Repeated Sprint Protocols With Standardized Versus Self-Selected Recovery Periods in Elite Youth Soccer Players: Can They Pace Themselves? A Replication Study.

Purpose: Replicating the studies of Gibson et al and Brownstein et al to assess performance, and physiological, and perceived variables during a repeated sprint protocol (RSP) with standardized versus self-selected recovery in youth soccer players. Methods: Nineteen male soccer players (age 13.1 [1.3] y) completed 2 separate RSPs. RSP₁: 10 × 30-m sprints with 30-second recovery and RSP₂: 10 × 30-m sprints interspersed with self-selected recovery periods. Mean time of both 10 × 30-m RSPs and self-selected recovery periods of RSP₂ were assessed. Heart rate, blood lactate concentration, and rates of perceived exertion were measured following RSPs. Results: RSP₂ revealed longer recovery periods (RSP₁: 30.0 [0.0] s; RSP₂: 39.0 [7.7] s; P <.001; effect size d = 1.648) with shorter repeated sprint time (mean 30-m sprint time: RSP₁: 4.965 [0.256] s; RSP₂: 4.865 [0.227] s; P =.014; d = 0.414). Blood lactate concentration (P =.002–.005; d = 0.730–0.958), heart rate (P <.001; d = 1.353), and rates of perceived exertion (RSP₁: 14.9 [1.9]; RSP₂: 12.9 [2.1]; P =.016; d = 1.046) were higher following RSP₁. Conclusion: In contrast to the original studies, the present replication study demonstrated that self-selected recovery periods during a RSP leads to better repeated sprint performance compared with standardized recovery periods in youth soccer players. The better repeated sprint performance with individual recovery durations in RSP₂ was achieved with less physiological and perceived effort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]