Background: High performance in soccer depends on various physical qualities and skills, including tactical and technical skills as die two most import factors that contribute to success. These skills could be more important than small differences in physical performance abilities. Nevertheless, to be able to utilize the tactical and technical skills during a top soccer match, a soccer player has to cope with the physical demands of the game. Besides the high aerobic demands in soccer, game analyses indicate that soccer players sprint between 1-11% of the total game with durations of 2 to 4 s for each sprint every 60-90 s, which equals about 60-90 sprints during a soccer match. Those sprints suggest a high-energy demand from the anaerobic energy system and the need to repeat high velocity sprints throughout the match. Therefore, die improvement of soccer players anaerobic conditioning could be regarded as essential. Aims: The overall objective of mis thesis was to develop, evaluate and compare hypothetical deducted anaerobic training methods for the purpose of improving the anaerobic physical components in soccer players. To achieve this overall objective, three sub objectives were developed. First: assuring the reproducibility of the measuring systems used in data collection. Second: implementing, evaluating and comparing the effects of anaerobic training programs designed. Third: to better understand die effect of the implemented anaerobic training programs: a follow-up study that investigates the relationship between measures of aerobic and anaerobic variables was conducted. Methods: Five studies were conducted to achieve die aims of this thesis. Study I was a methodological study where well-trained male soccer players were tested and re-tested. The tests used were countermovement vertical jump, squat vertical jump and 0-40 m linear sprint with the aim of examining the reliability (reproducibility) of die testing equipments. Study II aimed to evaluate and examine die effect of 8-weeks 40 m repeated sprint training on young elite male soccer players physical performance. The participants were divided into two groups, a training group and a control group. Both groups were instructed to continue the teams' original training plan, with the training group conducting two weekly extra training sessions consisting of repeated sprint training. The pre- and post-tests conducted were 3-6-9 m agility with a 180° turn, 0-40 m linear sprint, 10 * 40 m repeated linear' sprint, countermovement vertical jump, squat vertical jump, and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery level 1 test. The study took place during die pre-season period. Study III aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of 10-weeks combined agility with repeated sprint training versus strength training, twice a week, on well-trained female soccer players. The participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups, either a combined agility with repeated sprint training group or strength training group. Both groups were instructed to continue the teams' original training plan, with die strength training group conducting two extra strength taming sessions per week, and die agility with repeated sprint training group conducting two extra training sessions per week, one with resisting band, and one with repeated sprint training. The study took place at the beginning of the competition season. The pre- and post-tests conducted were squat vertical jump, countermovement vertical jump, 7 * 30 m repeated linear sprint, 0-40 m linear sprint, S180° agility test, and multi stage fitness test (Beep test). Study IV aimed to evaluate and compare die effect of 8-weeks repeated agility training versus repeated sprint training on elite female soccer players' physical performances. Participants were randomly assigned to either a repeated agility training group or a repeated sprint training group. Both groups were instructed to continue the teams' original training plan, with the repeated agility training group completing one extra training session per week consisting of repeated agility training, and the repeated sprint training group completed one extra training session per week consisting of repeated sprint training. The participants were pre- and post-tested for 0-40 m linear sprint, 40 m agility test, countermovement vertical jump, 10 x 40 m repeated linear sprint, and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery level 1 test. The study took place during the pre-season period. Study V aimed to investigate the relationship between measures of sprinting abilities, lower bod}* strength and power, and aerobic fitness. Well-trained female soccer players were tested on 0-40 m linear sprint, 7 * 30 m repeated linear sprint, S180° agility test, countermovement vertical jump, squat vertical jump, and Beep test. Results: The results from study I indicate that the total error (systematic bias and random variation) would not exceed 1.54% for die Newtest Powertimer photocells, 1.6% for the Norwegian Olympic Centre (NOC) photocells, and 1.4% for the NOC force platform Furthermore, the test-retest reliability in study I did not show any marked systematic bias for the Newtest Powertimer testing system and die NOC testing systems. However, die residts indicate that the total error associated with the Newtest Pow'ertinier contact mat was higher than our analytical goals, and therefore the contact mat was omitted from being used further in testing. The results from study II indicate a significant improvement within the repeated sprint training group from pre- to post-test in 0-40 m linear sprint time (-0.33 =0.13 s), 10 x 40 m repeated linear sprint mean time (-0.29 ±0.13 s), 0-20 m linear sprint time (-0.19 =0.10 s), 20-40 m linear sprint time (-0.15 =0.08 s) and countermovement vertical jump (1.3 =1.2 cm). The within control group results showed a significant improvement in 0-40 m linear sprint time (-0.11 =0.06 sj, 10 * 40 m repeated linear sprint time (-0.09 =0.03 s) and 0-20 m linear sprint time (-0.10 =0.06 s). A comparison between the two groups showed statistically significant differences in 0-40 m linear sprint time, 10 x 40 m repeated linear sprint time and 20-40 m linear sprint time. The residts from study III indicate that die combined resisted agility with repeated sprint training implemented did not have any significant effect on the combined training group results with the exception of Beep test performance (1.2 =0.7 level). The strength- training group had a significant improvement in Beep test performance (1.2 =0.7 level) and squat vertical jump performance (1.7 =2.1 cm). Analysis of between groups' differences revealed no significant differences between the groups. The within group results from study IV showed that the repeated agility training group had a significant improvement in 10 x 40 m repeated linear sprint mean time, agility time and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery level 1 distance covered. The repeated sprint training group showed significant improvements in 10 * 40 m repeated linear sprint mean time. 20- 40 m linear sprint time, 0-40 m linear sprint time, coimtermovement vertical jump, and Yo-Yo Intenmittent Recovery level 1 distance covered. No significant differences between the groups were observed Analyzing study V reveals that squat vertical jump in absolute terms had the highest correlation with linear sprint times over 0-40 m and 0-20 m Countermovement vertical jump had the highest correlation with 20-40 m linear sprint time. Peak power relative to body weight from countermovement vertical jump had die highest correlation with 0-40 m and 20- 40 m linear sprint times. Linear sprint time over 0-40 m was correlated with linear repeated sprint fastest time, mean time, and total time. Sprint with change of direction had die highest correlation with linear sprint time over 0-20 m Beep test distance covered had a significant correlation with repeated linear sprint fastest time, mean time, total time, sprint with change of direction time. 0-40 m linear sprint time and 20-40 m linear sprint time. Conclusion: The present thesis confirms that die use of the same testing system from pre- to post-test is advisable because different systems give different results. The residts from the present thesis demonstrate that improvements in soccer players physical performance and the rate of adaptation to anaerobic training depend on specificity, progression, intensify, volume and frequency in order to be able to stimulate improvement in already well-trained indi\iduals. The present thesis demonstrates that greater training volume with high intensity close to the observed intensity during match play in die form of total distance covered during repeated sprint training appears to impact positively on players' physical performance. Analyses of the results indicate that a higher training frequency of two sessions per week gives better results compared to one session per week. The results from study II and IV demonstrate that repeated sprint training is a useful form of anaerobic conditioning to improve soccer players' repeated sprint ability, indicating that this skill appears to be trainable using only repeated sprint training. The present thesis confirms that the specificity of the exercise choice can highly effect the improvement of the players. Similar to other studies, the present thesis demonstrates that agility training induces specific agility enhancement and linear sprint training improves linear sprint abilities. Comparing the outcome across the part studies of the present diesis demonstrates that the improvement of the players conditioning is highly connected to the total stress level. Therefore, die time of implementing the training program is crucial and consequently the correct use of periodization, progression and the total training load is highly important. Finally, sprinting abilities seem to depend greatly on technical elements and continuous presence of a physical conditioning expert likely increases the odds of a more successful outcome.
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