Soft sand training surfaces can offer a higher energy cost (EC) and lower impact training stimulus when compared to firmer training venues such as grass. However, sand training research to date has been conducted over a limited range of exercise types and performance outcomes, with the practical implications for applied sport settings such as team sports largely unknown. Therefore, the primary aim of this thesis was to investigate the effect of sand versus grass training surfaces on both the acute and long-term training responses in team sport athletes. Study one compared the physiological and performance effects of performing a high intensity interval running session (60 min) in team sport athletes (n=10) on sand (SAND) and grass (GRASS) training surfaces, with the results showing a significantly higher heart rate (HR) and blood lactate response on SAND (p0.05). Next day (24 h post-exercise) vertical jump, repeated sprint ability and 3 km running time-trial performance were also similar between surfaces (p>0.05), which may suggest that performing a pre-season interval training session on sand (versus grass) allows for higher relative training intensities, without any consequent detriment to recovery and next-day athletic performance. Study two aimed to determine whether these characteristics of sand training were also present during a more specific team-sport conditioning session performed by team sport athletes (n=10), consisting of high intensity repeated sprint bouts, agility and power drills, plus small-sided game (SSG) training. The results again showed a significantly higher average HR and rating of perceived exertion during training on SAND versus GRASS (p0.05), with blood markers of muscle damage, inflammation and hemolysis also similar between the surfaces (p>0.05). Overall, the findings from studies one and two suggest that the use of sand surfaces can offer a beneficial alternative to grass for both early pre-season running sessions, and more specific conditioning sessions performed later in a pre-season training program...
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