title: Effect of surface-specific training on 20-m sprint performance on sand and grass surfaces.
abstract: This study compared the effect of an 8-week preseason conditioning program conducted on a sand (SAND) or grass (GRASS) surface on 20-m sprint performance. Twelve team-sport athletes were required to attend three 1-hour training sessions per week, including 2 surface-specific sessions (SAND, n = 6 or GRASS, n = 6) and 1 group session (conducted on grass). Throughout the training period, 20-m sprint times of all athletes were recorded on both sand and grass surfaces at the end of weeks 1, 4, and 8. Results showed a significant improvement in 20-m sand time in the SAND group only (p < 0.05), whereas 20-m grass time improved equally in both training subgroups (p < 0.05). These results suggest that surface-specificity is essential for 20-m speed improvements on sand and also that there is no detriment to grass speed gains when incorporating sand surfaces into a preseason program.
authors.affiliation: 1Western Australian Institute of Sport, Mount Claremont, Western Australia, Australia; 2School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia; and 3School of Health Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Martyn J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Binnie
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Peeling
authors.forename: Hugh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pinnington
authors.forename: Grant
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Landers
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dawson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D006109:Poaceae; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D012822:Silicon Dioxide