The Effects of In-Season, Low-Volume Sprint Interval Training With and Without Sport-Specific Actions on the Physical Characteristics of Elite Academy Rugby League Players

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the utility of running-only and rugby-specific, in-season sprint interval interventions in professional rugby league players. Methods: Thirty-one professional academy rugby players were assigned to a rugby-specific (SITr/s, n = 16) or running-only (SITr, n = 15) sprint interval training group. Measures of speed, power, change of direction ability, prone Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test (Yo-Yo IR1) performance, and heart rate recovery were taken before and after the 2-week intervention as were submaximal responses to the prone Yo-Yo IR1. Internal, external, and perceptual responses were collected during SITr/s and SITr, with well-being and neuromuscular function assessed before each session. Results: Despite contrasting (possible to most likely) internal, external, and perceptual responses to the SIT interventions, possible to most likely within-group improvements in physical characteristics, heart rate recovery, and submaximal responses to the prone Yo-Yo IR1 were observed after both interventions. Between-group analysis favored the SITr/s intervention (trivial to moderate) for changes in 10-m sprint time, countermovement jump, change of direction, and medicine ball throw as well as submaximal (280–440 m) high metabolic power, PlayerLoad™, and acceleration distance during the prone Yo-Yo IR1. Overall changes in well-being or neuromuscular function were unclear. Conclusions: Two weeks of SITr/s and SITr were effective for improving physical characteristics, heart rate recovery, and submaximal responses to the prone Yo-Yo IR1, with no clear change in well-being and neuromuscular function. Between-group analysis favored the SITr/s group, suggesting that the inclusion of sport-specific actions should be considered for in-season conditioning of rugby league players.

The effects of an 8-week off-season period on the mechanical properties of sprinting in professional rugby league players: implications for training recommendations

“…Focus on the offseason might prove beneficial and be used an opportunity to further develop players whilst allowing sufficient recovery. 3 For example, several researchers have demonstrated that short-duration interventions consisting of sprint interval, 18 repeated sprint 8 and/or speed and agility sessions 19 across a 2-4-week period are effective for improving linear sprint performance and may be considered by coaches as a simply and efficient modality of training. Furthermore, the inclusion weight-based, plyometric or sled training is also reported to improve or at least maintain linear sprint performance in soccer players.…”

Submaximal Fitness Tests in Team Sports: A Theoretical Framework for Evaluating Physiological State

“…Heart rate recovery can be defined as the rate at which HR declines after exercise cessation [10,39] and may be collected with athletes lying supine [123], sitting upright [12,45], standing [89,121], or walking [95]. Similarly, HRR can be assessed as the absolute (HRR[d]) [45,47,48,53,54,57,59,61,66,88,100,103,107,114,119,121,123,124] or relative (HRR[%d]) [12,47,53,60,66,102,104,107,113,114,121] difference between HRex and HR value observed between 10 and 180 s post-test. Alternative approaches include the actual HR value observed at the end of the designated recovery period in absolute (HRR[a]) [66,74,89,95,99,121,125] or relative (HRR[%]) [66,89,…”

Is training age predictive of physiological performance changes in developmental rugby league players? A prospective longitudinal study

“…Runners and RL players with greater running economy have previously demonstrated lower energy expenditures, particularly as running speeds and muscular fatigue increase. 11,26 Furthermore, repeated exposure to high intensity interval training has been shown to increase muscle pain tolerance. 27 As RL players are repeatedly exposed to high intensity interval training, this increased tolerance may allow players to sustain high intensity output over a longer time frame, thus attaining a higher score on the Yo-Yo IR2 test.…”

“…recently reported the training loads (TLs) across various domains during a two-week, in-season period with the result suggesting a standard programme for all players. 11 Therefore, when applied to developing junior elite athletes, the aforementioned model may, in part, contribute to understanding the varied responses to similar training programmes at particular developmental levels. In turn, and if correct, the model could provide a foundation for more individualised training programming, as opposed to the generalised physiological programming often utilised in developmental stage RL programmes.…”