Repeated sprint performance and fatigue responses across different movement patterns in amateur soccer players

The objective of this study was to examine the differences in neuromuscular fatigue, physiological responses, and physical performance between the Curved (Bangsbo) Repeated Sprint Ability Test (C-RSA) and the Linear Repeated Sprint Ability Test (L-RSA) in amateur soccer players.

Fourteen amateur male soccer players (mean age: 19.8 ± 1.4 years) voluntarily participated in this randomized, counterbalanced crossover study. Participants completed the C-RSA and the L-RSA in a randomized and counterbalanced order, with a 72-hour recovery period between testing sessions. Neuromuscular fatigue was evaluated through the countermovement jump test performance (CMJ) administered before and after the protocols, and change score were calculated. Physical performance was analyzed using total sprint time (TST), mean sprint time (MST), best sprint time (BST), and sprint decrement percentage (S_Dec %). Physiological responses were determined via maximum heart rate (HR_max), blood lactate levels (La^- 1), and the rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Data were analyzed using paired samples t-tests, and effect sizes were calculated using Cohen's d and interpreted according to Hopkins' classification.

The findings indicated that both test protocols induced neuromuscular fatigue. Although a greater reduction in CMJ was observed following the C-RSA, the difference between conditions was not statistically significant (p = 0.085; small effect). Regarding physiological responses, no significant differences were found in HR_max and La levels (p > 0.05); however, RPE values were significantly higher in the C-RSA (p = 0.003; moderate effect). In terms of physical performance parameters, significant differences were identified in favor of the L-RSA. The L-RSA provided higher performance outputs in TST, MST, and BST variables with very large effect sizes (p < 0.001). No significant difference was observed in the S_Dec % (p = 0.052).

In conclusion, although the C-RSA and L-RSA protocols elicited similar physiological loads, the C-RSA induced higher neuromuscular and perceptual stress, whereas the L-RSA protocol was more advantageous for physical performance output. These findings suggest that linear and curved sprint applications generate distinct performance responses, and sprint pattern-specific loading should be considered in training planning.