Effects of 2 types of high-intensity interval training in repeat sprint ability during preseason football

Abstract

Preseason work aims to improve the performance of football players both in terms of the ability to perform maximal efforts and their aerobic and recovery capacity. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of 2 interval-training programs with series of different durations in repeat sprint ability (RSA). Nineteen football players with a mean (± SD) age of 20.95 ± 1.61 years; weight of 68.85 ± 5.15 kg; height of 176.11 ± 5.11 cm, and 9.61% ± 2.42% estimated body fat were randomly assigned to either a speed endurance training (SET) group to perform 2x10 min with 10, 15, and 20 s at 100% of HRmax and 30, 45, and 60 s of recovery (n = 9), respectively, or a highintensity interval training group to perform 4 × 4 min running at 95% of HRmax (n = 10). An 8x30 m RSA test with 25 s of active recovery was performed before and after the intervention (10 training sessions) along with the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test level 1 in the initial evaluation. Both the SET and HIT significantly improved performance (p < 0.05) for RSAbest (3.12% and 3.59%, respectively) and very significantly improved (p < 0.01) RSAmean (3.00% and 3.91%) and RSAtotal (3.12% and 4.08%), although no significant changes in fatigue index (Sdec y Change) were obtained. These results demonstrate that both the SET and HIT interventions have proved useful to increase performance in some of the key variables in the RSA test during the preseason.