Repeated-sprint sets test: a new method for evaluating and forecasting fitness in elite young male soccer players

The objective of the current study was to explore the correlation between repeated sprint sets (RSS) ability and several physical attributes, including maximum sprint speed, maximal aerobic speed, maximal anaerobic speed, aerobic capacity, and explosive strength. Moreover, the aim was to assess the suitability of RSS as a comprehensive evaluation tool for physical qualities and to determine which physical field tests most accurately predict RSS in elite young male soccer players. A total of thirty-two young elite male soccer players (mean age 14.6 ± 0.3 years; predicted years from peak height velocity (PHV): - 0.4 ± 0.3; years in training: 3.7 ± 0.5) voluntarily participated in the study. The players participated in eight consecutive specific physical tests, with a minimum 72-h recovery between each session to minimize the impact of fatigue during the second trial. The participants completed the tests in the following order: RSS test, Vam-Eval test, a constant velocity test performed until exhaustion at 100% of vVO2max (tlim100), 20-m Multi-Stage Shuttle Run test (VMSRT), Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1), Maximal Anaerobic Shuttle Running Test (VMASRT), Maximal Sprinting Speed Test (20-m flying sprint), Countermovement Jump (CMJ), and Standing Long Jump test (SLJ). The results of the study showed that there were very large negative correlations between tlim100 and SST (sum of sprint times), and large negative correlations between Yo-Yo IR1, Vam-Eval, and SST during RSS in young elite male soccer players (p < 0.05). Additionally, VMASRT and SLJ demonstrated a moderate negative correlation with SST (p < 0.05). In contrast, significant positive correlations were found between 20-m flying sprint and the SST (p < 0.05). According to the stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, the primary predictors of SST, ranked by importance, were tlim100 and Yo-Yo IR1. These two predictors collectively accounted for 72% of the variance in players' SST (p < 0.0001). Due to the importance of aerobic capacity and short repeated accelerations/sprint sets for overall competitive performance in soccer, in conclusion, our results suggest that elite young male soccer players should perform both high intensity interval training and aeorobic capactity exercises as part of soccer training if the primary outcome is to improve repeated sprint ability performance.

Does Maturity Status Affect the Relationship Between Anaerobic Speed Reserve and Multiple Sprint Sets Performance in Young Soccer Players?

Selmi, MA, Al-Haddabi, B, Yahmed, MH, and Sassi, RH. Does maturity status affect the relationship between anaerobic speed reserve and multiple sprints sets performance in young soccer players? J Strength Cond Res 34(12): 3600-3606, 2020-The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between repeated-sprint sets (RSS) performance indices and anaerobic speed reserve (ASR) in young soccer players of different maturity status. One hundred seventy-nine young male soccer players (11.1-17.8 years) classified as pre- (n = 50), circum- (n = 60), or post- (n = 69) peak height velocity (PHV) performed multistage shuttle run test (MSRT) to measure maximal aerobic speed (MAS), 30-m sprint with 10-m splits to estimate maximal anaerobic speed (MAnS), and RSS test. Anaerobic speed reserve was calculated as the difference between MAS and MAnS. The RSS indices, MAS, MAnS, and ASR were significantly different in the 3 maturity groups (p < 0.001; effect size = 0.12-0.64). Correlations between RSS performance indices and ASR varied considerably depending on maturity status. Very large correlations between ASR and RSS indices expressed as sum sprint time (SST) and best sprint time (BST) were found for pre- and circum-PHV groups (r = -0.76, -0.79 and r = -0.82, -0.86, respectively). In the post-PHV group, ASR was moderately associated with both SST (r = -0.45) and BST (r = -0.46). To sum up, these results highlighted that the ASR is more related to factors of RSS performance in pre- and circum-PHV male soccer players compared with post-PHV ones. These findings could help coaches and strength and conditioning professionals to better understand how the relationship between ASR and RSS evolves across the maturity and may be considered, therefore, useful in youth soccer selection/training process.

Acute effect of post activation potentiation using drop jumps on repeated sprints combined with vertical jumps in young handball players

BACKGROUND: The use of post-activation potentiation (PAP) exercises at the end of the warm-up may increase muscles nerve conduction speed and per consequent improve speed, strength and explosive power performances. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of PAP during warm-up using vertical or horizontal drop jumps on repeated sprints performance combined with countermovement jump in young handball players. METHODS: 12 young handball players participated in this study. Participants realized 3 randomized warm-up protocols: a warm-up without PAP, a warm-up with PAP using vertical drop jumps, and a warm-up with PAP using horizontal drop jumps. After the assigned PAP protocol, the subject realized a counter movement jump as a reference value (CMJr), and thereafter repeated sprint tests with and without changing of direction (six maximal 2 × 12.5 m shuttle sprints and six maximal 25 m straight sprints, respectively) combined with vertical jumping. RESULTS: Horizontal drop jump during warm-up showed larger improvements in repeated sprints performance with and without change of direction for the parameters best time and mean time, compared with warm up without drop jumps (p< 0.01) and warm up with vertical drop jumps (p< 0.05). Vertical drop jump performance during warm-up induced greater gains in countermovement jump reference value in comparison with warm up without drop jump (p< 0.01), or warm up with horizontal drop jump (p< 0.01). CONCLUSION: PAP during warm-up using horizontal drop jump improves repeated sprints performance with and without changing of direction while PAP using vertical drop jump improves CMJ reference value.

Normative Data and Physical Determinants of Multiple Sprint Sets in Young Soccer Players Aged 11-18 Years: Effect of Maturity Status

Selmi, MA, Sassi, RH, Yahmed, MH, Giannini, S, Perroni, F, and Elloumi, M. Normative data and physical determinants of multiple sprint sets in young soccer players aged 11-18 years: Effect of maturity status. J Strength Cond Res 34(2): 506-515, 2020-The aims of the study were: (a) to establish normative data for repeated-sprint sets (RSS) test based on the maturity status (age at peak height velocity [PHV]) and (2) to investigate the relationship between anthropometrical variables (stature, sitting height, body mass, and body fat percentage), RSS (2 × 5 × 20 m with 15-second recovery between sprints and 1-minute recovery between sets), and fitness tests {squat jump, countermovement jump, standing long jump, standing triple jump, 5-jump test, and 20-m shuttle run (multistage shuttle run test [MSRT])}. Young male soccer players (n = 262; age: 14.5 ± 2.9 years) were evaluated and classified into 4 groups according to their maturity status: pre-PHV, circum-PHV1, circum-PHV2, post-PHV. An analysis of variance and Bonferroni post hoc were used to determine maturity group differences (p ≤ 0.05), whereas Pearson's correlation was used between variables. Repeated-sprint sets' indices (sum of sprint times [SST] and best sprint time [BST]) were significantly different between the maturity groups. Significant correlations between SST with body mass (from -0.73 to -0.33) and MSRT (from -0.49 to -0.30) among each maturity group were found. With the different maturity groups, correlations between SST (s), BST (s), and vertical jump (cm) (r = -0.63 to -0.25 and r = -0.68 to -0.23) and horizontal jump (m) (r = -0.70 to -0.38 and r = -0.63 to -0.43) were observed. Repeated-sprint sets' values improve during maturation of young soccer players and the correlations between RSS and fitness tests vary through the maturity groups. This information could be useful for the coach to identify talent and to prescribe specific physical training to improve performance.

Listening to Preferred Music Improved Running Performance without Changing the Pacing Pattern during a 6 Minute Run Test with Young Male Adults

Several studies have investigated the effects of music on both submaximal and maximal exercise performance at a constant work-rate. However, there is a lack of research that has examined the effects of music on the pacing strategy during self-paced exercise. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of preferred music on performance and pacing during a 6 min run test (6-MSPRT) in young male adults. Twenty healthy male participants volunteered for this study. They performed two randomly assigned trials (with or without music) of a 6-MSPRT three days apart. Mean running speed, the adopted pacing strategy, total distance covered (TDC), peak and mean heart rate (HRpeak, HRmean), blood lactate (3 min after the test), and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured. Listening to preferred music during the 6-MSPRT resulted in significant TDC improvement (Δ10%; p = 0.016; effect size (ES) = 0.80). A significantly faster mean running speed was observed when listening to music compared with no music. The improvement of TDC in the present study is explained by a significant overall increase in speed (main effect for conditions) during the music trial. Music failed to modify pacing patterns as suggested by the similar reversed “J-shaped” profile during the two conditions. Blood-lactate concentrations were significantly reduced by 9% (p = 0.006, ES = 1.09) after the 6-MSPRT with music compared to those in the control condition. No statistically significant differences were found between the test conditions for HRpeak, HRmean, and RPE. Therefore, listening to preferred music can have positive effects on exercise performance during the 6-MSPRT, such as greater TDC, faster running speeds, and reduced blood lactate levels but has no effect on the pacing strategy.

Reliability and validity of a new maximal anaerobic shuttle running test

The purpose of this study was twofold: first to assess the relative and absolute reliability of a new Maximal Anaerobic Shuttle Running Test (MASRT), and second to evaluate the criterion validity of the MASRT. 16 team sport players participated in this study. The velocity (VMASRT) and the number of shuttles achieved at volitional exhaustion were measured. To assess the reliability of the MASRT, each player performed the MASRT twice, on separate days. The criterion validity of the MASRT was determined by examining the relationship between MASRT indices and the Wingate test (WingT) performances. Results showed no difference between test-retest MASRT scores for VMASRT and the number of shuttles (P>0.05). The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) values for VMASRT and Shuttle number were 0.84 and 0.80, respectively. The coefficients of variation (CV) and the mean difference (bias)±the 95% limits of agreement for the same variables were 3.6 and 12.9%, and 0.02±0.37m·s-1 and 0.3±6.7, respectively. The strongest correlation was found between mean power output relative to body mass (MPO) measured during the WingT and VMASRT (r=0.77, P<0.001). The MASRT constitutes a reliable and valid field tool for assessing short term repeated running capacity of team sport players.