Abstract
This study aims to examine repeated sprint performances of young soccer players in the same age category according to competition level and playing positions. 67 young soccer players in the U16 age category and from 4 different teams competing in two different competition levels participated voluntarily in this study. The participants performed the Bangsbo Sprint Test adapted by Wragg (7×34,2 m with 25-second recovery) to determine repeated sprint performance. The test variables were best sprint time, mean sprint time, and the fatigue index. The best sprint time and mean sprint time results varied according to competition level (p˂0,05) but the fatigue index did not differentiate according to competition level (p˃0,05). It is also determined that at a high competition level players have revealed better-repeated sprint performance. When examined the data in terms of game position, best sprint time and mean time values have varied (p˂0,05) but the fatigue index did not have significant differences (p˃0,05). Considering the data according to game positions, forwards, full-backs and wingers showed higher performance than central midfielders, central defenders, and goalkeepers. Consequently, our results suggest that performance in repeated-sprint the best sprint values and mean sprint values belonging to repeated performances of youth players from the same age category differ according to competition levels and game positions, whereas the fatigue index does not differ.
Highlights
The workload rate of the football player during matches’ ranges from low-level activities such as walking and jogging to high-intensity activities such as sprinting (Abrantes et al, 2004)
We examined the differences in repeated sprint ability performances’ of young football players in the same age category (U16) according to competition level and playing positions
The main findings of the study showed that repeated sprint performances’ of young football players differ according to competition level and playing positions, the fatigue index does not differ
Summary
The workload rate of the football player during matches’ ranges from low-level activities such as walking and jogging to high-intensity activities such as sprinting (Abrantes et al, 2004). Today's football has become faster than in the past in terms of the speed of the ball passing from player to player and the player's movements (Jeffreys & Bate, 2015). Football match analysis studies showed that football requires the ability to perform repeated maximal or submaximal short-term actions with short recovery periods (Bravo et al, 2008). Due to the repetitive occurrence of sprints before sufficient recovery time during football matches, successive sprint performance deteriorates. One of the most important conditioning features of an athlete in team sports is the ability to perform sprint runs with short recovery in-. Received: December 2021 | Accepted after revision: January 2022 | Early access publication date: 7 February 2022 | Final publication date: 1 March 2022
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