The impact of Repeated Sprint Training Program on Performance Measures in Male Field Hockey Players [Article Review]

Luke Taylor and John R. Jakeman, researchers from Oxford Brookes University, conducted a study to evaluate how repeated sprint interval training (SIT) affects performance in male field hockey players. Their work addresses a practical question for coaches: can SIT, when integrated into a regular training schedule and performed on either flat or uphill surfaces, meaningfully improve key athletic abilities in a real-world team sport setting?

Key Findings

The study involved eighteen male university-level field hockey players who were randomly assigned to either a flat or an uphill (6% gradient) SIT group. Over eight weeks, both groups performed two SIT sessions per week, with the number of 30-meter maximal sprints increasing from six to twelve per session. All athletes continued their normal hockey and gym training throughout the intervention.

After the eight-week period, both groups showed significant improvements in several performance measures:

• 30-meter Sprint Speed: Both groups reduced their 30-meter sprint times, with the flat group improving by 0.06 seconds and the uphill group by 0.10 seconds.

• Repeated Sprint Performance: Average times for repeated sprints improved in both groups. The flat group improved from 4.56 to 4.49 seconds, while the uphill group improved from 4.49 to 4.39 seconds.

• Squat Jump Height: Both groups increased squat jump height, with the flat group improving by 3.84 cm and the uphill group by 3.55 cm.

• Hockey-Specific Shuttle Tests: Performance in shuttle runs, both with and without a ball, improved across the board. The uphill group saw a greater improvement in the shuttle with the ball, while both groups improved similarly in the shuttle without the ball.

  
  

Interestingly, while both flat and uphill SIT protocols were effective, the uphill group experienced slightly greater improvements in most performance measures. However, these differences were not statistically significant, suggesting that both training modalities are similarly beneficial for this population.

The study also demonstrated excellent adherence to the training program, with a 94% session completion rate, highlighting the practicality of integrating SIT into a typical team sport training week.

Conclusion and Practical Takeaways

This research demonstrates that supplementing a standard field hockey training program with twice-weekly SIT sessions—whether on flat or uphill terrain—can significantly enhance sprint speed, explosive power, repeated sprint ability, and hockey-specific performance in competitive male players. While uphill sprints may offer a small additional benefit, both approaches are effective and feasible in real-world training environments.

Practical takeaways for coaches and practitioners:

• SIT can be confidently integrated into existing training schedules to boost key athletic qualities without major program changes.

• Both flat and uphill sprints are effective, but uphill sprints may provide a slightly greater training stimulus for some athletes.

• High adherence rates show that SIT is a realistic and time-efficient conditioning strategy for team sports.

• Gradually increasing sprint volume over several weeks ensures progressive overload and supports sustainable improvements.

In summary, SIT is a robust and practical method for enhancing the physical capabilities crucial to field hockey and other team sports, offering coaches a flexible tool for real-world athlete development.

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