Repeated sprint ability in elite basketball players: the effects of 10 × 30 m vs. 20 × 15 m exercise protocols on physiological variables and sprint performance

e present study aimed to examine the effects of a novel repeated sprint ability protocol (20×15 m) and compare it with the impact of a more traditional repeated sprint ability protocol (10×30 m). Twelve male elite Lithuanian basketball players (age 21.0 ± 2.0 y, body height 1.90 ± 0,07 m, body mass 86.2 ± 5.8 kg and training experience 12.0 ± 1.9 y) competing in the Lithuanian National Basketball Championship participated in this study. Participants completed three bouts of each repeated sprint protocol interspersed with 5 minutes of recovery. Results showed that the 20×15 m protocol caused a significant decrease in total sprint time (most likely; mean changes (%) with ± 90% of confidence limits, -9.4%; ± 0.7%) and a large decrease in blood lactate (most likely, -39.2%; ±12.8%) compared to the 10×30 m protocol. Despite small differences, the fatigue index presented a similar trend (possibly decrease, -23.7%; ± 38.8%). The exercise heart rate showed a very similar trend with trivial differences between the two protocols. The 20×15 m protocol presented a lower heart rate during recovery with small magnitude. Overall, the present study showed that the 20×15 m protocol seemed to be more representative of the specific basketball demands. Coaches should be aware that RSA training during the in-season may be an adequate stimulus to improve high-intensity runs and muscle power in high-level players.

Figueira, B., Gonçalves, B., Abade, E., Paulauskas, R., Masiulis, N., Kamarauskas, P., Sampaio, J. (2021). Repeated Sprint Ability in Elite Basketball Players: The Effects of 10 × 30 m Vs. 20 × 15 m Exercise Protocols on Physiological Variables and Sprint Performance. Journal of Human Kinetics, 77, 181-189. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2020-0048

Figueira, B., Gonçalves, B., Abade, E., Paulauskas, R., Masiulis, N., Kamarauskas, P., and Sampaio, J. (2021). Repeated Sprint Ability in Elite Basketball Players: The Effects of 10 × 30 m Vs. 20 × 15 m Exercise Protocols on Physiological Variables and Sprint Performance. Journal of Human Kinetics, 77, pp.181-189. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2020-0048

Figueira, Bruno et al. “Repeated Sprint Ability in Elite Basketball Players: The Effects of 10 × 30 m Vs. 20 × 15 m Exercise Protocols on Physiological Variables and Sprint Performance.” Journal of Human Kinetics, vol. 77, 2021, pp. 181-189. doi:10.2478/hukin-2020-0048.

Figueira B, Gonçalves B, Abade E, Paulauskas R, Masiulis N, Kamarauskas P et al. Repeated Sprint Ability in Elite Basketball Players: The Effects of 10 × 30 m Vs. 20 × 15 m Exercise Protocols on Physiological Variables and Sprint Performance. Journal of Human Kinetics. 2021;77:181-189. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2020-0048