This study investigated the influence of 180 degrees changes of direction during a repeated-sprint running test on performance, cardiorespiratory variables, muscle deoxygenation and post-exercise blood lactate ([La] (b)) levels. Thirteen team-sport athletes (22+/-3 yr) performed 6 repeated maximal sprints with (RSS, 6 x[2 x 12.5 m]) or without (RS, 6 x 25 m) changes of direction. Best and mean running time, percentage speed decrement (%Dec), pulmonary oxygen uptake ( V O (2)), vastus lateralis deoxygenation (Hb (diff)) and [La] (b) were calculated for each condition. Best and mean times for both protocols were largely correlated (r =0.63 and r =0.78, respectively), and were 'ALMOST CERTAINLY' higher for RSS compared with RS (e. g., 5.30+/-0.17 vs. 4.09+/-0.17 s for mean time, with the qualitative analysis revealing a 100% chance of RSS time being greater than RS). In contrast, %Dec was 'POSSIBLY' lower for RSS (2.6+/-1.2 vs. 3.2+/-1.3%, with a 79% chance of a real difference). Compared with RS, V O (2) (40.4+/-4.2 vs. 38.9+/-3.8 mL x min (-1) x kg (-1), with a 90% chance of a real difference) and [La] (b) (10.0+/-1.7 vs. 9.3+/-2.4 mmol.L (-1), with a 70% chance of a real difference) were 'POSSIBLY' higher. Conversely, there were no differences in Hb (diff) (11.5+/-3.2 vs. 10.9+/-3.0 microM, with the comparison rated as 'UNCLEAR'). To conclude, the present results suggest that the ability to repeat sprints can be considered as a general quality. They also suggest that repeated shuttle sprints might be an effective training practice for eliciting a greater systemic physiological load, but perhaps not a greater loading of the vastus lateralis.

To examine whether performance, physiological and perceptual responses to repeated sprints including changes of direction are angle-dependent, twelve team-sport players performed (1) single 30-m sprints without or with two (45°, 90° or 135°) changes of direction and (2) repeated-sprint sequences matched for initial sprint time without (Line [6x30m]) or with (45° [6x28.0m], 90° [6x22.2m] or 135° [6x19.5m]) two changes of direction. For each sequence, mean sprint time (RS(mean)), peak heart rate (HR(peak)), blood lactate concentration (Δ[La](b)) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded. Results show that performance, physiological and perceptual responses were angle-dependent. Compared with Line, RS(mean) was likely lower for 45˚ (-1.7%(90%CL:-3.5;0.1); chances for greater/similar/lower values of 1/23/76%, respectively) and possibly greater for 135˚ (+0.8%(90%CL:-0.6;2.3), 44/53/3%). HR(peak), Δ[La](b) and RPE were likely greater for Line compared with the three other protocols. RPE during 45˚ was greater than during 90˚(+14%(90%CL:8;19), 0/1/99%) and 135˚ (+11%(90%CL:1;22), 2/15/83%). The correlation coefficients describing the relationships between the four single 30-m sprints were <0.70; these for RS(mean) times were >0.70. Performance, physiological and perceptual response during repeated sprints with changes of direction are angle-dependent. However, unlike changes of direction speed, repeated-sprint ability with changes of direction is more likely to be a general quality.

Although RE is impaired during field running with COD, team-sport players of shorter stature and/or presenting greater training/competitive volumes may present a lower RE deterioration with COD. Present results do not support the use of INC to assess RE in the field, irrespective of running mode.

The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability of postexercise near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-derived measurements and their sensitivity to different exercise intensities in the field. Seventeen athletes (24·1 ± 5·6 year) repeated, on three occasions, two 2-min submaximal shuttle-runs at 40% and 60% of V(IFT) (final speed of the 30-15 intermittent fitness test) and a 50-m shuttle-run sprint (Sprint), with (OCC) or without (CON) repeated transient arterial occlusions of the medial gastrocnemius during the postexercise period. NIRS variables (i.e. oxyhaemoglobin [HbO(2)], deoxyhaemoglobin [HHb] and their difference [Hb(diff)]) were measured continuously for 3 min after each exercise. Half-recovery (½Rec) and mean response (MRT; monoexponential curve fitting) times of muscle reoxygenation and muscle oxygen uptake (mVO(2)) recovery were calculated. Reliability was assessed using the typical error of measurement, expressed as a coefficient of variation (CV). Postexercise recovery of muscle reoxygenation revealed CVs ranging from 16·8% to 37·3%; CV for mVO(2) recovery ranged from 6·2% to 20·9%, with no substantial differences shown between NIRS variables and exercise intensities. While running, intensity did not affect MRT or ½Rec for muscle reoxygenation, and differences were found for mVO(2) recovery (e.g. [Hb(diff)]-mVO(2) MRT = 28·7 ± 5·2, 34·2 ± 5·1 and 37·3 ± 6·2 s for 40%, 60% and Sprint, respectively, P<0·01). To conclude, the kinetics of postexercise NIRS measurements showed CV values ranging from 6% to 37%, with no substantial differences between exercise intensities or NIRS-derived variables. However, exercise intensity did influence mVO(2) recovery kinetics, but not that of muscle reoxygenation in an occlusion-free condition.