Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 13, 2025
Effects of a Novel Neuromuscular Training Intervention on Jump, Sprint, and Change of Direction in Adult Female Soccer Players
Published on: June 10, 2025
Conducting Resisted Sled Sprint Load-Velocity Profiling in Female Rugby League Athletes-Reliability and Sled Load
Andrew Martin1,2, Steven Duhig2, Matthew Bourne2,3
1Griffith Sports Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.
Abstract:
Martin, A, Duhig, S, Bourne, M, Minahan, C, and Bellinger, P. Conducting resisted sled sprint load-velocity profiling in female rugby league athletes-Reliability and sled load using velocity decrement. J Strength Cond Res 39(12): e1419-e1424, 2025-Resisted sled sprinting (RSS) is a training method used to improve short distance sprinting performance. Previous research has individualized sled loads using a 50% velocity decrement (V DEC ) to achieve an optimum load (L OPT percentage of body mass [BM]) targeting maximum power output (Pmax [W·kg -1 ]). However, RSS load-velocity (L-v) profiling to determine a 50% V DEC has predominantly been conducted in male cohorts. Sampling exclusively female athletes, the aims of this study are to (a) determine the interday reliability of the L-v slope and L OPT at 50% V DEC and (b) provide L-v profiling protocol recommendations for sled loading and relative trial distances. Sixteen female rugby league athletes (age: 21.29 ± 7.09 years; BM: 74.94 ± 11.42 kg; height: 1.71 ± 0.05 m) completed a minimum of 2 familiarization sessions followed by L-v testing on 2 days 7 days apart. Using the coefficient of variance (CV), an acceptable absolute interday reliability of L OPT (%BM) was found when derived from trial peak velocity (Vpeak) and trial average velocity of the maximum velocity plateau (V AVG MVP) (CV = 1.82-4.39%, CV = 1.33-5.09%). Poor to excellent or good relative reliability was determined for Vpeak (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC 3,1 ] = 0.73 [0.26 to 0.90]) and V AVG MVP (ICC 3,1 = 0.62 [-0.12 to 0.87]). Using Vpeak (m·s -1 ) and V AVG MVP (m·s -1 ) methods, the %BM required to induce a 50% V DEC ranged from ≈59 to 72% BM and from ≈58 to 71% BM, respectively. Resisted sled sprinting L-v profiling load protocols are recommended to range between 25 and 100% BM to achieve a reliable L-v slope, while relative trial distances should range between 10 and 30 m in female field sport athletes.
