The Training of Medium‑ to Long-Distance Sprint Performance in Football Code Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

<p><b>Background</b> Within the football codes, medium-distance (i.e.,>20 m and≤40 m) and long-distance (i.e.,>40 m) sprint performance and maximum velocity sprinting are important capacities for success. Despite this, no research has identifed the most efective training methods for enhancing medium- to long-distance sprint outcomes.</p> <p><b>Objectives</b> This systematic review with meta-analysis aimed to (1) analyse the ability of diferent methods to enhance medium- to long-distance sprint performance outcomes (0–30 m, 0 to >30 m, and the maximum sprinting velocity phase [V_max]) within football code athletes and (2) identify how moderator variables (i.e., football code, sex, age, playing standard, phase of season) afected the training response.</p> <p><b>Methods</b> We conducted a systematic search of electronic databases and performed a random-efects meta-analysis (withingroup changes and pairwise between-group diferences) to establish standardised mean diferences (SMDs) with 95% confdence intervals and 95% prediction intervals. This identifed the magnitude and direction of the individual training efects of intervention subgroups (sport only" primary, secondary, tertiary, and combined training methods) on medium- to longdistance sprint performance while considering moderator variables.</p> <p><b>Results</b> In total, 60 studies met the inclusion criteria (26 with a sport-only control group), totalling 111 intervention groups and 1500 athletes. The within-group changes design reported signifcant performance improvements (small–moderate) between pre- and post-training for the combined, secondary (0–30 and 0 to >30 m), and tertiary training methods (0–30 m). A signifcant moderate improvement was found in the V^max phase performance only for tertiary training methods, with no signifcant efect found for sport only or primary training methods. The pairwise between-group diferences design (experimental vs. control) reported favourable performance improvements (large SMD) for the combined (0 to >30 m), primary (V^max phase), secondary (0–30 m), and tertiary methods (all outcomes) when compared with the sport-only control groups. Subgroup analysis showed that the signifcant diferences between the meta-analysis designs consistently demonstrated a larger efect in the pairwise between-group diferences than the within-group change. No individual training mode was found to be the most efective. Subgroup analysis identifed that football code, age, and phase of season moderated the overall magnitude of training efects.</p> <p><b>Conclusions</b> This review provides the frst systematic review and meta-analysis of all sprint performance development methods exclusively in football code athletes. Secondary, tertiary, and combined training methods appeared to improve mediumlong sprint performance of football code athletes. Tertiary training methods should be implemented to enhance V^max phase performance. Nether sport-only nor primary training methods appeared to enhance medium to long sprint performance. Performance changes may be attributed to either adaptations specifc to the acceleration or V^max phases, or both, but not exclusively V^max. Regardless of the population characteristics, sprint performance can be enhanced by increasing either the magnitude or the orientation of force an athlete can generate in the sprinting action, or both.</p>