the study. Procedures Training Intervention The intervention involved 6 sessions over a 2-week period with each session including 6 (week 1) or 8 (week 2) 30-second repetitions of maximal shuttle sprinting. Both interventions required the participant to complete as many shuttles as possible in 30
Search Results
The Effects of In-Season, Low-Volume Sprint Interval Training With and Without Sport-Specific Actions on the Physical Characteristics of Elite Academy Rugby League Players
Nick Dobbin, Jamie Highton, Samantha L. Moss, and Craig Twist
Two Weeks of Repeated-Sprint Training in Soccer: To Turn or Not to Turn?
Jonathan M. Taylor, Tom W. Macpherson, Shaun J. McLaren, Iain Spears, and Matthew Weston
Purpose:
To compare the effects of 2 repeated-sprint training programs on fitness in soccer.
Methods:
Fifteen semiprofessional soccer players (age: 24 ± 4 y; body mass: 77 ± 8 kg) completed 6 repeated-sprint training sessions over a 2-week period. Players were assigned to a straight-line (STR) (n = 8; 3–4 sets of 7 × 30 m) or change of direction (CoD) (n = 7; 3–4 sets of 7 × 20-m) repeated-sprint training group. Performance measures included 5-, 10-, and 20-m sprints, countermovement jump, Illinois agility, and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test level 1 (YYIRTL1) performance. Internal (heart rate) and external (global positioning system-derived measures) training loads were monitored throughout. Data were analyzed using magnitude-based inferences.
Results:
Internal and external loads were higher in the STR group than in the CoD group with large differences in maximum velocity (28.7%; ±90% confidence limits, 3.3%), moderate differences in mean heart rates (7.0%; ±1.4%) and PlayerLoad (17.6%; ±8.6%), and small differences in peak heart rates (3.0%; ±1.6%). Large improvements in 5-m (STR: 9.6%; ±7.0% and CoD: 9.4%; ±3.3%), 10-m (STR: 6.6%; ±4.6% and CoD: 6.7%; ±2.2%), and 20-m (STR: 3.6; ±4.0% and CoD: 4.0; ±1.7%) sprints were observed. Large and moderate improvements in YYIRTL1 performance were observed in the STR (24.0%; ±9.3%) and CoD (31.0%; ±7.5%), respectively. Between-groups differences in outcome measures were unclear.
Conclusions:
Two weeks of repeated-sprint training stimulates improvements in acceleration, speed, and high-intensity running performance in soccer players. Despite STR inducing higher internal and external training loads, training adaptations were unclear between training modes, indicating a need for further research.
Biochemical Markers and Wellness Status During a Congested Match Play Period in Elite Soccer Players
Karim Saidi, Hassane Zouhal, Daniel Boullosa, Gregory Dupont, Anthony C. Hackney, Benoit Bideau, Urs Granacher, and Abderraouf Ben Abderrahman
each time point to monitor muscle damage (CK) and inflammation (CRP and creatinine). On the second day, participants performed 3 physical fitness tests (the squat jump [SJ], the countermovement jump [CMJ], and the repeated shuttle sprint ability test [RSSA]). On the third testing day, participants
Effects of a Complex Strength-Training Program on Athletic Performance of Junior Female Handball Players
Mehrez Hammami, Nawel Gaamouri, Gaith Aloui, Roy J. Shephard, and Mohamed Souhaiel Chelly
, agility, repeated shuttle sprinting, repeated sprint T-test, vertical and horizontal jumping, and static and dynamic balance and strength in female handball players. We tested the hypothesis that incorporating 10-week CSTP into a standard training regimen would enhance each of these measures. Methods All
Physical and Mental Fatigue Reduce Psychomotor Vigilance in Professional Football Players
Luca Angius, Michele Merlini, James Hopker, Mattia Bianchi, Francesco Fois, Francesco Piras, Paolo Cugia, James Russell, and Samuele Maria Marcora
-Yo intermittent recovery to assess their physical fitness. During visits 2 and 3, each volunteer performed the RSA test in either an experimental (MF) or control (CON) condition according to a randomized and counterbalanced order. The RSA test consisted of 10 shuttle sprints of 40 m (20 + 20 m) at the maximal
Reliability, Usefulness, and Validity of a Repeated Sprint and Jump Ability Test
Martin Buchheit, Matt Spencer, and Said Ahmaidi
Purpose:
Two studies involving 122 handball players were conducted to assess the reliability, usefulness, and validity of a repeated shuttle-sprint and jump ability (RSSJA) test. The test consisted of 6 × (2 × 12.5-m) sprints departing on 25 s, with a countermovement jump performed during recovery between sprints.
Methods:
For the reliability and usefulness study, 14 well-trained male handball players performed the RSSJA test 7 d apart. Reliability of the test variables was assessed by the typical error of measurement, expressed as a coefficient of variation (CV). The minimal changes likely to be “real” in sprint time and jump power were also calculated. For the validity study, players of seven teams (national to international levels, women and men) performed the RSSJA test.
Results:
CV values for best and mean sprint time were 1.0% (90% CL, 0.7 to 1.6) and 1.0% (90% CL, 0.7 to 1.4). CV values for best and mean jump peak power were 1.7% (90% CL, 1.2 to 2.7) and 1.5% (90% CL, 1.1 to 2.5). The percent sprint and jump decrements were less reliable, with CVs of 22.3% (90% CL, 15.7 to 38.3) and 34.8% (90% CL, 24.2 to 61.8). Minimal changes likely to be “real” for mean sprint time and jumping peak power were -2.6% and 4.8%. Qualitative analysis revealed that the majority of between-team differences were rated as “almost certain” (ie, 100% probability that the true differences were meaningful) for mean sprint and jump performances.
Conclusion:
The RSSJA test is reliable and valid to assess repeated explosive effort sequences in team sports such as handball. Test results are likely to be representative of gender and competition level; thus the test could be used to discriminate across playing standards and monitor fitness levels.
Improving Acceleration and Repeated Sprint Ability in Well-Trained Adolescent Handball Players: Speed Versus Sprint Interval Training
Martin Buchheit, Alberto Mendez-Villanueva, Marc Quod, Thomas Quesnel, and Said Ahmaidi
Purpose:
The aim of the current study was to compare the effects of speed/agility (S/A) training with sprint interval training (SIT) on acceleration and repeated sprint ability (RSA) in well-trained male handball players.
Methods:
In addition to their normal training program, players performed either S/A (n = 7) or SIT (n = 7) training for 4 wk. Speed/agility sessions consisted of 3 to 4 series of 4 to 6 exercises (eg, agility drills, standing start and very short sprints, all of <5 s duration); each repetition and series was interspersed with 30 s and 3 min of passive recovery, respectively. Sprint interval training consisted of 3 to 5 repetitions of 30-s all-out shuttle sprints over 40 m, interspersed with 2 min of passive recovery. Pre- and posttests included a countermovement jump (CMJ), 10-m sprint (10m), RSA test and a graded intermittent aerobic test (30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test, VIFT).
Results:
S/A training produced a very likely greater improvement in 10-m sprint (+4.6%, 90% CL 1.2 to 7.8), best (+2.7%, 90% CL 0.1 to 5.2) and mean (+2.2%, 90% CL –0.2 to 4.5) RSA times than SIT (all effect sizes [ES] greater than 0.79). In contrast, SIT resulted in an almost certain greater improvement in VIFT compared with S/A (+5.2%, 90% CL 3.5 to 6.9, with ES = –0.83).
Conclusion:
In well-trained handball players, 4 wk of SIT is likely to have a moderate impact on intermittent endurance capacity only, whereas S/A training is likely to improve acceleration and repeated sprint performance.
Relationship Between Flat-Water Tests and Canoe Slalom Performance on 4 Different Grades of Water Terrain Difficulty
Matej Vajda and Eva Piatrikova
Description of the Flat-Water Tests Test Test description Test visualization Time measurement SPS (2 × 15-m shuttle sprints) Subjects sprinted from the staring gates to the opposite gate then turned to the preferred side and paddled back to the starting gate. The time was started/stopped when the body of the
Reduced Fatigue in Passive Versus Active Recovery: An Examination of Repeated-Change-of-Direction Sprints in Basketball Players
Maria C. Madueno, Vincent J. Dalbo, Joshua H. Guy, Kate E. Giamarelos, Tania Spiteri, and Aaron T. Scanlan
knowledge, only 1 study has examined the influence of different recovery modes between RCOD sprints. Castagna et al 1 compared the physiological and performance responses with active and passive recovery applied between 10 × 30-m repeated shuttle sprints in basketball players. However, in this study, total
Effects of an Eccentric Hamstrings Training on Components of Physical Performance in Young Female Handball Players
Helmi Chaabene, Yassine Negra, Jason Moran, Olaf Prieske, Senda Sammoud, Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo, and Urs Granacher
legs fully extended during the flight phase. The ICC for test–retest reliability was .98 and the CV was 4.1%. Repeated-Sprint Ability The RSA test was conducted using a photocell system (Microgate, SRL). Immediately after a warm-up, participants completed a preliminary single shuttle-sprint test. The
