Loading...
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
Dobbin, Nick Highton, Jamie Moss, Samantha Twist, Craig
Dobbin, Nick
Highton, Jamie
Moss, Samantha
Twist, Craig
Citations
Altmetric:
Advisors
Editors
Other Contributors
Affiliation
EPub Date
Publication Date
2020-05-01
Submitted Date
Collections
Files
Loading...
Main article
Adobe PDF, 383.79 KB
Other Titles
Abstract
Purpose: To determine the utility of a running 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 (SITr, n = 15) sprint interval training group. Measures of speed, power, change of direction (CoD) ability, prone Yo-Yo IR1 performance and heart rate recovery (HRR) were taken before and after the 2-week intervention as were sub-maximal responses to the prone Yo-Yo IR1. Internal, external and perceptual responses were collected during SITr/s/SITr, with wellbeing 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, HRR and sub-maximal responses to the prone Yo-Yo IR1 were observed after both interventions. Between-group analysis favoured the SITr/s intervention (trivial to moderate) for changes in 10 m sprint time, CMJ, change of direction and medicine ball throw as well as sub-maximal (280-440 m) high metabolic power, PlayerLoad™ and acceleratory distance during the prone Yo-Yo IR1. Overall changes in wellbeing or neuromuscular function were unclear.
Conclusion: Two-weeks of SITr/s and SITr was effective for improving physical characteristics, HRR and sub-maximal responses to the prone Yo-Yo IR1, with no clear change in wellbeing and neuromuscular function. Between-group analysis favoured the SITr/s group, suggesting that the inclusion of sport- specific actions should be considered for in-season conditioning of rugby league players.
Citation
Dobbin, N., Highton, J., Moss, S.L., & Twist, C. (2020). 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. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 15(5), 705-713.
Publisher
Human Kinetics
Journal
International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
Research Unit
PubMed ID
PubMed Central ID
Type
Article
Language
en
Description
Accepted author manuscript version reprinted, by permission, from International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 2020 (ahead of print). © Human Kinetics, Inc.
Series/Report no.
ISSN
1555-0265
EISSN
1555-0273