Downloaded from http://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr by BhDMf5ePHKbH4TTImqenVIdHfOa5cT8d0W9QWA+MtfD6JqASiiaN9P/lWExoZKav on 08/08/2020 Original Research Effectiveness of a Generic vs. Specific Program Training to Prevent the Short-Term Detraining on Repeated-Sprint Ability of Youth Soccer Players Alejandro Rodr´ ıguez-Fern ´ andez, 1,2 Jos ´ e G. Villa, 1 Javier S ´ anchez-S ´ anchez, 3 and Jose A. Rodr´ ıguez-Marroyo 1 1 VALFIS Research Group, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of Le ´ on, Le ´ on, Spain; 2 Faculty of Health Sciences, University Isabel I, Burgos, Spain; and 3 Pontifical University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain Abstract Rodr´ ıguez-Fern ´ andez, A, Villa, JG, S ´ anchez-S ´ anchez, J, and Rodr´ ıguez-Marroyo, JA. Effectiveness of a generic vs. specific program training to prevent the short-term detraining on repeated-sprint ability of youth soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 34(8): 2128–2135, 2020—The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of 2 short-term training programs to prevent the negative effect of detraining on repeated-sprint ability (RSA) performance. The study was performed during a 2-week midseason break without official matches. Forty-five youth soccer players (17.7 6 0.8 years, 175.4 6 5.5 cm, and 67.2 6 5.1 kg) were split into 3 groups during the intervention period: inactivity group (IN; N 5 16), generic high-intensity training group (GG; N 5 15), and specific training group (SG; N 5 14). IN was instructed to avoid performing physical activity during the 2-week training intervention. However, GG and SG performed 8 training sessions. GG performed a generic aerobic interval training consisting of 4 repetitions of 4 minutes of exercise at 90–95% of maximal heart rate. SG performed a specific conditioning through small-sided games (4 vs. 4, 4 3 4-minute) and repeated sprints (6 3 30-m). Testing sessions included an RSA test and a Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1 (YYIR1). Repeated-sprint ability performance only improved after the training intervention in SG (;2%, p , 0.01, h 2 p 5 0.23–0.25). Both GG and IN declined their performance in post-test (;2%, p , 0.01, h 2 p 5 0.19–0.22). No significant effect, group 3 time, was analyzed for YYIR1 performance. This study suggests that only specific training, based on small-sided games and repeated sprints, leads to short-term improvements on RSA performance in youth soccer players. Key Words: repeated sprinting, small-sided games, interval training, detraining, soccer performance Introduction The ability to repeat short-duration sprints interspersed with brief recovery periods, which has been often termed “repeated-sprint ability” (RSA), is an important factor to determine performance in team sports (28) and especially in soccer (11,14,18,26). Cor- relations between RSA, total sprint distance, and total high- intensity running distances during a professional soccer match have been previously reported (26). Moreover, results from RSA tests have shown to be sensitive to soccer players’ competition level (1), playing position, age (22), and aerobic fitness (30). Globally, RSA might reflect the level of soccer players’ overall fitness, due to its complex nature (3). In addition, their use might involve physiological responses similar to those occurring during intense periods of play (28). Therefore, it seems that the use of RSA exercises for the training and testing of soccer players is an advisable strategy to increase and assess their physical perfor- mance (1). Although there are recommendations to train RSA (3), the best strategy to optimize its development in youth soccer players is not currently known (4). Different studies have reported improvements in the RSA after training programs based on speed endurance training (10), repeated sprints (23), repeated sprints with changes of direction (5,11), small-sided games (SSG) (24,27), and combining SSG with repeated sprints (29). Other authors have obtained contradictory results when applying generic training programs based on high-intensity aerobic interval training (11,16). Therefore, further studies are necessary to analyze the effects of RSA considering different training programs in soccer players. The consequences that an insufficient training stimulus has on the loss of training-induced physiological adaptations have been well documented (21). In this sense, it has been highlighted the importance that off-season training has to avoid soccer players’ deconditioning (6). The effects of short-term detraining on exer- cise performance during this period have previously been studied (7,29). These studies have shown a significant reduction on RSA performance after a 2-week training cessation in well-trained soccer players (7,29). However, these studies have reported that a short-term intensified training program at the end of the com- petitive season might counteract this negative effect (7,29). To the best of our knowledge, no study has analyzed the effects of training cessation during the regular season, nor has this been performed with youth soccer players. During the regular season, soccer teams usually have a short-term period without competi- tive fixtures, coinciding with the winter break, where most semiprofessional soccer teams do not perform any training. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the effects of a short-term training cessation period during the regular season on RSA performance of youth soccer players. In addition, we compared the effectiveness of generic and specific training pro- grams to prevent the negative effect of detraining. Address correspondence to Jose A. Rodr´ ıguez-Marroyo, j.marroyo@unileon.es. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 34(8)/2128–2135 ª 2020 National Strength and Conditioning Association 2128 Copyright © 2020 National Strength and Conditioning Association. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.