Current relevant literature was reviewed with a focus on physiological adaptations to repeated-sprint training (RST), and their implications on training recommendations and on repeated-sprint ability (RSA) of well-trained field-based teamsport athletes. Exclusively RST of .10s duration with recovery between 20-60s, performed in normoxia, was considered. Numerous relevant physiological adaptations occur after RST, performed 2-3x/week for five weeks or more. A few key adaptations for well-trained field-based team-sport athletes were identified: greater acute and chronic phosphagen availability through greater myokinase activity and a conservation of the purine nucleotide pool; improved muscle buffer capacity, facilitated by the carnosine contained in an increased amount of type IIa muscle fibres; greater rate of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ release resulting from greater SR content. These adaptations occur primarily as a result of short duration RST, where sufficient rest is provided within and between training sessions. Based on the optimisation of physiological adaptations and minimisation of physiological and psychological cost, two sets of 5-6 repetitions of 15-30-m linear sprints with 25-60s of recovery and 3min of rest between sets, performed 2-3x/week over six weeks, appears sufficient and is recommended to optimise physiological adaptations and performance improvements with RST. In summary, a combination of sprint training and HIIT with greater training duration may be more effective to improve RSA of well-trained athletes, but repeated-sprint training can be successfully implemented in a time-limited context to obtain specific targeted physiological adaptations and an improvement in repeated-sprint ability in well-trained field-based team-sport athletes.
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