The effects of downhill shifting, acceleration-deceleration and linear sprint training on speed and agility performance in footballers

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of downhill sprinting, acceleration-deceleration and linear sprint training on speed and agility performance in football players. In the study, 22 active licensed football players in the age range of 20-30 (Age: 23.87±3.06 years; Height: 176.57±3.95 cm.; Body weight: 76.12±5.27 kg.) ) has joined. Participants were randomly divided into two groups as 10 downhill study groups (YAG, n:10) and flat ground study group (DZG, n:12). First of all, 10 and 30 m sprint tests were applied to determine agility (t and zigzag) and sprint values of all participants in order to determine agility values. The tests were recorded with a camera to determine the step frequencies. Afterwards, the YAG group was given 4 weeks/ 3 days a week/ 30 minutes a day for 4 weeks, apart from standard football training. Three different downhill running protocols were applied on a hill with a slope of 13,490. Apart from DZG standard football trainings, the same activities were carried out on the standard football field. At the end of the applications, the groups' t test, zig-zag test and 10 and 30 m sprint tests were performed again. In order to determine the difference between the athletes, repeated measures ANOVA test was applied. The p<0.05 value was taken as the significance value. As a result of the research, no difference was observed between the groups in the pre-tests, but in the post-test values of the YAG group, 10m sprint (1.69±0.11 vs. 1.95±0.22 sec., p<0.01), 30m sprint (4, 28±0.14 sec vs. 4.50±0.34 sec., p<0.05), T test (9.07±0.36 vs. 9.47±0.53, p<0.05) In addition, step T test (36.90±3.03 vs. 40.25±4.04, p<0.04) and Zig-Zag test (26.60±1.42 vs. 29.08) ±2.53, p<0.01 ) were found to decrease more in step frequencies. As a result, it is recommended to give importance to downhill running and include it in training programs because it triggers eccentric contraction in training for acceleration and agility development in football.