Mixed Training Programs Applied to Young Soccer Players: Effects on Speed-Power Abilities.

We compared the effects of two 4-week strength-power-speed training protocols on physical performance of young soccer players. Twenty-three highly trained under-20 soccer players were randomly allocated to two mixed-training groups: 1) "traditional" (TRAD: n=11), comprising vertically oriented strength-power exercises and linear sprints; or 2) "multidirectional" (MULTI: n=12), combining vertically and horizontally oriented strength-power exercises, linear sprints, and change-of-direction (COD) drills. Squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump, 2) linear sprint, COD speed, and 3) jump-squat (JS) and hip-thrust (HT) power tests were performed pre- and post-training.

Impact of Sled Loads on Performance and Kinematics of Elite Sprinters and Rugby Players.

Purpose: To examine the changes in resisted sprint performance and kinematics provoked by different sled loads in elite sprinters and rugby players.

Methods: Eight elite male sprinters and 10 rugby union players performed 20-m sprints under 3 loading conditions (0%, 20%, and 60% body mass [BM]). Sprint time was measured in 0 to 5, 5 to 10, and 10 to 20 m, while stride length and hip, knee, and ankle angles were measured using an 8-sensor motion analysis system at the same distances.

Correlations between jump measures and competitive performance remain stable over time in top-level sprinters.

Background: We examined the relationships between jump performance measures, sprint tests, and 100-m competition times in 11 top-level sprinters during two successive competitive 4-week mesocycles.

Methods: Physical tests were performed 7-12 days before 3 sequential competitions. Sprinters completed standing long jump, squat and countermovement jumps, and 60-m sprint tests on each occasion.

Variations in the Physical Performance of Olympic Boxers over a Four-Day National Qualifying Tournament.

The aim of this study was to examine changes in body mass (BM) and power-related measures in Olympic boxers during an official qualifying boxing tournament. Fourteen elite amateur boxers from the Brazilian National Team (eight men and six women) participated in this study. Athletes performed three fights in four days against the same opponent of the same weight-category.

Effects of a Congested Fixture Period on Speed and Power Performance of Elite Young Soccer Players.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of a match-congested period on straight and curve sprint performance, change of direction (COD) speed and deficit, vertical jumping ability, and half-squat (HS) mean propulsive power (MPP) output in young soccer players.

Methods: A total of 15 under-20 elite male soccer players participated in 14 matches over 8 weeks. The following assessments were performed before and after the congested fixture period: squat and countermovement jumps, 17-m linear sprint, curve sprint test for the "good" (CSGS) and "weak" (CSWS) sides, modified 17-m Zigzag test, and HS MPP.

Traditional Free-Weight Vs. Variable Resistance Training Applied to Elite Young Soccer Players During a Short Preseason: Effects on Strength, Speed, and Power Performance.

Loturco, I, Pereira, LA, Reis, VP, Zanetti, V, Bishop, C, and Mcguigan, MR. Traditional free-weight vs. variable resistance training applied to elite young soccer players during a short preseason: Effects on strength, speed, and power performance.

Relationship Between Power Output and Speed-Related Performance in Brazilian Wheelchair Basketball Players.

This study aimed to investigate the association between the optimum power load in the bench press (BP), shoulder press (SP), and prone bench pull (PBP) exercises and acceleration (ACC) and speed performances in 11 National Team wheelchair basketball (WB) players with similar levels of disability. All athletes were previously familiarized with the testing procedures that were performed on the same day during the competitive period of the season. First, athletes performed a wheelchair 20-m sprint assessment and, subsequently, a maximum power load test to determine the mean propulsive power (MPP) in the BP, SP, and PBP.

Curve sprinting in soccer: relationship with linear sprints and vertical jump performance.

We examined the relationships among linear speed, vertical jumping ability and curve sprint (CS) performance. Moreover, the correlations between linear and curvilinear sprint velocities and CS deficit were tested. Twenty-eight under-20 soccer players performed squat and countermovement jumps, 17-m linear sprint (with split times at 5 and 10 m), and a CS test for both sides.

Multidirectional sprints in soccer: are there connections between linear, curved, and change-of-direction speed performances?

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between linear sprint, curve sprint (CS) and change of direction (COD) abilities and vertical jump performance in elite young soccer players.

Methods: Twenty-nine players from the same soccer club participated in this study. On the same day, athletes performed countermovement jump (CMJ), 17-m linear sprint (with a 10-m split time), CS (for both sides) and COD tests.

Acute Effects of Progressive Sled Loading on Resisted Sprint Performance and Kinematics.

Pareja-Blanco, F, Pereira, LA, Freitas, TT, Alcaraz, PE, Reis, VP, Guerriero, A, Arruda, AFS, Zabaloy, S, De Villarreal, ES, and Loturco, I. Acute effects of progressive sled loading on resisted sprint performance and kinematics. J Strength Cond Res 36(6): 1524-1531, 2022-We examined the effects of 5 loading conditions (0, 20, 40, 60, and 80% of body-mass [BM]) on resisted sprint performance and kinematics in male rugby players over different distances.

Effects of Drop Jumps on 1000-m Performance Time and Pacing in Elite Male and Female Endurance Runners.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of drop jumps (DJs) on performance time and pacing in a field test (ie, 1000 m) commonly used to evaluate endurance runners and to evaluate running and jumping performance in male and female athletes separately.

Methods: Twenty elite endurance runners (male, n = 10, 27.8 [7.

Change of Direction Performance in Elite Players From Different Team Sports.

Loturco, I, Pereira, LA, Reis, VP, Abad, CCC, Freitas, TT, Azevedo, PHSM and Nimphius, S. Change of direction performance in elite players from different team sports. J Strength Cond Res 36(3): 862-866, 2022-The primary aim of this study was to examine the differences in change of direction (COD) deficit between elite futsal, soccer, handball, and rugby players.

Resisted Sprint Velocity in Female Soccer Players: Influence of Physical Capacities.

This study aimed to examine the effects of different sled overloads on maximum sprint velocity achieved by female soccer players with different strength, speed, and power levels. Twenty elite female soccer players from the same club participated. On the same day, athletes performed: linear and resisted-sprint tests with 30 and 60 % of body-mass over 5-, 10-, and 20-m; half-squat maximum bar-power output, and half-squat one-repetition maximum assessment.

Power training in elite young soccer players: Effects of using loads above or below the optimum power zone.

This study aimed to examine the effects of two jump squat (JS) training programs involving different loading ranges in under-20 soccer players during a preseason period. Twenty-three elite young soccer players performed sprint speed (at 5-, 10-, and 20-m), change-of-direction (COD) speed, JS peak-power (PP), and countermovement jump (CMJ) tests pre and post four weeks of training. Athletes were pair-matched in two groups according to their optimum power loads (OPL) as follows: lower than OPL (LOPL; athletes who trained at a load 20% lower than the OPL) and higher than OPL (HOPL; athletes who trained at a load 20% higher than the OPL).

Comparing the magnitude and direction of asymmetry during the squat, countermovement and drop jump tests in elite youth female soccer players.

The aims of the present study were to provide an in-depth comparison of inter-limb asymmetry and determine how consistently asymmetry favours the same limb during different vertical jump tests. Eighteen elite female under-17 soccer players conducted unilateral squat jumps (SJ), countermovement jumps (CMJ) and drop jumps (DJ) on a portable force platform, with jump height, peak force, concentric impulse and peak power as common metrics across tests. For the magnitude of asymmetry, concentric impulse was significantly greater during the SJ test compared to CMJ ( = 0.

Differences in Change of Direction Speed and Deficit Between Male and Female National Rugby Sevens Players.

Freitas, TT, Alcaraz, PE, Calleja-González, J, Arruda, AFS, Guerriero, A, Kobal, R, Reis, VP, Pereira, LA, and Loturco, I. Differences in change of direction speed and deficit between male and female national rugby sevens players. J Strength Cond Res 35(11): 3170-3176, 2021-The aims of this study were to assess the change of direction (COD) deficit in different tasks and to investigate the differences in COD ability and COD deficit between male and female rugby sevens players.

Transference Effect of Short-Term Optimum Power Load Training on the Punching Impact of Elite Boxers.

Loturco, I, Pereira, LA, Kobal, R, Fernandes, V, Reis, VP, Romano, F, Alves, M, Freitas, TT, and McGuigan, M. Transference effect of short-term optimum power load training on the punching impact of elite boxers. J Strength Cond Res 35(9): 2373-2378, 2021-This study examined the changes in bench press (BP), jump squat (JS), and half-squat (HS) power outputs induced by a short-term (1 week) training scheme based on the optimum power load (OPL) applied to national boxing athletes and measured the transference effect coefficient (TEC) of these exercises on punching impact.

Change of Direction Deficit in National Team Rugby Union Players: Is There an Influence of Playing Position?

The aim of this study was to investigate the change of direction (COD) ability and deficits of elite rugby union players, discriminating between position (backs and forwards), and between "faster and slower players", in multiple COD tasks. Twenty-four male rugby union players from the Brazilian senior National team completed the following assessments: Squat and countermovement jumps; drop jump; standing long jump, horizontal triple jumps; 40-m linear sprint; Pro-agility, L-Drill, and Zig-zag COD tests; and squat 1-repetition maximum. The differences between backs and forwards and between faster and slower performers were examined using magnitude-based inferences.