Effects of Multiple Sprint Test on Average Speed and Exercise Heart Rate in Amateur Soccer Players

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of multiple sprints on average speed and exercise heart rate of U18 female and U18 male amateur soccer players. In this study, totally 42 amateur soccer players including U18 (n= 21) and U18 (n=21) players performed 7 repetitive sprints of 34.2 meters with a 25 seconds jog of 50 meters distance. During exercise and recovery period, heart rate per minute was recorded by Polar Heart Rate Telemetry. In statistical analyzes, t-tests were used in two groups comparisons, while the effects of other variables on average speed and cardiovascular parameters were determined by two way analyzes of variance.

Results of this study, U18 male players’ average speed of 5.14 m/ sec is higher than the U18 female players’ average speed of 4.62 m/sec. The physical characteristics of U18 male and U18 female amateur soccer players were different in favors of the U18 male players, and that gender was significantly effective on the average speed rather than the number of sprints.  Heart rate per minute has continually increased in different characteristics at the start, finish and recovery periods of the sprints until the finish of the seventh sprint in both amateur U18 male and U18 female. It found increase in the Sprint time were as follows; U18 female 0.40 sec and U18 male 0.20 second. Decrease in the average speed was U18 female 0.28 sec., and U18 male 0.15 second.

Conclusion, in multiple speed tests, maximum and average speed of the U18 amateur female and male soccer players, the decrease rate in their speed and their cardiovascular responses show differences. In U18 Amateur, males seem to be faster and have the ability of keeping speed at a high level, and the ability of intensity and recovery in maximal level in a short time than the females.  In the Bangsbo test, the recovery time in men should be less than 25 seconds.