Comparison of repeated sprint tests in young soccer players: Straight versus shuttle

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the differences between physiological and performance response to different repeated sprint tests (RSTs). Nine young soccer players (age 18.3 +/- 1.0 years; height 176.8 +/- 5.0 cm; body-mass 74.1 +/- 6.9 kg) performed Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (YIRT1), Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) and four different RST's; including two straight tests (6 x 40 m, and 8 x 30 m) and shuttle tests (6 x 40 m and 8 x 30 m) maximal runs starting every 25s. Blood lactate (La-) was measured three minutes following each RST. Significantly higher average speed responses were determined from 6 x 40 m straight than other RSTs, Additionally, a strong correlation (r=0.80) was found between the best sprint times for 6 x 40 m and the 8 x 30 m straight RST protocols. Moderate correlations were found between YIRT1 performance and the 8 x 30 m straight test performance (range: r= 0.69 to 0.72) (p <= 0.05). Moreover, there were significant correlations in the total sprint times of RSTs for all protocols except 8 x 30 m shuttle (range: r= 0.68 to 0.90). Therefore, if coaches want higher speed in their training, they can choose straight RSTs and if they want higher physiological response they may select shuttle RSTs.