Very-Heavy Sled Training for Improving Horizontal-Force Output in Soccer Players

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 840-844 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Benoît Morin ◽  
George Petrakos ◽  
Pedro Jiménez-Reyes ◽  
Scott R. Brown ◽  
Pierre Samozino ◽  
...  

Background:Sprint running acceleration is a key feature of physical performance in team sports, and recent literature shows that the ability to generate large magnitudes of horizontal ground-reaction force and mechanical effectiveness of force application are paramount. The authors tested the hypothesis that very-heavy loaded sled sprint training would induce an improvement in horizontal-force production, via an increased effectiveness of application.Methods:Training-induced changes in sprint performance and mechanical outputs were computed using a field method based on velocity–time data, before and after an 8-wk protocol (16 sessions of 10- × 20-m sprints). Sixteen male amateur soccer players were assigned to either a very-heavy sled (80% body mass sled load) or a control group (unresisted sprints).Results:The main outcome of this pilot study is that very-heavy sled-resisted sprint training, using much greater loads than traditionally recommended, clearly increased maximal horizontal-force production compared with standard unloaded sprint training (effect size of 0.80 vs 0.20 for controls, unclear between-groups difference) and mechanical effectiveness (ie, more horizontally applied force; effect size of 0.95 vs –0.11, moderate between-groups difference). In addition, 5-m and 20-m sprint performance improvements were moderate and small for the very-heavy sled group and small and trivial for the control group, respectively.Practical Applications:This brief report highlights the usefulness of very-heavy sled (80% body mass) training, which may suggest value for practical improvement of mechanical effectiveness and maximal horizontal-force capabilities in soccer players and other team-sport athletes.Results:This study may encourage further research to confirm the usefulness of very-heavy sled in this context.

Author(s):  
Mikael Derakhti ◽  
Domen Bremec ◽  
Tim Kambič ◽  
Lasse Ten Siethoff ◽  
Niklas Psilander

Purpose: This study compared the effects of heavy resisted sprint training (RST) versus unresisted sprint training (UST) on sprint performance among adolescent soccer players. Methods: Twenty-four male soccer players (age: 15.7 [0.5] y; body height: 175.7 [9.4] cm; body mass: 62.5 [9.2] kg) were randomly assigned to the RST group (n = 8), the UST group (n = 10), or the control group (n = 6). The UST group performed 8 × 20 m unresisted sprints twice weekly for 4 weeks, whereas the RST group performed 5 × 20-m heavy resisted sprints with a resistance set to maximize the horizontal power output. The control group performed only ordinary soccer training and match play. Magnitude-based decision and linear regression were used to analyze the data. Results: The RST group improved sprint performances with moderate to large effect sizes (0.76–1.41) across all distances, both within and between groups (>92% beneficial effect likelihood). Conversely, there were no clear improvements in the UST and control groups. The RST evoked the largest improvements over short distances (6%–8%) and was strongly associated with increased maximum horizontal force capacities (r = .9). Players with a preintervention deficit in force capacity appeared to benefit the most from RST. Conclusions: Four weeks of heavy RST led to superior improvements in short-sprint performance compared with UST among adolescent soccer players. Heavy RST, using a load individually selected to maximize horizontal power, is therefore highly recommended as a method to improve sprint acceleration in youth athletes.


PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10507
Author(s):  
Johan Lahti ◽  
Toni Huuhka ◽  
Valentin Romero ◽  
Ian Bezodis ◽  
Jean-Benoit Morin ◽  
...  

Background Sprint performance is an essential skill to target within soccer, which can be likely achieved with a variety of methods, including different on-field training options. One such method could be heavy resisted sprint training. However, the effects of such overload on sprint performance and the related kinetic changes are unknown in a professional setting. Another unknown factor is whether violating kinematic specificity via heavy resistance will lead to changes in unloaded sprinting kinematics. We investigated whether heavy resisted sled training (HS) affects sprint performance, kinetics, sagittal plane kinematics, and spatiotemporal parameters in professional male soccer players. Methods After familiarization, a nine-week training protocol and a two-week taper was completed with sprint performance and force-velocity (FV) profiles compared before and after. Out of the two recruited homogenous soccer teams (N = 32, age: 24.1 ± 5.1 years: height: 180 ± 10 cm; body-mass: 76.7 ± 7.7 kg, 30-m split-time: 4.63 ± 0.13 s), one was used as a control group continuing training as normal with no systematic acceleration training (CON, N = 13), while the intervention team was matched into two HS subgroups based on their sprint performance. Subgroup one trained with a resistance that induced a 60% velocity decrement from maximal velocity (N = 10, HS60%) and subgroup two used a 50% velocity decrement resistance (N = 9, HS50%) based on individual load-velocity profiles. Results Both heavy resistance subgroups improved significantly all 10–30-m split times (p < 0.05, d =  − 1.25; −0.62). Post-hoc analysis showed that HS50% improved significantly more compared to CON in 0–10-m split-time (d = 1.03) and peak power (d = 1.16). Initial maximal theoretical horizontal force capacity (F0) and sprint FV-sprint profile properties showed a significant moderate relationship with F0 adaptation potential (p < 0.05). No significant differences in sprinting kinematics or spatiotemporal variables were observed that remained under the between-session minimal detectable change. Conclusion With appropriate coaching, heavy resisted sprint training could be one pragmatic option to assist improvements in sprint performance without adverse changes in sprinting kinematics in professional soccer players. Assessing each player’s initial individual sprint FV-profile may assist in predicting adaptation potential. More studies are needed that compare heavy resisted sprinting in randomized conditions.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Lahti ◽  
Toni Huuhka ◽  
Valentin Romero ◽  
Ian N. Bezodis ◽  
Jean-Benoit Morin ◽  
...  

Sprint performance is an essential skill to target within soccer. However, time-consuming intervention models could be easily rejected by coaches. Therefore, alternative and efficient field training options are warranted. One such method could be heavy resisted sprint training. However, it is unknown whether such overload will be efficient in assisting increases in sprint performance in a professional setting, and whether violating kinematic specificity via heavy loading will lead to changes in unloaded sprinting kinematics. Thus, we investigated whether heavy resisted training affects sprint performance and sagittal plane kinematics. Training-induced changes in sprint FV-profiles were computed before and after the 9-week, 2 sessions x week protocol. Out of the two recruited teams (N = 32, age: 24.1 ± 5.0 years: height: 180 ± 10 cm; body-mass: 76.7 ± 7.7 kg), one was used as a control group continuing training as normal (CON, N = 13), while the experimental team was divided into two subgroups based on their initial sprint performance: 1) Heavy sled training with the 60% velocity drop (N = 10) and 2) 50% velocity drop load (N = 9). Both experimental groups improved significantly all 0-30-m split times (p &lt; 0.05, d = -0.62 – -1.25), with post-hoc showing HS50% improving significantly compared to CON in 0-10-m split (d = 1.03) and Pmax (d = 1.16). No differences in sprinting kinematics were observed. With appropriate coaching, heavy sled training could be a pragmatic option to assist improvements in sprint performance without adverse changes in sprinting kinematics in professional soccer players.


Sports ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 237
Author(s):  
Benjamin J. Snyder ◽  
Randolph E. Hutchison ◽  
Christopher J. Mills ◽  
Stephen J. Parsons

Fatigue has been proposed to increase the risk of knee injury. This study tracked countermovement jump, knee isometric strength, and kinetics and kinematics in 8 female soccer players (experimental group) during an anticipated sidestep maneuver before and after two matches played over a 43-h period. Time points were: Before and after match 1 (T0 and T1), 12 h after the first match (T2), and immediately after the second match (T3). A control group participated only in practice sessions. Isometric knee extension strength decreased by 14.8% at T2 (p = 0.003), but knee flexion was not affected until T3, declining by 12.6% (p = 0.018). During the sidestep maneuver, knee joint degrees of flexion at initial contact was increased by 17.1% at T3, but maximum knee and hip angle at initial contact were unchanged. Peak resultant ground reaction force (GRF) increased by 12.6% (p = 0.047) at T3 (3.03 xBW) from 2.69 xBW at T0, while posterior GRF was significantly higher than T0 at all three subsequent time points (T1 = 0.82 ± 0.23 xBW, T2 = 0.87 ± 0.22 xBW, T3 = 0.89 ± 0.22 xBW). Anterior tibial shear force increased significantly (p = 0.020) at T3 (1.24 ± 0.12 xBW) compared to T1 (1.15 ± 0.13 xBW), an 8.8% increase. Lateral tibial shear force was significantly higher at both T1 (0.95 ± 0.20 xBW) and T3 (1.15 ± 0.38 xBW) compared to T0 (0.67 ± 0.25 xBW). These findings suggest that participation in a soccer match has significant effects on both physical performance parameters and kinetics/kinematics during a sidestep cut, but these can be more pronounced after a second match with short rest.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shayne Vial ◽  
Jodie Cochrane Wilkie ◽  
Mitchell Turner ◽  
Anthony J Blazevich

The ability to shift from walking and jogging to sprinting gaits, even when fatigued after prolonged effort, would have been as useful to our hunter-gatherer ancestors as it is in modern day sports. During prolonged jogging, joint moment and work are reduced in the distal (ankle) joint but increased at proximal (hip/knee) joints as fatigue progresses, and might be expected to occur in sprinting. Fatigue is also thought to increase inter-limb kinematic and force production asymmetries, which are speculated to influence injury risk. However, the effects of running-related fatigue on sprint running gait have been incompletely studied, so these hypotheses remain untested. We studied 3-D kinematics and ground reaction force production in dominant (DL) and non-dominant (NDL) legs during both non-fatigued and fatigue sprinting in habitual but uncoached running athletes. Contrary to the tested hypotheses, relative between-leg differences were greater in non-fatigued than fatigued sprinting. When not fatigued, DL produced greater propulsive impulse through both greater positive and negative work being performed at the ankle, whilst NDL produced more vertical impulse, possibly resulting from the greater hip flexion observed prior to the downwards acceleration of the foot towards the ground. Whilst few changes were detected in DL once fatigued, NDL shifted towards greater horizontal force production, largely resulting from an increase in plantarflexion (distal-joint) moments and power. After fatiguing running, therefore, inter-limb asymmetry was reduced and no distal-to-proximal shift in work/power was detected during sprinting. Speculatively, these adaptations may help to attenuate decreases in running speed whilst minimising injury risk.


2002 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. S125
Author(s):  
E M. Gorostiaga ◽  
M Izquierdo ◽  
M Ruesta ◽  
J Iribarren ◽  
J J. Gonz??lez-Badillo ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 1066-1073 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian J. McMorrow ◽  
Massimiliano Ditroilo ◽  
Brendan Egan

Purpose: Resisted sled sprinting (RSS) is an effective tool for improving sprint performance over short distances, but the effect on change-of-direction (COD) performance is largely unknown. The present study investigated the effect of heavy RSS training during the competitive season on sprint and COD performance in professional soccer players. Methods: Over 6 wk in-season, an RSS training group (n = 6) performed RSS at a sled load of 30% body mass for a total program running distance of 800 m, whereas an unresisted sprint (URS) training group (n = 7) performed the same distance of unresisted sprinting. A 20-m maximal sprint with split times measured at 5, 10, and 20 m and the sprint 9-3-6-3-9 m with 180° turns COD test were performed before and after the intervention. Results: Sprint performance (mean, 95% confidence limits, qualitative inference) was improved in both groups over 5 m (URS, 5.1%, −2.4 to 12.7, likely moderate; RSS, 5.4%, 0.5–10.4, likely moderate), 10 m (URS, 3.9%, −0.3 to 8.1, very likely moderate; RSS, 5.0%, 1.8–8.0, very likely large), and 20 m (URS, 2.0%, −0.6 to 4.5, likely moderate; RSS, 3.0%, 1.7–4.4, very likely moderate). COD was improved in both groups (URS, 3.7%, 2.2–5.2, most likely large; RSS, 3.3%, 1.6–5.0, most likely moderate). Between-groups differences were unclear. Conclusion: Heavy RSS and URS training matched for running distance were similarly effective at improving sprint and COD performance in professional soccer players when performed in the competitive phase of the season.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 689-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matt R. Cross ◽  
Farhan Tinwala ◽  
Seth Lenetsky ◽  
Scott R. Brown ◽  
Matt Brughelli ◽  
...  

The assessment of horizontal force during overground sprinting is increasingly prevalent in practice and research, stemming from advances in technology and access to simplified yet valid field methods. As researchers search out optimal means of targeting the development of horizontal force, there is considerable interest in the effectiveness of external resistance. Increasing attention in research provides more information surrounding the biomechanics of sprinting in general and insight into the potential methods of developing determinant capacities. However, there is a general lack of consensus on the assessment and computation of horizontal force under resistance, which has resulted in a confusing narrative surrounding the practical applicability of loading parameters for performance enhancement. As such, the aim of this commentary was twofold: to provide a clear narrative of the assessment and computation of horizontal force in resisted sprinting and to clarify and discuss the impact of methodological approaches to subsequent training implementation. Horizontal force computation during resisted sleds, a common sprint-training apparatus in the field, is used as a test case to illustrate the risks associated with substandard methodological practices and improperly accounting for the effects of friction. A practical and operational synthesis is provided to help guide researchers and practitioners in selecting appropriate resistance methods. Finally, an outline of future challenges is presented to aid the development of these approaches.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (04) ◽  
pp. E147-E154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yohei Takai ◽  
Miyuki Nakatani ◽  
Takuya Akamine ◽  
Katsuyuki Shiokawa ◽  
Daisuke Komori ◽  
...  

AbstractThe present study aimed to elucidate the effect of core training on trunk flexor musculature in athletes. Twenty-eight collegiate male soccer players were randomly assigned to three groups: a training group that performed core exercises with wheeled platforms (WP), a training group that performed body mass-based core exercise (BME), and a control group that did not perform core exercise training (CON). WP and BME trained twice a week for 10 weeks. The WP performed 8–14 exercises with wheeled platforms. BME conducted four core exercises to failure. Before and after the intervention, trunk segment lean body mass (LBM) was measured using a whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanner. Muscle thicknesses (MTs) of the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique, internal oblique (IO), and transverse abdominis were determined with an ultrasound apparatus. No significant changes for any measured variables were found in CON. In both training groups, the trunk segment LBM was significantly increased through the intervention. While MT for IO significantly increased in the two training groups, significant increases in MT for RA were found in only WP. For collegiate soccer players, the core training programs adopted here can be effective in increasing trunk segment LBM, but the effectiveness on the trunk flexor muscularity differs between the two training modalities.


Author(s):  
Elena Mainer-Pardos ◽  
Oliver Gonzalo-Skok ◽  
Hadi Nobari ◽  
Demetrio Lozano ◽  
Jorge Pérez-Gómez

Abstract Background Several studies have observed the contribution of chronological age, biological maturation, and anthropometric characteristics to sprinting performance in young soccer players. Nevertheless, there are no studies that have analysed the contribution of these characteristics to running speed qualities in adolescent female soccer players. Objective This study investigated age-related differences in sprint performance in adolescent female soccer players. Also, it examined the possible influence of anthropometry [body mass and body mass index (BMI)] and biological maturation [age at peak height velocity (APHV)] in sprint performance. Methods Eighty adolescent female soccer players [under (U) 14, n = 20; U16, n = 37; U18, n = 23] participated in this study. Players were tested for 40 m sprint (each 10 m split times). Results Posthoc analysis revealed better performance in all split sprint times of older soccer players (U18 and U16) compared with younger category (F: 3.380 to 6.169; p < 0.05; ES: 0.64 to 1.33). On the contrary in all split sprint times, there were no significant changes between U16 and U18 (p < 0.05; ES: 0.03 to 0.17). ANCOVA revealed differences in all parameters between groups, controlled for APHV (p < 0.05). In contrast, all between-group differences disappeared after body mass and BMI adjustment (p > 0.05). Finally, the results indicate that BMI and body mass were significantly correlated with 40 m sprint (p < 0.05; r: -0.31) and 20 m flying (p < 0.01; r: 0.38), respectively. Conclusion In the present players’ sample, body mass and BMI had a significant impact on running speed qualities.


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