Resumen de A Single Session of Straight Line and Change-of-Direction Sprinting per Week Does Not Lead to Different Fitness Improvements in Elite Young Soccer Players
Marco Beato, Mattia Bianchi, Giuseppe Coratella, Michele Merlini, Barry Drust
Effective prescription is especially important in elite soccer players, who have a very limited time to dedicate to specific physical development as a consequence of factors such as congested match schedules and travel. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of one repeated-sprint training (RST) session per week over an 8-week period on physical performance. A second aim was to compare the effect of RST involving straight sprints (RST-SS) or changes of direction (RST-COD). This study used a randomized pre-post parallel group trial design. The elite soccer players were randomly assigned to either an RST-SS (10 players) or RST-COD (10 players). RST-SS was 3 sets of 7 x 30-m sprints with 20-second and 4-minute recovery between sprints and sets, respectively. RST-COD was 3 sets of 7 x 20 + 20 m (one COD of 180[degrees]) shuttle sprints with 20-second and 4-minute recovery between sprints and sets, respectively. The physical tests selected were long jump, repeated-sprint ability (RSA) best, RSA mean, 505 agility test, Yo-Yo recovery level 1, 10, 30, and 40 m sprints. RST-SS reported unclear variations in long jump, sprint 30 m, sprint 40 m, RSA best, and RSA mean, whereas RST-COD showed unclear and trivial variations in sprint 10 m, sprint 30 m, sprint 40 m, RSA best, and RSA mean. The between-group analysis did not report any statistical difference. In conclusion, a single session of RST-SS and RST-COD do not improve soccer-specific fitness indicators in elite youth players during the season.
