PMID 37077796

Research
All papers

Recovery time variation during sprint interval training impacts amateur soccer players adaptations - a pilot study

Diker G, Darendeli A, Chamari K, Dellal A, Müniroğlu S, Ön S, Özkamçı H

Question

How does recovery duration during sprint interval training affect aerobic and repeated-sprint adaptations in amateur soccer players?

Summary

In amateur male soccer players, adding six weeks of running sprint interval training to regular soccer training improved intermittent-running and VO2max measures. Longer 150-second recovery between 30-second all-out sprints appeared more favorable for repeated-sprint performance than 30-second recovery.

Methodology

  • Male amateur soccer players with at least 5 years of soccer training background.
  • 23 participants.
  • Running all-out sprints.
  • Work intervals: 30 seconds.
  • Recovery: 150 seconds.
  • Intensity: All-out.
  • Sprint block duration increased with repetitions; warm-up included 5 min jogging, 3 min dynamic stretching, and 7 min drills.
  • 2 sprint sessions per week plus regular soccer training.
  • 6 weeks.
  • Randomized controlled pilot intervention
  • Yo-Yo IRT1, Yo-Yo IRT2, VO2max, and Repeated sprint ability were tracked.

Outcomes

Yo-Yo IRT1

All groups improved, with the largest gain in the 150-second recovery group.

SIT150 +43%, p=0.001, d=1.48; SIT30 +23%, p=0.002, d=0.76; control +20%, p=0.013, d=0.57.

Improved

Yo-Yo IRT2

Both sprint interval groups improved Yo-Yo IRT2, with larger relative gain in SIT150.

SIT150 +32.8%, p=0.008, d=1.25; SIT30 +26.2%, p=0.018, d=1.28.

Improved

VO2max

VO2max improved in all groups, including the routine soccer control group.

SIT150 +18%, p=0.010, d=1.56; SIT30 +19.1%, p=0.001, d=1.97; control +13.4%, p=0.002, d=0.75.

Improved

Repeated sprint

Repeated-sprint test variables did not show group-level improvements, and SIT30 worsened in best and total sprint times.

No time-by-group interaction; SIT30 RSTbest worsened 3.5%, p=0.029, and RSTtotal worsened 2.5%, p=0.038.

Mixed

Insights

  • For all-out 30-second running sprints in soccer players, longer recovery may preserve repeated-sprint quality better than short 30-second recovery.
  • Routine soccer training also improved VO2max, so added SIT effects should be interpreted against strong background training.
  • This is athlete-specific and not a general beginner HIIT prescription.

Limitations

  • Pilot study with small groups.
  • Control training was not volume-matched.
  • Training workload was not fully controlled or monitored.
  • Treadmill VO2max protocol limitations were acknowledged by the authors.
  • Male amateur soccer players only.

Safety

  • One participant in the SIT30 group was injured during training and excluded from analysis; attribution to the intervention was not clearly specified.
  • No other adverse-event details were reported.