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Int J Sports Med 2008; 29(8): 668-674
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-989371
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Sprint vs. Interval Training in Football

D. Ferrari Bravo1 , F. M. Impellizzeri1 , 2 , E. Rampinini1 , C. Castagna3 , D. Bishop4 , U. Wisloff5
  • 1Human Performance Laboratory, MAPEI Sport Research Center, Castellanza, Italy
  • 2Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, Schulthess Clinic, Zurich, Switzerland
  • 3School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
  • 4Team Sport Research Group, Facoltà di Scienze Motorie, Università di Verona, Verona, Italy
  • 5Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Trondheim, Norway
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision October 21, 2007

Publication Date:
17 December 2007 (online)

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of high-intensity aerobic interval and repeated-sprint ability (RSA) training on aerobic and anaerobic physiological variables in male football players. Forty-two participants were randomly assigned to either the interval training group (ITG, 4 × 4 min running at 90 – 95 % of HRmax; n = 21) or repeated-sprint training group (RSG, 3 × 6 maximal shuttle sprints of 40 m; n = 21). The following outcomes were measured at baseline and after 7 weeks of training: maximum oxygen uptake, respiratory compensation point, football-specific endurance (Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test, YYIRT), 10-m sprint time, jump height and power, and RSA. Significant group × time interaction was found for YYIRT (p = 0.003) with RSG showing greater improvement (from 1917 ± 439 to 2455 ± 488 m) than ITG (from 1846 ± 329 to 2077 ± 300 m). Similarly, a significant interaction was found in RSA mean time (p = 0.006) with only the RSG group showing an improvement after training (from 7.53 ± 0.21 to 7.37 ± 0.17 s). No other group × time interactions were found. Significant pre-post changes were found for absolute and relative maximum oxygen uptake and respiratory compensation point (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that the RSA training protocol used in this study can be an effective training strategy for inducing aerobic and football-specific training adaptations.

Key words

soccer - aerobic power - anaerobic training - specific endurance

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Dr. Franco M. Impellizzeri

Schulthess Clinic
Neuromuscular Research Laboratory

Lengghalde 2

8008 Zurich

Switzerland

Fax: + 39 03 31 57 57 28

Email: franco.impellizzeri@kws.ch