Improvement of Repeated Sprint Ability for a Male Amateur Football Team through the Cometti Concatenations Method

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the improvement of the Repeat Sprints Ability (RSA), during a competitive season in amateur football players (Italian 4th Division, 2020-2021). Specifically, we intend to demonstrate whether through the use of the Cometti concatenations method, a significant increase in RSA can occur during twelve-week training mesocycle. Twenty (n=20) amateur footballers, participated in this study (age: 23±0.3; height: 184.4±5.5; body weight: 80.92±3.4; training experience: 8±0.3 yrs), without goalkeepers. In the pre-season (4 weeks, from July to August), the players performed Capanna test, to evaluate the RSA before the start of the season. Every player has been analysed with a K-GPS Live device 50Hz (K-Sport Universal STATS, Italy). After 12 weeks of training (in-season), based on specific workouts of Cometti method, the same players repeated Capanna test to check performance improvements and verify whether the training programme is effective. The aim was to determine whether the improvement in distance covered during the test is better, the same, or worse with respect to the pre-season. After 12 weeks of training, the difference between the first trial (pre-season) and the second one (in-season) is statistically significant (p<0.05). The results obtained suggest that the strength work is optimized as well as work times, and the RSA is improved. In addition, thanks to better physical shape which resulted in better performances of individual players, the team in the last period of the championship achieved more positive results in the matches played.