title: Evolution of Determinant Factors of Repeated Sprint Ability.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in the relationships between repeated sprint ability (RSA) and anthropometric measures as well as fitness qualities in soccer players. Twenty-one professional soccer players performed several anthropometric and physical tests including countermovement vertical jumps (CMJs), a straight-line 30 m sprint (T30), an RSA test (6 x 20 + 20 m with 20 s recovery), a progressive isoinertial loading test in a full squat, a Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level-1 (YYIRT-1) and a 20 m shuttle run test (20mSRT). The mean (RSAmean), the fastest (RSAbest), each single sprint time, and the percentage in a sprint decrease (%Dec) in the RSA test were calculated. RSAbest correlated significantly with RSAmean (r = .82) and with all single sprints (p < 0.05), showing a downward trend as the number of sprints performed increased. No significant relationship was observed between the %Dec and RSA performance. CMJs and the T30 also showed a correlation with RSA performance, whereas lower limb strength did not show any relationship with RSA performance. RSAmean showed significant (p < 0.05) relationships with body mass (r = .44), adiposity (r = .59) and the YYIRT-1 (r = -.62), increasing as the number of repeated sprints increased. The 20mSRT showed minimal relationships with RSA performance. In conclusion, maximal sprint capacity seems to be relevant for the RSA performance, mainly in the first sprints. However, high intermittent endurance capacity and low adiposity might help enhance the RSA performance when increasing the number of repeated sprints.
authors.affiliation: Research Center on Physical and Athletic Performance, Pablo de Olavide University, Seville, Spain; Faculty of Sport, Pablo de Olavide University, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pareja-Blanco
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport, Pablo de Olavide University, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Suarez-Arrones
authors.affiliation: Research Center on Physical and Athletic Performance, Pablo de Olavide University, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Rosell
authors.affiliation: Federación de Fútbol de la Región de Murcia, Research Group of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: López-Segovia
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Activity and Sports Science, Universidad Catόlica San Antonio de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Reyes
authors.affiliation: Research Center on Physical and Athletic Performance, Pablo de Olavide University, Seville, Spain; Faculty of Sport, Pablo de Olavide University, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bachero-Mena
authors.affiliation: Research Center on Physical and Athletic Performance, Pablo de Olavide University, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: González-Badillo
keywords: anthropometrics; intermittent endurance; repeated explosive efforts; soccer; sprinting; strength