Abstract
ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects of integrative neuromuscular training (NMT) on sprint and the ability to change direction for children who are between the ages of 7 and 8 and beginning to play tennis.MethodsThirty-two participants were randomized into a training group (TG; n = 16) and a control group (CG; n = 16). All participants attended tennis classes twice a week for a continuous 8 weeks. In addition, the TG received NMT (e.g., 20-m sprints, running at four corners, rope ladder drills, etc.), which progressed in difficulty every 2 weeks. Pre-intervention and post-intervention measurements, including a 30-m sprint test, a 5–10–5 test, and a 3 × 10 m shuttle run test, were assessed by a Smartspeed laser timing gate system, while the spider agility test was evaluated with a stopwatch.ResultsTwo-way repeated measures ANOVA found significant differences in the interaction between time and group among variables measured. Results were as follows: time in the 30 m sprint (F = 13.467, 95% CI = 7.163–7.506, p = 0.001, η2p = 0.310, Δ = 0.42 s); 5–10–5 test (F = 13.975, 95% CI = 8.696–9.017, p = 0.001, η2p = 0.318, Δ = 0.78 s); 3 × 10 m shuttle run (F = 7.605, 95% CI = 11.213–11.642, p = 0.01, η2p = 0.202, Δ = 0.77 s); and spider agility test (F = 34.555, 95% CI = 28.258–29.670, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.535, Δ = 3.96 s). The results demonstrated a greater decrease in sprint and change of direction (COD) time among the TG than the CG from pre-intervention to post-intervention.ConclusionA regular tennis training combined with NMT program could produce greater improvement in a player’s sprint and ability to change direction when introduced to childhood tennis beginners in a sensitive period, compared to tennis class intervention only.
Highlights
Tennis is a high-intensity and demanding sport, requiring players to repeatedly engage in a sequence of intense activities, such as accelerations, decelerations, COD, and strokes during a variable period of competition time
Significant improvements were observed in speed (30 m sprint test and 3 × 10 m test) and COD ability (5–10–5 test and spider agility test) for the training group (TG), demonstrating the importance of NMT combined with regular tennis to speed and COD ability in tennis beginners during the first sensitive period
The 30 m sprint and 3 × 10 m shuttle sprint performances improved for the TG as a result of the 8-week training program intervention when compared to the control group (CG)
Summary
Tennis is a high-intensity and demanding sport, requiring players to repeatedly engage in a sequence of intense activities, such as accelerations, decelerations, COD, and strokes during a variable period of competition time (on average 90 min; Fernandez-Fernandez et al, 2017). Players must move quickly in linear directions (i.e., acceleration) and react quickly in both lateral and multiple directions (Fernandez-Fernandez et al, 2014) This requires attaining a high level of speed and COD ability (FernandezFernandez et al, 2014). The spider agility and 5–10–5 tests assess different routes of movement in a tennis player’s ability, such as lateral, forward, and backward, as well as the ability to move sideways along the back line of the court (known as the baseline). Combining these two tests provides a comprehensive assessment of a tennis player’s full-court COD ability. Lloyd et al (2013) considered that both children and adolescent athletes should receive training program including fundamental movement skills, COD and reactive agility training, but the percentage of time should be allocated according to different stages (e.g., 25% COD training in prepubertal stage)
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