Effect of two training modalities on sprint performance in young American football players.

BACKGROUND

Time to perform 40-yard dash (40-yd) is a performance criterion in American football. Sprinting ability is strongly correlated with maximal values of horizontal power (PH), Force (FH) and Velocity (VH). While numerous methods for developing sprint speed exist, few studies have focused on the effects of periodizations on the sprinting mechanical variables in young talented American football players.

OBJECTIVE

this study aimed to compare the effects of block (BP) and undulating (UP) training periodization modalities on 40-yard dash performance.

METHOD

27 players from the Young French League of American football (17.1 ± 0.9 y, 179.9 ± 5.5 cm, 81.1 ± 14.9 kg) were randomly assigned in either the BP ( = 15) or UP ( = 12) group. Anthropometric characteristics, 40-yd performance, maximal velocity (V), PH, FH and VH were assessed before and after 10-wk intervention period.

RESULTS

Training resulted in the 40-yd performance increase of 3.72% ( < 0.001) and significant changes in V (+ = 6.13 ± 5.62%,  < 0.001) and VH values (+2.68 ± 4.14%,  = 0.004). BP intervention leaded higher improvements in time to perform 40-yd (4.45 ± 2.06 vs. 3.02 ± 1.93%,  < 0.001) and V (7.30 ± 6.63% vs. 4.54 ± 4.10%,  = 0.002,) compared to UP. No periodization effect was found in changes of VH (BP: 3.42 ± 4.31% vs. UP: 1.48 ± 3.88,  = 0.214).

CONCLUSION

Our results showed that BP and UP were effective to increase sprint performance. Despite a similar training load, the block periodization of training had better effects on 40-yd performance compared to undulating training periodization in this population of talented young American football players.