⚽ Resisted Sprint Training with Games Boosts Player Performance

PLUS: Sleep Issues Raise Injury Risk

Author

Haresh Suppiah
February 03, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

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Welcome, science enthusiasts.

In today’s edition:

  • Combined sprint training with small-sided games boosts soccer performance.

  • Sleep issues increase injury risk in college athletes.

  • Strength in quadriceps doesn’t impact walking recovery after knee surgery.

  • Social connections from large sports events like Qatar 2022.

  • Special sock improves balance and stability.

  • Promotion of the 2022 Winter Olympics on social media.

and several more…

FEATURED ARTICLES 🌭

Key finding:

Combining resisted sprint training with small-sided games significantly enhances physical performance in soccer players.

How they did it:

  • Methodology: Twenty-seven professional soccer players participated in a 6-week training program, with the experimental group combining small-sided games and resisted sprints, while the control group followed regular training.

  • Results: The experimental group showed significant improvements in 5-meter acceleration, squat jump, countermovement jump, and repeated sprint ability measures compared to the control group which showed no improvements.

  • Innovation: This study uniquely combined small-sided game training with resisted sprint training to enhance various physical performance variables among soccer players.

  • Application: Coaches can implement a 30-minute session twice a week over six weeks to effectively enhance acceleration, jumping ability, and repeated sprint performance in soccer training.

Why it matters:

By integrating small-sided games with resisted sprint training, coaches can significantly enhance soccer players’ acceleration and jumping abilities in just six weeks, ensuring that athletes perform at their peak during competitions without causing training burnout. This practical approach not only spices up their training routine but also sharpens key performance metrics that could be the difference between winning and losing on the pitch.

Key finding:

Higher sleep disturbances in student-athletes increase the risk of sports-related injuries, highlighting the need for targeted sleep interventions.

How they did it:

  • Methodology: An observational survey of 178 collegiate student-athletes was analyzed to examine the relationship between sleep disturbances and injury status over two time points, October 2020 and January 2021.

  • Results: Student-athletes injured in January 2021 reported higher sleep disturbances than noninjured athletes and previous sleep disturbances were found to significantly predict future injuries.

  • Statistical Significance: For each unit increase in sleep disturbance scores, the odds of being injured increased by 1.07, with a notable increase in injury probability from 13% for slight disturbances to 33% for severe disturbances.

  • Innovation: The study utilizes a longitudinal design with matched pairs of injured and noninjured athletes, offering stronger evidence and insights into the predictive relationship between sleep quality and injury risk.

  • Implication: Findings suggest that monitoring and addressing sleep disturbances in student-athletes could be vital for injury prevention.

Why it matters:

Monitoring sleep disturbances in student-athletes is not just a wellness trend; it’s a game-changer for injury prevention. By addressing sleep issues proactively, coaches and sport practitioners can potentially lower the risk of injuries, enhance performance, and keep athletes in the game longer—now that’s sleep well spent!

QUICK BITES 🍤

Biomechanics

-Compression-tactile socks do not improve postural stability in healthy adults compared to being barefoot.

Injury

-Quadriceps strength does not affect gait adaptation after ACL reconstruction using real-time biofeedback.

Neuromuscular Function

-Facilitatory theta burst stimulation enhances exercise performance, while inhibitory stimulation worsens fatigue and reduces performance.

Sport and Society

-The Qatar 2022 World Cup significantly enhanced social connections among residents and participants from diverse backgrounds.

Sport Management

-Chinese and Western social media differ in audience engagement and content preference during the 2022 Olympic Winter Games promotion.

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Curated by Haresh Suppiah