Examination of Sprint Duration and Repeated Sprint Level of Soccer Players in Different Age Group

This systematic review with a meta-analysis was conducted to compare the effects of small-sided games (SSGs)-based interventions with the effects of running-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT) interventions on soccer players’ repeated sprint ability (RSA). The data sources utilized were Web of Science, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and PubMed. The study eligibility criteria were: (i) parallel studies (SSG-based programs vs. running-based HIIT) conducted in soccer players with no restrictions on age, sex, or competitive level; (ii) isolated intervention programs (i.e., only SSG vs. only running-based HIIT as individual forms) with no restrictions on duration; (iii) a pre–post outcome for RSA; (iv) original, full-text, peer-reviewed articles written in English. An electronic search yielded 513 articles, four of which were included in the present study. There was no significant difference between the effects of SSG-based and HIIT-based training interventions on RSA (effect size (ES) = 0.30; p = 0.181). The within-group analysis revealed no significant effect of SSG-based training interventions (ES = −0.23; p = 0.697) or HIIT-based training interventions (ES = 0.08; p = 0.899) on RSA. The meta-comparison revealed that neither SSGs nor HIIT-based interventions were effective in improving RSA in soccer players, and no differences were found between the two types of training. This suggests that complementary training may be performed to improve the effects of SSGs and HIIT. It also suggests that different forms of HIIT can be used because of the range of opportunities that such training affords.

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Relationship between Repeated Sprint Ability and Aerobic Capacity in Professional Soccer Players

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1155/2013/952350 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Rhys M. Jones ◽

Christian C. Cook ◽

Liam P. Kilduff ◽

Zoran Milanović ◽

Nic James ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aerobic Capacity ◽

Significant Negative Correlation ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Active Recovery ◽

Maximal Aerobic Capacity ◽

Sprint Time ◽

Repeated Sprint Ability ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Repeated Sprint ◽

Sprint Ability

Aim. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between maximal aerobic capacity () and repeated sprint ability (RSA) in a group of professional soccer players.Methods. Forty-one professional soccer players (age yrs, height cm, weight kg) were required to perform tests to assess RSA and on two separate days with at least 48 hr rest between testing sessions. Each player performed a treadmill test to determine their and a test for RSA involving the players completing m sprints (turn after 20 m) with 20 s active recovery between each sprint.Results. There was a significant negative correlation between body mass normalised and mean sprint time () (; ) and total sprint time () (, ).Conclusion. Results of the current study indicate that is one important factor aiding soccer players in the recovery from repeated sprint type activities.

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Assessing Maximal Sprinting Speed in Highly Trained Young Soccer Players

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.7.1.76 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 76-78 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Martin Buchheit ◽

Ben M. Simpson ◽

Esa Peltola ◽

Alberto Mendez-Villanueva

Keyword(s):

Soccer Players ◽

Football Players ◽

Age Group ◽

Running Speed ◽

Main Determinant ◽

Accurate Evaluation ◽

Sprint Speed ◽

Sprinting Speed ◽

Split Time

The aim of the present study was to locate the fastest 10-m split time (Splitbest) over a 40-m sprint in relation to age and maximal sprint speed in highly trained young soccer players. Analyses were performed on 967 independent player sprints collected in 223 highly trained young football players (Under 12 to Under 18). The maximal sprint speed was defined as the average running speed during Splitbest. The distribution of the distance associated with Splitbest was affected by age (X23 = 158.7, P < .001), with the older the players, the greater the proportion of 30-to-40-m Splitbest. There was, however, no between-group difference when data were adjusted for maximal sprint speed. Maximal sprint speed is the main determinant of the distance associated with Splitbest. Given the important disparity in Splitbest location within each age group, three (U12-U13) to two (U14-U18) 10-m intervals are still required to guarantee an accurate evaluation of maximal sprint speed in young players when using timing gates.

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Effects of Short-Term Plyometric Training on Agility, Jump and Repeated Sprint Performance in Female Soccer Players

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18052274 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 2274

Author(s):

Marcin Maciejczyk ◽

Renata Błyszczuk ◽

Aleksander Drwal ◽

Beata Nowak ◽

Marek Strzała

Keyword(s):

Physical Performance ◽

Sprint Performance ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Plyometric Training ◽

Countermovement Jump ◽

Short Term ◽

Jump Performance ◽

Squat Jump ◽

Repeated Sprint ◽

Before And After

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of short-term (4 weeks, twice a week: 8 sessions) plyometric training on agility, jump, and repeated sprint performance in female soccer players. The study comprised 17 females performing this sports discipline. The players were randomly divided into two groups: with plyometric training (PLY) and the control (CON). All players followed the same training program, but the PLY group also performed plyometric exercises. Tests used to evaluate physical performance were carried out immediately before and after PLY. After implementing the short PLY training, significant improvement in jump performance (squat jump: p = 0.04, ES = 0.48, countermovement jump: p = 0.009, ES = 0.42) and agility (p = 0.003, ES = 0.7) was noted in the PLY group. In the CON group, no significant (p > 0.05) changes in physical performance were observed. In contrast, PLY did not improve repeated sprint performance (p > 0.05) among female soccer players. In our research, it was shown that PLY can also be effective when performed for only 4 weeks instead of the 6–12 weeks typically applied.

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Coaches’ Evaluations of Match Performance in Academy Soccer Players in Relation to the Adolescent Growth Spurt

Journal of Science in Sport and Exercise ◽

10.1007/s42978-020-00072-3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 359-366 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Megan Hill ◽

Sam Scott ◽

Darragh McGee ◽

Sean Cumming

Keyword(s):

Age Groups ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Growth Spurt ◽

Age Group ◽

Youth Soccer ◽

Impact Performance ◽

Rate Of Growth ◽

Talent Selection ◽

Selection Decisions ◽

Player Performance

AbstractIndividual differences in biological maturation present challenges for coaches involved with youth soccer players. Youth in the same chronological age group vary in terms of stage of maturity (pre, circum- and post-pubescent) and rate of growth, but how this affects coaches’ evaluations of player performance is unknown. The aim of this study was to compare youth soccer coaches’ evaluations of players match performances before, during and post growth spurt in a professional English soccer academy across four seasons. Two hundred and seventy-eight male soccer players in the under-9 to under-16 age-groups had their performances evaluated by their coach on a 4-point Likert scale. For each game, players were categorised by their maturity status estimated using percentage of predicted adult height at the time of observation. A one-way ANCOVA controlling for the level of opposition and game outcome revealed that coaches’ evaluations declined from the pre- to during growth spurt stages, however, this was only significant in the under 12 age-group. Further, coaches’ evaluations increased again in the post-growth spurt stage, although only significant in the under 15 age-group. Coaches evaluations of player performance appear to vary in accordance with stage of maturity and rate of growth. Practitioners in youth soccer should understand the extent to which maturity status may adversely impact performance and consider this when making talent selection decisions.

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Age-Group Differences in Reactive Strength and Measures of Intra-day Reliability in Female International Footballers

International Journal of Strength and Conditioning ◽

10.47206/ijsc.v1i1.44 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Brian Doyle ◽

Declan Browne ◽

Dan Horan

Keyword(s):

Soccer Player ◽

Intraclass Correlation ◽

Age Groups ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Group Differences ◽

Age Group ◽

Strength Index ◽

Warm Up ◽

Jump Test ◽

Female Soccer Player

The aim of this present study was to compare the reactive strength index (RSI) characteristics and trial to trial reliability of U17, U19 and Senior female international soccer players. Fifty – seven elite female soccer player participated in the study, (age: 18.1 + 3.1 years; height: 167.5 + 6.3 cm; weight: 61.84 + 7.7 kg). Participants performed 3 maximal repetitions of the 10/5 repeated jump test (10/5RJT) following a specific warm-up and familiarisation protocol. Senior players possessed higher levels of RSI with large effect size present when compared with the U17 (P= 0.043, ES = .97) and U19 (ES = 0.85) age groups. Trivial differences (ES = 0.17) in RSI existed between the U17 and U19 age categories. Trial-to-trial analyses demonstrated 10/5 RJT RSI to possess adequate levels of reliability with a range of mean coefficients of variance (CV) of 3.1 – 7.3 % and intraclass correlation (ICC) between 0.95 – 0.98 present across all three age groups. However, large variations in the between – athlete CV for RSI were revealed ranging from 1 – 27 %, 0.4 – 10.3%, and 1 – 7 % for U17, U19 and senior age groups respectively. These results suggest that age group can distinguish reactive strength capabilities. In addition, female international footballers with higher levels of RSI appear to produce more reliable measures of RSI via the 10/5 RJT.

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Effect of β-Alanine Supplementation on Repeated Sprint Ability and Responses of Blood Lactate and Bicarbonate in Male Soccer Players

Sport Mont ◽

10.26773/smj.200610 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

Keyword(s):

Blood Lactate ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Repeated Sprint Ability ◽

Repeated Sprint ◽

Sprint Ability

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Internal, external and repeated-sprint demands in small-sided games: A comparison between bouts and age groups in elite youth soccer players

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0249906 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. e0249906

Author(s):

Richard Hauer ◽

Paul Störchle ◽

Bettina Karsten ◽

Harald Tschan ◽

Arnold Baca

Keyword(s):

Age Groups ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Internal Load ◽

Youth Soccer ◽

Training Tool ◽

Low Intensity ◽

Repeated Sprint ◽

Age Related ◽

Younger Age ◽

Image Position

This study investigated the activity profile during small-sided games (SSG) in elite youth soccer players. Internal load (IL) including heart rate (HR) and external load (EL) such as distance covered in different speed-zones (SZ) were collected from forty-eight players of three different teams (U15, U16, U18). The investigation included a total of eighteen 5vs.5 SSGs, each consisting of four 2-minute bouts on a 40x32m pitch during spring season. Total group results (n = 48) showed a reduction in total-distance (p = 0.001; ηp2 = 0.12), high-intensity-running (p = 0.009; ηp2 = 0.09), and low-intensity-running distance (p = 0.028; ηp2 = 0.07) between bouts. Similarly, a reduction in the number of both acceleration-low (p = 0.001; ηp2 = 0.12) and deceleration-high (p = 0.003; ηp2 = 0.11) values was observed. Additionally, time spent in HR-zones 3 and 4 (p≤0.007; ηp2 ≥ 0.10), increased, with a reduction in HR-zone 1 (p = 0.000, ηp2 = 0.25). Age group comparison showed less distance covered in SZ 1 (p≤0.000; ηp2 = 0.56) and greater deceleration-high values (p≤0.038; ηp2 = 0.32) in U15 players compared to other age groups. Further, U15 showed lower values in low-intensity-running compared to U18 (p = 0.038; ηp2 = 0.22). No age-related differences were found for IL and repeated sprint ability (RSA) values. The higher EL in younger age groups should be taken into account when implementing soccer specific SSGs. In addition, HRmean values between 80–85% of HRmax and RSA numbers, which are similar to match-play data, indicate SSGs as an effective training tool to prepare youth soccer athletes for the demands of competition.

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