Effect of Small-Sided Games and Repeated Shuffle Sprint Training on Physical Performance in Elite Handball Players

Abstract

This study was designed to compare the effects of small-sided games (SSGs) and repeated shuffle sprint (RSS) training on repeated sprint ability (RSA) and countermovement jump (CMJ) tests performances of elite handball players. Eighteen highly trained players (24.8 ± 4.4 years) were assigned to either SSG or RSS group training protocols twice a week for 8 weeks. The SSG training consisted of 5 small-sided handball games with 3-a-side teams excluding goalkeepers. The RSS consisted of 2 sets of 14-17 of 20-m shuttle sprints and 9-m jump shots interspersed by 20-second recoveries. Before and after training, the following performance variables were assessed: speed on 10-m and 20-m sprint time, agility and RSA time, CMJ height, standing throw, and jump shot speed. Significant pre-to-post treatment improvements were found in all the assessed variables following both training protocols (multivariate analysis of variance, p ≤ 0.05). There was a significantly greater improvement on 10-m sprint, CMJ, and jump shooting, after the RSS in comparison with SSG training (+4.4% vs. +2.4%, +8.6% vs. +5.6%, and +5.5% vs. +2.7%, respectively). Conversely, agility and standing throwing showed lower improvements after RSS in comparison with SSG (+1.0% vs. +7.8% and +1.6% vs. +9.0%, respectively). These results indicate that these training methods are effective for fitness development among elite adult handball players during the last period of the competitive season. Specifically, SSG seems to be more effective in improving agility and standing throw, whereas RSS seems preferable in improving 10-m sprint, CMJ, and jump shot.

Effect of contact and no-contact small-sided games on elite handball players

“…Monitoring the HR response of players during training is a useful and reliable method for regulating exercise intensity (Povoas et al, 2012). Although this study is the first to determine the effect of physical contact in controlled SSGs, the current results are in agreement with those of previous investigations reporting comparable intensity responses when designing similar type of training used for both adult (Buchheit et al, 2009b;Dello Iacono, Ardigò et al, 2016;Dello Iacono et al, 2015) and young (Buchheit et al, 2009a) handball players. In this study, %HRmean and %HRpeak resulted in 88.6 vs. 89.2% and 94.2 vs. 95.1% for C-SSG and N-SSG, respectively.…”

“…Such an interpretation is further confirmed by the parallel higher physiological responses for the HR and RPE values, as shown in Figure 1. In light of these outcomes, both SSG protocols used in our study may represent a viable means for optimal training regimes designed to induce longterm adaptation of the metabolic fitness component as previously proposed (Buchheit et al, 2009a;Dello Iacono, Ardigò, 2016, Dello Iacono et al, 2015.…”

“…In addition, compared with traditional fitness training sessions, SSG training is thought to increase player compliance and motivation, since it is perceived to be sport-specific exercise that maximises the training time spent with the ball (Buchheit et al, 2009a). To date, there have been only a small number studies on the effectiveness of SSG as a training method in handball (Buchheit et al, 2009a(Buchheit et al, , 2009bDello Iacono, Ardigò, Meckel, & Padulo, 2016;Dello Iacono, Eliakim, & Meckel, 2015). Previous researchers have documented the physiological responses (Corvino, Tessitore, Minganti, & Sibila, 2014) and long-term training effects of SSG training in handball on metabolic (Buchheit et al, 2009a) and explosive-like abilities (Dello Iacono, Ardigò, et al, 2016;Dello Iacono et al, 2015).…”

“…To date, there have been only a small number studies on the effectiveness of SSG as a training method in handball (Buchheit et al, 2009a(Buchheit et al, , 2009bDello Iacono, Ardigò, Meckel, & Padulo, 2016;Dello Iacono, Eliakim, & Meckel, 2015). Previous researchers have documented the physiological responses (Corvino, Tessitore, Minganti, & Sibila, 2014) and long-term training effects of SSG training in handball on metabolic (Buchheit et al, 2009a) and explosive-like abilities (Dello Iacono, Ardigò, et al, 2016;Dello Iacono et al, 2015). To our knowledge, only one study has focused its interest on the physiological workload and activity pattern profile of SSGs that include drills featuring constrained tasks (Corvino et al, 2014).…”

Effects of a high-intensity interval training protocol based on functional exercises on performance and body composition in handball female players

“…More recently, Rey et al (2017) apply two types of HIIT protocol (long and short) to a sample of handball players during 6 weeks, again with no improvement on CMJ. However, these data are opposed to results achieved by Iacono et al (2015a) with handball players. After 8 weeks of small-sided games and HIIT significant improvement was shown in CMJ in both groups.…”