Effects of speed exercises on acceleration and agility performance in 13-year-old female soccer players

• Published in: Journal of Physical Education and Sport Vol. 14; no. 4; p. 471
• Main Authors: Mathisen, G E, Danielsen, K H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pitesti Universitatea din Pitesti 2014; University of Pitesti
• Subjects: Anatomy; Athletes; Control Groups; Ethics; Exercise; Exercise techniques: 851; Females; Human Body; Idrettsmedisinske fag: 850; Medical disciplines: 700; Medisinske Fag: 700; Physical Education; Physical fitness; Soccer; Sports medicine: 850; Statistical Analysis; Studies; Team Sports; Training Methods; Treningslære: 851; VDP; Youth
• ISSN: 2247-8051; 2247-806X
• DOI: 10.7752/jpes.2014.04071

The aim of this recent study was to examine the effect of a high-intensity sprint program on adolescent female soccer players. A training group of 13 female soccer players, mean age 13.6 years followed an eight-week intervention program for one hour per week, and a group of 13 female soccer players of corresponding age, mean age 13.7 years served as a control group. Results showed a significant improvement in agility performance, pre 8.56 s to post 8.03 s, and a significant improvement in 10-m linear sprint, pre 2.13 s to post 2.02 s, and in 20-m linear sprint, pre 3.75 s to post 3.62 s. The correlation between 10-m sprint and agility was r = 0.70, and between 20-m straight sprint and agility performance, r = 0.78. These findings demonstrate that organizing the training sessions with short sprint bouts at maximum effort, interspersed with adequate recovery time, results in improvements in both in linear sprint (acceleration) and in agility performance in adolescent female soccer players.