Abstract
To better understand the detraining effects in soccer, the purpose of the study was to analyse if performance level of soccer players modulate repeated-sprint ability (RSA) and intermittent endurance changes during 2-weeks of detraining (i.e., in-season break). Seventeen professional and sixteen young elite soccer players of two different teams performed, before and after 2-weeks of detraining, the RSA test and the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test, level 1 (YYIR1). Before detraining, professional players perform better (p < 0.05) RSA best time (RSAbest) than young players. A decrease (p < 0.05) in RSAbest, RSA total time (RSAtotal) and mean time (RSAmean) performance was observed in both teams, without changes in RSA fatigue index (Sdec). No significant changes in distance covered during YYIR1 was observed in any team. Before detraining, faster players from both teams (FG) (following the median split technique, soccer players with RSAbest ≤ 3.95 s) performed better (p < 0.01) in RSAtotal, RSAmean and RSAbest, but worse (p < 0.01) in Sdec. Although FG and the slower players (SG, RSAbest > 3.95 s) showed a worse (p < 0.05) RSAtotal, RSAbest and RSAmean performance after detraining (ES = 1.5, 1.4 and 2.9; ES = 0.6, 1.2 and 0.6; for FG and SG, respectively), the deterioration was greater in the FG for RSAbest (p < 0.05) and RSAtotal (ES = 1.46). After detraining, FG improved (p < 0.05) Sdec performance. In conclusion, a 2-week in-season break (detraining) period induced a worse RSA, with no effect on intermittent endurance in professional and elite young soccer players, with greater detrimental effects on RSAtotal and RSAbest in FG. In addition, Sdec does not seem to be sensitive to changes in RSA after a 2-week in-season break.
Highlights
The ability to perform short-duration multiple sprints interspersed with short recovery times has been termed “repeated-sprint ability” (RSA) [1]
The main aim of the study was to analyse if initial performance level of soccer players can modulate repeated-sprint ability (RSA) and intermittent endurance changes during 2-weeks of detraining
Sdec does not seem to be sensitive to changes in RSA after a 2-week in-season break
Summary
The ability to perform short-duration multiple sprints interspersed with short recovery times has been termed “repeated-sprint ability” (RSA) [1]. Significant correlation exists between very-high intensity running distances covered during matches and mean sprint time on a RSA test [5]. The importance of total running distance covered at high-intensity in soccer could be masked by the technical-tactical level of a team [8], players at a higher standard of competition tend to perform significantly more high-intensity running than those at a lower standard [9], and this ability can be assessed by the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test, level 1 (YYIR1) [10]. Despite YYIR1 and YYIR2 test performances correlate very largely [13], the lower level of speed effort required by the YYIR1 might better detect changes in aerobic fitness of players after a detraining period
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