Changes in body composition and physical performance measures during a regular competitive season among young backs and forwards rugby players

Effects of Two Different Low-Volume Resistance Training Programs Applied During the Off-Season Period on the Speed-Power Performance of Elite Youth Soccer Players

“…However, on an individual basis, the ballistic training scheme was shown to be superior to the traditional (nonballistic) strategy to improve lower-body power and CMJ performance. Significant increases in sprinting speed such as those reported here (Table 3) are rare in highly trained athletes (22), and this seems to be even more evident in team sports (13,14,16,44). Seasonal studies in soccer and rugby union (13,14,35,44), for example, have consistently reported unchanged (or slightly reduced) sprint speed across the competitive period, an occurrence that is potentially related to 2 distinct and concomitant factors: concurrent training effects and unbalanced training routines (i.e., low volumes and frequencies of speed and strength-power training compared with the time spent on matches and sportspecific training sessions) (3,16,31,35).…”

“…Significant increases in sprinting speed such as those reported here (Table 3) are rare in highly trained athletes (22), and this seems to be even more evident in team sports (13,14,16,44). Seasonal studies in soccer and rugby union (13,14,35,44), for example, have consistently reported unchanged (or slightly reduced) sprint speed across the competitive period, an occurrence that is potentially related to 2 distinct and concomitant factors: concurrent training effects and unbalanced training routines (i.e., low volumes and frequencies of speed and strength-power training compared with the time spent on matches and sportspecific training sessions) (3,16,31,35). Indeed, these aspects and their negative impact on speed and power qualities have been highlighted in recent studies and may be an inevitable and predictable consequence of modern sports (16,38).…”

“…In addition, the lack of a control group (i.e., players who did not attend any training session) and information on playing time preclude more robust conclusions, as players with distinct levels of exposure to match play may respond differently to the same training program. However, this study dealt with the real-world context of top-level sports and addresses a complex and challenging issue for many practitioners and researchers: the development of alternative strategies to significantly improve the sprint performance of soccer players (a rare occurrence in elite soccer and other team sports) (14,16,17,44). This is the first study to confirm that a short period of training cessation can be effectively used in this regard.…”

“…Nonetheless, despite all these efforts, the current speed training practices may be ineffective to improve the sprint performance of soccer players, especially when prescribed within the regular periods of the professional soccer season (i.e., preseason and in-season phases) (16,38). Even when alternative training methods are used (e.g., resistance or plyometric training strategies), improvements in sprint speed are either minimal or absent in elite soccer players and other team-sport athletes (14,16,34,38,44). To overcome the "speed barrier" and produce faster players, some authors have proposed the use of complementary training strategies, such as the prescription of physical exercises during the so-called transition or off-season period (e.g., between 2 consecutive annual seasons) (23,41).…”

Longitudinal changes in anthropometric, physiological, and physical qualities of international women’s rugby league players

“…Moreover, it is important to acknowledge the absence of dynamic strength-power measures (e.g., 1-repetition maximum in the squat, vertical jumps) and sprint tests. Despite these limitations, which are common in applied research [41], this study also has several strengths. For example, this study utilised several criterion methods (i.e., indirect calorimetry and lab based V O 2max testing), while also evaluating critical elements of female athlete health (e.g., energy requirements and micronutrient status).…”