In recent years, High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been proposed as a preferred method of exercise when time is limited. Thus, the potential for a team coach to maintain and/or increase aerobic power and anaerobic capacity throughout the competitive season within a limited amount of time dedicated to conditioning may provide a solution to this time constraint. The need to revisit training practices in soccer during a competitive season was recently highlighted ( 17). This phenomenon is most prevalent in high school and collegiate soccer, where the time available for practice is a limiting factor during the season. The problem is that despite existing knowledge that improved physical conditioning positively influences soccer performance, this aspect of training is largely ignored as the competitive season progresses and practice time is allocated to other important activities ( 11). Indeed, most teams focus on both aerobic and anaerobic conditioning during pre-season workouts. These findings suggest that training programs should place emphasis on repeated bouts of high intensity work, with and without the ball.
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Others have also demonstrated the detrimental effects of the game on sprint performance ( 10). Studies in young players indicate that soccer specific tasks such as passing accuracy and involvement with the ball decline after short bouts of high-intensity exercise ( 14).
#High school soccer skills training professional#
At the same time, observations of specific player movements throughout a match suggest that high-intensity activity is an important factor for performance and success in professional soccer ( 2, 8, 12, 15). The same study demonstrated that players’ heart rate during a soccer match can reach values approximating 80–90% of an age-predicted heart rate max, further highlighting the demands placed on the anaerobic metabolic pathway on top of aerobic fitness ( 8). Improvements in aerobic power have been shown to affect the number of sprints, involvements with the ball, and distance covered during a soccer match ( 8). Over a 90-minute match, elite youth (ages 13–18) soccer players engaging in intermittent activity will often cover distances greater than six kilometers, placing an importance on the aerobic metabolic pathway ( 1). Physical fitness has been shown to have a key role in success during a soccer match. Our results indicate that HIIT offers similar endurance improvements to more traditional soccer training.
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There were no differences in the flexibility test between groups. In contrast, there were differences in the agility test only for the CON group over time (16.67☐.76s vs. 47.87☗50cm respectively, p<0.019), no such effect was observed in the CON group. While there was a difference in vertical jump between the pre and post tests for the HIIT group (42.20☗.04cm vs. The CON group demonstrated a significant difference in the 40-yard dash over time (5.48☐.36s vs.
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1165.2☒52.8m, p<0.001 respectively), with no difference between groups. Both HIIT and CON groups exhibited significant increase in IR1 test performance with time (741.6☓07.6m vs. Participants completed the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1 (IR1), a 40-yard dash, vertical jump, Illinois agility test, and a sit-and-reach test, in two different testing sessions (pre/post season). The groups did not differ in any other aspect of their training. The CON group performed endurance running for the same duration. The HIIT group performed 4–6 “all-out” sprints lasting 30s each, with 4.5 minute recovery, 3 times a week. Junior varsity soccer players were split into control (CON, n=16) and experimental (HIIT, n=16) groups for the 10-week study. We hypothesized that HIIT will compare favorably to traditional (aerobic-based) soccer conditioning over the course of a high school soccer season. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is considered a viable alternative to traditional endurance conditioning and offers the additional time-saving benefits of anaerobic training. Soccer is characterized by high aerobic demands interspersed with frequent bursts of anaerobic activity.