repeated-Sprint Training With Blood-Flow Restriction Improves Repeated-Sprint Ability Similarly to Unrestricted Training at Reduced External Loads
James R. Mckee, Olivier Girard, Jeremiah J. Peiffer, Daniel J. Hiscock, Kristen De Marco, and Brendan R. Scott
Sustaining performance over a series of short-duration efforts (≤10 s) interspersed with brief recovery periods (≤60 s; ie, repeated-sprint ability [RSA]) is crucial for team-sport competition. 1 , 2 Repeated-sprint training (RST) can improve RSA by combating physiological factors contributing to
Effects of Warm-Up Training on Psychomotor Vigilance and Repeated-Sprint Ability of Professional Soccer Referees: A Pilot Study
Mateu Busquets-Ferrer, Francisco Tomás González-Fernández, Filipe Manuel Clemente, and Alfonso Castillo-Rodriguez
al., 2002 ). Moreover, in terms of physical performance and repeated-sprint ability (RSA) of SRs, a strong correlation has been established between sprinting skills and a high-intensity performance level ( Haugen et al., 2013 ). In this vein, the physical condition of the athlete plays a relevant role in
Repeated-Sprint Ability: Where Are We?
Brian Dawson
Repeated-sprint ability (RSA) is now well accepted as an important fitness component in team-sport performance. It is broadly described as the ability to perform repeated short (~3–4 s, 20–30 m) sprints with only brief (~10–30 s) recovery between bouts. Over the past 25 y a plethora of RSA tests have been trialed and reported in the literature. These range from a single set of ~6–10 short sprints, departing every 20–30 s, to team-sport game simulations involving repeating cycles of walk-jog-stride-sprint movements over 45–90 min. Such a wide range of RSA tests has not assisted the synthesis of research findings in this area, and questions remain regarding the optimal methods of training to best improve RSA. In addition, how RSA test scores relate to player “work rate,” match performance, or both requires further investigation to improve the application of RSA testing and training to elite team-sport athletes.
Effects of a 6-Week Repeated-Sprint Training With Voluntary Hypoventilation at Low and High Lung Volume on Repeated-Sprint Ability in Female Soccer Players
Mounir Ait Ali Braham, Youva Ouchen, and Xavier Woorons
. In particular, the ability to repeat sprints, namely the repeated-sprint ability (RSA), is an important fitness requirement in soccer which may influence the final outcome of the match. 2 As a multifactorial fitness component, RSA can be improved using different training methods. 3 However, over the
Effects of Playing Surface on Physical, Physiological, and Perceptual Responses to a Repeated-Sprint Ability Test: Natural Grass Versus Artificial Turf
Achraf Ammar, Stephen J. Bailey, Omar Hammouda, Khaled Trabelsi, Nabil Merzigui, Kais El Abed, Tarak Driss, Anita Hökelmann, Fatma Ayadi, Hamdi Chtourou, Adnen Gharbi, and Mouna Turki
surface on repeated sprint ability (RSA) is equivocal. 13 , 14 , Playing surface has been shown to influence some variables, such as peak and average speed, 15 playing style, 10 and change of direction ability, 11 , 12 , 14 , with players also exhibiting better technical skills (eg, fewer sliding
Fitness Determinants of Repeated-Sprint Ability in Highly Trained Youth Football Players
Matt Spencer, David Pyne, Juanma Santisteban, and Iñigo Mujika
Variations in rates of growth and development in young football players can influence relationships among various fitness qualities.
Purpose:
To investigate the relationships between repeated-sprint ability and other fundamental fitness qualities of acceleration, agility, explosive leg power, and aerobic conditioning through the age groups of U1 1 to U18 in highly trained junior football players.
Methods:
Male players (n = 119) across the age groups completed a fitness assessment battery over two testing sessions. The first session consisted of countermovement jumps without and with arm swing, 15-m sprint run, 15-m agility run, and the 20-m Shuttle Run (U11 to U15) or the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test, Level 1 (U16 to U18). The players were tested for repeated-sprint ability in the second testing session using a protocol of 6 × 30-m sprints on 30 s with an active recovery.
Results:
The correlations of repeated-sprint ability with the assorted fitness tests varied considerably between the age groups, especially for agility (r = .02 to .92) and explosive leg power (r = .04 to .84). Correlations of repeated sprint ability with acceleration (r = .48 to .93) and aerobic conditioning (r = .28 to .68) were less variable with age.
Conclusion:
Repeated-sprint ability associates differently with other fundamental fitness tests throughout the teenage years in highly trained football players, although stabilization of these relationships occurs by the age of 18 y. Coaches in junior football should prescribe physical training accounting for variations in short-term disruptions or impairment of physical performance during this developmental period.
Reliability of a Field and Laboratory Test of Repeated Sprint Ability
Jonathan L. Oliver, Craig A. Williams, and Neil Armstrong
The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability of a field and a laboratory test of repeated sprint ability (RSA). Twelve adolescent boys (15.3 ± 0.3 years) completed five trials of both a field RSA test (7 × 30 m sprints) and a laboratory RSA test (7 × 5 s sprints) performed on a nonmotorized treadmill. Mean coefficients of variation (CV) calculated across all trials were < 2.7% for field sprint times, and, in the laboratory, < 2.9% for velocity and < 8.4% for power output. Fatigue indices (FI) calculated from data in both environments exhibited mean CVs > 23%. The inconsistency in the FIs resulted from the mathematical procedures used in the FI calculation methods. Based on the reliability scores, it was concluded that results obtained from measured performance variables in the field and laboratory, and not calculated FIs, should be used to report RSA.
Prolonged Repeated-Sprint Ability Is Related to Arterial O2 Desaturation in Men
François Billaut and Kurt Smith
The ability to repeatedly generate maximum power output is usually accompanied by neuromuscular adjustments.
Purpose:
This study aimed to explore the occurrence of arterial O2 desaturation during prolonged repeated-sprint ability (RSA) testing and its relationship to neuromuscular activity, as evidenced by changes in surface integrated electromyogram (iEMG).
Methods:
Fifteen, national-level soccer players performed twenty 5-s cycle sprints (25 s of rest). Mechanical work and surface iEMG of the vastus lateralis (VL) and rectus femoris (RF) of the dominant lower limb were recorded for every sprint. Arterial O2 saturation (S O2) was estimated via pulse oximetry and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) recorded immediately after every sprint.
Results:
Over the sprints, mechanical work (23.5%), iEMG (VL: 14.2%, RF: 16.4%) and S O2 (3.5%) decreased, and RPE progressed to 19 (all P < .05). There was a strong linear relationship (R2 = .83, P < .05) between the changes in mechanical output and iEMG during the sprints. More importantly, changes in S O2 accompanied changes in mechanical work, iEMG and RPE (R2 = .68, R2 = .64, R2 = .62, P < .05, respectively).
Conclusion:
The study suggests that in a homogenous group of athletes a progressive arterial O2 desaturation develops during a prolonged RSA test, which may contribute toward performance regulation via an effect on sense of effort and neuromuscular activity.
