PMID 39703670

Research
All papers

Can trainability constrain physical fitness adaptations to small-sided games and high-intensity interval training in young male basketball players? a prospective cohort study

Wei L, Zheng Y

Question

Does baseline trainability constrain responses to small-sided games and HIIT in young male team-sport players?

Summary

In a 6-week preseason study of young male team-sport athletes, straight-line HIIT and small-sided games both improved fitness measures, especially in initially less-fit players. The NXML title mentions basketball, while the body repeatedly describes soccer players, so sport-specific conclusions are uncertain.

Methodology

  • Young male regional-level team-sport athletes; NXML body describes soccer players despite basketball title.
  • 43 participants.
  • Field running.
  • Work intervals: 1 min or 3 min.
  • Recovery: 3 min between repetitions.
  • Intensity: 90% VIFT for 1 min intervals; 85% VIFT for 3 min intervals.
  • Varied by weekly session.
  • 2 sessions/week.
  • 6 weeks.
  • Prospective cohort intervention study
  • Countermovement jump, Sprint peak speed, and VIFT were tracked.

Outcomes

Jump height

Non-fit SSG and HIIT players improved CMJ, while fit subgroups changed little.

Non-fit SSG p<0.001, d=1.030; non-fit HIIT p<0.001, d=0.984.

Mixed

Sprint speed

Sprint peak speed improved in all subgroups, with a larger non-fit effect in HIIT.

HIIT non-fit p<0.001, d=1.538.

Improved

VIFT

VIFT improved in all subgroups, with large effects in non-fit players.

SSG non-fit p<0.001, d=2.200; HIIT non-fit p<0.001, d=1.692.

Improved

Interactions

No significant time by group by baseline-fitness interaction was reported for the primary outcomes.

Example CMJ F=0.368, p=0.547.

No clear change

Insights

  • Baseline fitness classification can materially affect interpretation of short athlete-training studies.
  • Straight-line HIIT and game-based formats may both improve youth athlete fitness markers.

Limitations

  • Short 6-week preseason block
  • Youth male athlete sample
  • Concurrent team training
  • No objective internal-load monitoring reported
  • Title/body inconsistency about sport
  • Not a general-population intervention

Safety

  • No adverse events were reported.
  • Goalkeepers and players injured before or during the intervention were excluded.