The Training and Development of Elite Sprint Performance: an Integration of Scientific and Best Practice Literature

Abstract

Despite a voluminous body of research devoted to sprint training, our understanding of the training process leading to a world-class sprint performance is limited. The objective of this review is to integrate scientific and best practice literature regarding the training and development of elite sprint performance. Sprint performance is heavily dependent upon genetic traits, and the annual within-athlete performance differences are lower than the typical variation, the smallest worthwhile change, and the influence of external conditions such as wind, monitoring methodologies, etc. Still, key underlying determinants (e.g., power, technique, and sprint-specific endurance) are trainable. In this review, we describe how well-known training principles (progression, specificity, variation/periodization, and individualization) and varying training methods (e.g., sprinting/running, technical training, strength/power, plyometric training) are used in a sprint training context. Indeed, there is a considerable gap between science and best practice in how training principles and methods are applied. While the vast majority of sprint-related studies are performed on young team sport athletes and focus on brief sprints with maximal intensity and short recoveries, elite sprinters perform sprinting/running over a broad range of distances and with varying intensity and recovery periods. Within best practice, there is a stronger link between choice of training component (i.e., modality, duration, intensity, recovery, session rate) and the intended purpose of the training session compared with the “one-size-fits-all” approach in scientific literature. This review provides a point of departure for scientists and practitioners regarding the training and development of elite sprint performance and can serve as a position statement for outlining state-of-the-art sprint training recommendations and for generation of new hypotheses to be tested in future research.

Maximal Oxygen Uptake Adjusted for Skeletal Muscle Mass in Competitive Speed-Power and Endurance Male Athletes: Changes in a One-Year Training Cycle

“…In sprinters, the expected lack of significant changes in max between consecutive training phases (despite desired changes in body composition, i.e., fat mass reduction) results from their specific training and performance requirements. Sprint is an all-out high-intensity exercise and the distance covered during competition (including acceleration, achieving maximal velocity, and deceleration) lasts for up to several seconds [ 26 ]. It is recommended that elite sprinters should primarily focus on increasing their relative muscle power production using ballistic exercises to maximize speed performance [ 27 ].…”

Effectiveness of Health-Led Cognitive Behavioral-Based Group Therapy on Pain, Functional Disability and Psychological Outcomes among Knee Osteoarthritis Patients in Malaysia

“…The present findings showed that integrating cognitive behavioral-based therapy into intervention resulted in significant improvement in functional ability when performing activities of daily living. Nevertheless, the improvement in functional ability in sports was not found to be significant, presumably because sporting activities require a certain level of training and practice [45][46][47].…”

The integrated technique of the rating of impellent abilities of sprinters at the stage of initial sports specialization

“…The stage of initial sports specialization (12-14 years) should be considered as the most important and responsible in the course of longterm sports preparation of young runners on short distances (Haugen et al, 2019). The optimum period to develop the elementary forms of speed for boys is the age of 7-9 and 13-16 years (Way et al, 2016).…”