Does Resisted Sled Towing Improve the Physical Qualities of Elite Youth Soccer Players of Differing Maturity Status?

Rhys Morris,Kevin Till,Stacey Emmonds,Tony Myers,Dave Singleton

doi:10.1007/s42978-020-00087-w

Abstract

PurposeSled towing has been shown to be an effective method to enhance the physical qualities in youth athletes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a 6-week sled towing intervention on muscular strength, speed and power in elite youth soccer players of differing maturity status.MethodSeventy-three male elite youth soccer players aged 12–18 years (Pre-Peak Height Velocity [PHV] n = 25; Circa-PHV n = 24; Post-PHV n = 24) from one professional soccer academy participated in this study. Sprint assessments (10 m and 30 m), countermovement jump and isometric mid-thigh pull were undertaken before (T1) and after (T2) a 6-week intervention. The training intervention consisted of 6 weeks (2 × per week, 10 sprints over 20 m distance) of resisted sled towing (linear progression 10%–30% of body mass) during the competitive season. Bayesian regression models analysed differences between T1 and T2 within each maturity group.ResultsThere were minimal changes in strength, speed and power (P = 0.35–0.80) for each maturity group across the 6-week intervention. Where there were changes with greater certainty, they are unlikely to represent real effect due to higher regression to the mean (RTM).ConclusionIt appears that a 6-week sled towing training programme with loadings of 10%–30% body mass only maintains physical qualities in elite youth soccer players pre-, circa-, and post-PHV. Further research is required to determine the effectiveness of this training method in long-term athletic development programmes.

Highlights

Many soccer academies are investing resources into the physical development of their players [43]
Countermovement Jump (CMJ) counter movement jump, CMJ Imp CMJ impulse, effect sizes (ES) standardized effect size, Estimated difference estimated difference between pre and post-performance, Estimated sigma combined pre and post variation of estimated difference, Higher Density Intervals (HDI)’s 95% higher density intervals, Imp100 impulse at 100 ms, Imp300 impulse at 300 ms, JH jump height, P > 0 probability greater than 0, P < 0 probability less than 0, PF peak force, rImp100 relative impulse at 100 ms, rImp300 relative impulse at 300 ms, RTM % regression to the mean, Relative peak force (rPF) relative peak force sprint performance and CMJ jump height (Table 2, Figs. 1, 2 and 3)
This study evaluated the impact a 6-week sled towing intervention on speed, lower body power and strength in youth soccer players across pre, circa- and post-peak height velocity (PHV) maturity groups

Summary

Introduction

Many soccer academies are investing resources into the physical development of their players [43]. University Birmingham, Birmingham, UK 3 Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK 4 Birmingham City Football Club, Birmingham, UK 5 Leeds Rhinos RLFC, Leeds, UK throughout academy structures may be a limiting factor that hinders the physical development of such players. Sled towing may offer a cheap and effective alternative to enhancing strength, speed and power; which are essential physical qualities for soccer [14], while offering the opportunity to undertake controlled and balanced interventions across maturity groups to understand the influence of maturation on training adaptations. While the primary focus of this study was to offer an alternative for clubs with limited facilities, this is not to say, sled towing cannot supplement

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