The Training of Medium- to Long-Distance Sprint Performance in Football Code Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Background Within the football codes, medium-distance (i.e., > 20 m and ≤ 40 m) and long-distance (i.e., > 40 m) sprint performance and maximum velocity sprinting are important capacities for success. Despite this, no research has identified the most effective training methods for enhancing medium- to long-distance sprint outcomes. Objectives This systematic review with meta-analysis aimed to (1) analyse the ability of different methods to enhance medium- to long-distance sprint performance outcomes (0–30 m, 0 to > 30 m, and the maximum sprinting velocity phase [Vmax]) within football code athletes and (2) identify how moderator variables (i.e., football code, sex, age, playing standard, phase of season) affected the training response. Methods We conducted a systematic search of electronic databases and performed a random-effects meta-analysis (within-group changes and pairwise between-group differences) to establish standardised mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals and 95% prediction intervals. This identified the magnitude and direction of the individual training effects of intervention subgroups (sport only; primary, secondary, tertiary, and combined training methods) on medium- to long-distance sprint performance while considering moderator variables. Results In total, 60 studies met the inclusion criteria (26 with a sport-only control group), totalling 111 intervention groups and 1500 athletes. The within-group changes design reported significant performance improvements (small–moderate) between pre- and post-training for the combined, secondary (0–30 and 0 to > 30 m), and tertiary training methods (0–30 m). A significant moderate improvement was found in the Vmax phase performance only for tertiary training methods, with no significant effect found for sport only or primary training methods. The pairwise between-group differences design (experimental vs. control) reported favourable performance improvements (large SMD) for the combined (0 to > 30 m), primary (Vmax phase), secondary (0–30 m), and tertiary methods (all outcomes) when compared with the sport-only control groups. Subgroup analysis showed that the significant differences between the meta-analysis designs consistently demonstrated a larger effect in the pairwise between-group differences than the within-group change. No individual training mode was found to be the most effective. Subgroup analysis identified that football code, age, and phase of season moderated the overall magnitude of training effects. Conclusions This review provides the first systematic review and meta-analysis of all sprint performance development methods exclusively in football code athletes. Secondary, tertiary, and combined training methods appeared to improve medium-long sprint performance of football code athletes. Tertiary training methods should be implemented to enhance Vmax phase performance. Nether sport-only nor primary training methods appeared to enhance medium to long sprint performance. Performance changes may be attributed to either adaptations specific to the acceleration or Vmax phases, or both, but not exclusively Vmax. Regardless of the population characteristics, sprint performance can be enhanced by increasing either the magnitude or the orientation of force an athlete can generate in the sprinting action, or both. Trial Registration OSF registration https://osf.io/kshqn/.

The Effects of Strength and Conditioning Interventions on Sprinting Performance in Team Sport Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…The results from the current meta-analysis identify that these relative general and specific effects seem to balance each other out to some degree, such that each of the training methods results in similar improvements in sprint performance, with potentially resistance training providing the largest improvements in team sport athletes. The findings are in agreement with a recent meta-analysis conducted with football code athletes that showed similar improvements in sprint performance for training methods categorized as primary (sprint technique drills and unresisted sprinting), secondary (forms of resisted sprint training), tertiary (nonspecific sprint training including strength or plyometric training), combined specific (combinations of primary unresisted and secondary resisted sprint training), and combined (combinations of the tertiary, nonspecific training, and primary or secondary sprint-specific training) (45,46).…”

“…Multiple narrative reviews and systematic reviews combined with meta-analyses (1,4,6,15,20,29,45,46,49,53–55) have been conducted to synthesize research investigating S&C training and sprinting performance. Reviews from Bolger et al (6) and Haugen et al (29) focused on training methods to improve sprint performance in elite track and field sprinters.…”

“…The authors reported moderate to large effects on sprint performance after sprint-specific training, with resisted sprint training producing the largest effect on distances of 0–20 m and free sprinting producing the greatest effects at distances over 31 m. By contrast, indirect training modes including resistance and plyometrics produced only small-to-moderate effects. Recently, 2 large-scale meta-analyses including 121 and 86 studies compared the effectiveness of multiple training modes on acceleration (45) and maximum velocity (46) with football code athletes competing in sports such as soccer, American football, Canadian football, Australian football, Gaelic football, and rugby. The authors concluded that combined specific and nonspecific training modes, focusing on the development of physical capacity in conjunction with high-specificity sprint training in the form of resisted sprinting, produced the largest effects during the acceleration phase.…”

“…Previous intervention studies have reported reductions in sprint times of 0.03-0.41 seconds across a range of athletes and distances up to 40 m, with an average percentage difference of 3-4% (2,13,14,22,23,27,37,57,58,65). Training status and mode of training have been identified as potential moderators (54,55) with researchers suggesting that more experienced athletes require training modes with high levels of specificity for continued improvement in sprinting performance (33) Multiple narrative reviews and systematic reviews combined with meta-analyses (1,4,6,15,20,29,45,46,49,(53)(54)(55) (45) and maximum velocity (46) with football code athletes competing in sports such as soccer, American football, Canadian football, Australian football, Gaelic football, and rugby. The authors concluded that combined specific and nonspecific training modes, focusing on the development of physical capacity in conjunction with high-specificity sprint training in the form of resisted sprinting, produced the largest effects during the acceleration phase.…”

When and How Do Soccer Players From a Semi-Professional Club Sprint in Match Play?

“…All these training strategies may be considered to improve performance and decrease injury risk. Regardless of the population characteristics, sprint performance can be improved by increasing the orientation and/or magnitude of force that a player can generate and express in the sprint (Nicholson et al, 2021(Nicholson et al, , 2022.…”