title: Effects of in-season short-term aerobic and high-intensity interval training program on repeated sprint ability and jump performance in handball players.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examined the effects of a 7-week in-season aerobic and high-intensity interval-training program on performance tests linked to successful handball play (e.g., repeated sprint and jumping ability).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty participants (age 17.0±1.2 years, body mass 81.1±3.4 kg, height 1.82±0.07 m) performed a Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1), a squat (SJ) and a Countermovement Jump Test (CMJ), as well as a repeated Sprint Ability Test (RSA). From this, maximal aerobic speed (MAS, reached at the end of the Yo-Yo IR1), jumping ability, best time in a single sprint trial (RSAbest), total time (RSATT) and the performance decrement (RSAdec) during all sprints were calculated. Later, subjects were randomly assigned to a control group (CG; N.=15) performing their normal training schedule (5 weekly sessions of ~90 minutes of handball training) or an experimental group (EG; N.=15). The EG performed two 30 min sessions per week of high-intensity aerobic exercises at 100-130% of MAS in addition to their normal training schedule.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant improvement in MAS (d=4.1), RSAbest (d=1.9), RSATT (d=1.5) and RSAdec (d=2.3) after the training period was demonstrated. Also, significant interaction effects (time x group) were found for all parameters as the EG significantly improved performances in all tests after training. The greatest interaction effects were observed in MAS (η2=0.811) and CMJ (η2=0.759). No relevant changes in test performances were found in the CG (mean d=-0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that individually speed-controlled aerobic and interval training is effective for improving specific handball performance.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit (UR17JS01), Sport Performance, Health and Society, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education, Ksar Saîd, University of &quot;La Manouba, &quot; Tunis, Tunisia - hermassi_fr@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Souhail
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hermassi
authors.affiliation: Strømsgodset Toppfotball, Drammen, Norway.
authors.forename: Jørgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ingebrigtsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany.
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schwesig
authors.affiliation: Division for Shoulder Surgery and Sports Medicine, Helios Clinic Warburg, Warburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fieseler
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Karl-Stefan
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Delank
authors.affiliation: Research and Education Center, Aspetar, Qatar Orthopedic and Sports Medicine, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chamari
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Roy J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Shephard
authors.affiliation: Research Unit (UR17JS01), Sport Performance, Health and Society, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education, Ksar Saîd, University of &quot;La Manouba, &quot; Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mohamed-Souhaiel
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Chelly
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D000072696:High-Intensity Interval Training; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012420:Running; D012621:Seasons; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult