Effects of Resisted Sprints With Changes of Direction Through Several Relative Loads on Physical Performance in Soccer Players

The effect of weighted vest use during in-season, small-sided games training on young soccer players' performance

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of weighted vest on-field small-sided games (SSG) soccer training, during the in-season period, on body composition and soccer-specific performances, in young, trained soccer players. A counterbalance study design was adopted, in which the fourteen well-trained players (age: 19.1 ± 0.5 yrs, body mass: 70.3 ± 5.3 kg, body height: 180.3 ± 3.0 cm, body fat: 9.2 ± 4.1%) performed both the Interventional (Vest) and Control (Con) training routines (6 weeks/season; 5 training sessions/week; 1 match/week), in different occasions (winter/spring period). Con group followed a regular weekly training plan. When the Con group performed their intense training sessions, Vest group performed only the on-field SSGs training wearing a vest (12.5% of athletes' body mass). All the evaluations were performed one week before and after each training period. Statistical analyses include repeated ANOVA and T-test (p < 0.05). Significant increases in sprinting, jumping, change of direction (COD), aerobic and anaerobic performances were observed only after Vest intervention (-4.7 ± 2.2% to 11.2 ± 4.2%; p < 0.05). Significant changes were observed only after Vest training, compared to Cont (p < 0.05). These results suggest that using a weighted vest, during the in-season, onfield SSG training two times/week induces greater increases in young soccer players' sprinting, jumping, COD, aerobic and anaerobic performances.

Speed Training Practices of Brazilian Olympic Sprint and Jump Coaches: Toward a Deeper Understanding of Their Choices and Insights (Part II)

This is the second article in a three-article collection regarding the plyometric, speed, and resistance training practices of Brazilian Olympic sprint and jump coaches. Here, we list and describe six out of the ten speed training methods most commonly employed by these experts to enhance the sprinting capabilities of their athletes. Maximum speed sprinting, form running, resisted sprinting, overspeed running, uphill and downhill running, and sport-specific movement methods are critically examined with reference to their potential application in different sport contexts. In an era when sprint speed is of critical importance across numerous sports, practitioners can employ the methods outlined here to design efficient training programs for their athletes.

Effects of Vest and Sled Resisted Sprint Training on Sprint Performance in Young Soccer Players: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

ABSTRACT

Fernández-Galván, LM, Casado, A, García-Ramos, A, and Haff, GG. Effects of vest and sled resisted sprint training on sprint performance in young soccer players: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2022-The aim of the meta-analysis was to determine the effect of resisted sprint training (RST) on sprint performance in young (<20 years) soccer players and to analyze whether the training equipment (sled or vest) and magnitude of the resistive load (above or below 20% of body mass [BM]) influences the long-term adaptations in sprint performance. Resisted sprint training reduced the acceleration phase time [standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.41], with greater reduction in sprint time occurring in response to applying resistance with a vest (SMD = -0.70) when compared with a sled (SMD = -0.27). Similar reductions were determined for resistive loads <20% (SMD = -0.55) and ≥20% of BM (SMD = -0.31). Full sprint time showed a small reduction after RST (SMD = -0.36), regardless of the training equipment (sled: SMD = -0.44; vest: SMD = -0.26) and resistive load (<20% of BM: SMD = -0.40 ≥ 20% of BM: SMD = -0.21). There was a small and nonsignificant reduction in the maximum-velocity phase after RST (SMD = -0.25), which was comparable when the training was performed with vest (SMD = -0.34) or sled (SMD = -0.22). No significant differences in the changes of the acceleration phase time (SMD = 0.05) or full sprint time (SMD = 0.08) were observed between the experimental (sled or vest RST) and control groups (only soccer or unresisted sprint training). In conclusion, RST is effective to improve sprint performance in young soccer players, but the improvements are not superior to unresisted sprint training.

Effects of Combined Strength and Resisted Sprint Training on Physical Performance in U-19 Elite Soccer Players

Ben Brahim, M, Bougatfa, R, Makni, E, Gonzalez, PP, Yasin, H, Tarwneh, R, Moalla, W, and Elloumi, M. Effects of combined strength and resisted sprint training on physical performance in U-19 elite soccer players. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2020-This study assessed the effects of combined muscular strength and resisted sprint training using both sled and weight vest compared with regular soccer training on physical fitness of lower limbs in U-19 elite soccer players. Thirty-four male soccer players (age: 18.8 ± 0.8 years, height: 1.81 ± 0.05 m, body mass: 76.4 ± 4.9 kg, and body fat mass: 11.3 ± 4.2%) were randomly assigned into a resisted sprint training group (RSTG, n = 20), using both weight vest and sled, and a control group (CONTG, n = 14). Sprinting ability (5 m and 20 m), squat jump (SJ) and counter-movement jump (CMJ) tests, 1 repetition maximum of half-back squat (1RM half-back squat), and soccer ball-shooting speed were assessed before and after a 6-week training program. Within-group interactions showed significant combined muscular strength and resisted sprint training effects were observed for all the tests' measurements (effect sizes = 0.97 and 3.69 for 20-m sprint and SJ, respectively). However, significant increases of performances were observed for 5-m and 20-m sprinting time ( = 0.25, p < 0.01 and = 0.22, p < 0.01, respectively), SJ and CMJ ( = 0.78, p < 0.0001 and = 0.34, p < 0.001, respectively), 1 repetition maximum (1-RM) half-back squat ( = 0.45, p < 0.0001), and soccer ball-shooting speed ( = 0.41, p < 0.0001) in RSTG with large effect size, whereas the CONTG showed significant performances increase only for CMJ (p < 0.05), 1RM half-back squat (p < 0.01), and soccer ball-shooting speed (p < 0.05). We conclude that combined strength and both horizontal (weighted sled) and vertical (weighted vest) resisted sprint training are more effective than regular soccer training for enhancing sprinting and jumping abilities as well as ball-shooting speed in soccer.

Vertical Versus Horizontal Resisted Sprint Training Applied to Young Soccer Players: Effects on Physical Performance

Purpose: To analyze and compare the effects of 4 different resisted sprint training (RST) modalities on youth soccer players’ performance after 8 weeks of training. Methods: Forty-eight youth soccer players were first randomly assigned to 4 groups and only then completed 8 weeks of RST: horizontal resisted sprint, vertical resisted sprint (VRS), combined resisted sprint, and unresisted sprint. Performance in horizontal and vertical jumps, sprint, and change of direction (COD) ability were assessed 1 week before and after the training intervention. Magnitude-based inference analysis was performed for calculating within-group pre–post differences. In addition, an analysis of covariance test was performed for between-group comparison, using the pretest values as covariates. After that, the analysis of covariance P values and the effect statistic were transformed to magnitude-based inference. Results: Within-group outcomes showed that all resisted training modalities experienced improvements in sprint (small to moderate) and COD (small to large) performance. Moreover, all groups, except unresisted sprint, enhanced the horizontal jump performance. However, only VRS improved on vertical jump. Between-group comparison outcomes revealed that only VRS improved the sprint time compared with horizontal resisted sprint (moderate) and COD performance compared with all groups (moderate to large). In addition, VRS enhanced the countermovement jump performance (small to large) compared with the other groups. Conclusions: Independent of the orientation of the resistance applied, RST is an effective training method for improving sprinting and COD performance. Nevertheless, VRS may promote greater improvements on sprint and COD ability and have a positive additional effect on countermovement jump performance and the reduction of COD deficit.

Influence of Strength and Power Capacity on Change of Direction Speed and Deficit in Elite Team-Sport Athletes

The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of maximum strength and power levels on change of direction (COD) ability and deficit in elite soccer and rugby players. Seventy-eight elite athletes (soccer, n = 46; rugby, n = 32) performed the following assessments: squat and countermovement jumps (SJ and CMJ), 1 repetition-maximum in the half-squat exercise (HS 1RM), peak power (PP) in the jump-squat exercise, and 20-m linear sprint and Zigzag COD tests. Utilizing the median split analysis, athletes were divided into two groups according to their HS 1RM and PP JS (e.g., higher and lower HS 1RM and higher and lower PP JS). The magnitude-based inference method was used to analyze the differences between groups in the physical performance tests. Athletes in the high strength and power groups outperformed their weaker and less powerful counterparts in all speed and power measurements (i.e., 5-, 10-, and 20-m sprint velocity, Zigzag COD speed, and CMJ and SJ height). In contrast, stronger and more powerful athletes displayed greater COD deficits. The present data indicate that players with superior strength-power capacity tend to be less efficient at changing direction, relative to maximum sprinting speed, despite being faster in linear trajectories. From these results, it appears that current strength and power training practices in team-sports are potentially not the “most appropriate” to increase the aptitude of a given athlete to efficiently utilize his/her neuromuscular abilities during COD maneuvers. Nevertheless, it remains unknown whether more multifaceted training programs are effective in decreasing COD deficits.