rb“atsaeta

mtceopiar

stStifimfm

irtac“pii(

1d

Available online at www.sciencedirect.com

Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 12 (2009) 426–427

Editorial

ga

sciwb

rProrsriTtia

“siitnet

R

Game sense or

Recently, there has been an increase in scientific researchegarding team sports.1–6 Surprisingly however, there haseen little research about the best training methods to improvephysical performance” (e.g., number of sprints) duringctual team-sport competitions. This is undoubtedly relatedo the difficulty in conducting training studies and in mea-uring “physical performance” during team sports. In thebsence of strong scientific evidence, one concept that hasmerged is “train as you play”. While such a concept appealso common sense, the scientific evidence in support of thispproach is lacking.

The improvement of team-sport-specific physical perfor-ance is an important goal of anyone who works with

eam-sport athletes. However, in the absence of more spe-ific team-sport research, we should also ask, is there anyvidence that “training as you play” better improves physi-logical qualities important for team-sport-related physicalerformance than other types of training? Some of the moremportant physiological qualities for team-sport athletes areerobic fitness, muscle buffer capacity and the ability toapidly resynthesise phosphocreatine (PCr).7

In the only study to date, soccer-specific training (usingmall-sided games) was not more effective than intervalraining for improving aerobic fitness in soccer players.8

imilarly, we have recently found that, when matched forotal training load, increases in VO2max are similar followingntermittent sprint or aerobic interval training (unpublishedndings). In contrast, Mohr et al. 9 reported greater improve-ents in incremental test and yo-yo test performance

ollowing speed-endurance training when compared withore team-sport-specific intermittent sprint training.When considering adaptations following different train-

ng programs, it is important to consider the mechanismsesponsible. For example, it is a common belief that the fluxhrough a metabolic pathway or a transport system may be

crucial factor determining subsequent adaptations in theontracting muscle. It is therefore important to ask whethertraining as you play” is likely to provoke the metabolic

erturbations required to stimulate adaptations which willmprove team-sport performance. In the only study to date,t has been reported that changes in muscle metabolitesATP, PCr lactate, etc.) during a soccer match are quite

440-2440/$ – see front matter © 2008 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Eloi:10.1016/j.jsams.2008.03.004

me nonsense?

mall.10 This probably helps to explain the observation thathanges in hydrogen-regulating proteins are greater follow-ng speed-endurance than intermittent sprint training9 andhy intermittent sprint training does not improve muscleuffer capacity.11

There is also little evidence that “training as you play” willesult in greater improvements in the ability to resynthesiseCr. Mohr et al.9 have reported no difference in the rate of PCresynthesis between groups that performed speed-endurancer intermittent sprint training. Similarly, Stathis et al.12 haveeported no significant changes in the rate of PCr resynthe-is following training involving repeated 30-s sprints. Theseesults can probably be attributed to the absence of changesn muscle oxidative capacity with these types of training.hus, rather than game-specific training, training designed

o improve muscle oxidative capacity may be required tomprove this important physiological quality in team-sportthletes.

In conclusion, there is a distinct lack of evidence thattraining as you play” is the best method for improving team-port physical performance or those physiological qualitiesmportant for team-sport performance. This should not benterpreted to indicate that there is no place for game-specificraining within a periodised training plan. However, propo-ents of “train as you play” need to provide more scientificvidence that this is indeed a superior method of training foream-sport athletes.

eferences

1. Bogdanis GC, Ziagos V, Anastasiadis M, Maridaki M. Effects oftwo different short-term training programs on the physical and tech-nical abilities of adolescent basketball players. J Sci Med Sport2007;10:79–88.

2. Castagna C, Belardinelli R, Impellizzeri FM, Abt GA, Coutts AJ,D’Ottavio S. Cardiovascular responses during recreational 5-a-sideindoor-soccer. J Sci Med Sport 2007;10:89–95.

3. Cochrane JL, Lloyd DG, Buttfield A, Seward H, McGivern J. Charac-

teristics of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in Australian football. JSci Med Sport 2007;10:96–104.

4. Young WB, Pryor L. Relationship between pre-season anthropometricand fitness measures and indicators of playing performance in elitejunior Australian Rules football. J Sci Med Sport 2007;10:110–8.

sevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

d Medic

David BishopTeam Sport Research Group, Facolta di Scienze Motorie,

Editorial / Journal of Science an

5. Batt AK, Braham RA, Goodman C. Selected physical capacity normsfor Australian football players at the non-elite level. J Sci Med Sport2007;10:119–26.

6. Reid M, Crespo M, Lay B, Berry J. Skill acquisition in tennis: researchand current practice. J Sci Med Sport 2007;10:1–10.

7. Glaister M. Multiple sprint work: physiological responses, mecha-nisms of fatigue and the influence of aerobic fitness. Sports Med2005;35:757–77.

8. Impellizzeri FM, Marcora SM, Castagna C, Reilly T, Sassi A, Iaia FM,et al. Physiological and performance effects of generic versus specificaerobic training in soccer players. Int J Sports Med 2006:483–92.

9. Mohr M, Krustrup P, Nielsen JJ, Nybo L, Rasmussen MK, Juel C, et al.

Effect of two different intense training regimens on skeletal muscle iontransport proteins and fatigue development. Am J Physiol Regul IntegrComp Physiol 2007;292:R1594–602.

10. Krustrup P, Mohr M, Steensberg A, Bencke J, Kjaer M, BangsboJ. Muscle and blood metabolites during a soccer game: implica-

ine in Sport 12 (2009) 426–427 427

tions for sprint performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2006;38:1165–74.

11. Nevill ME, Boobis LH, Brooks ST, Williams C. Effect of train-ing on muscle metabolism during treadmill sprinting. J Appl Physiol1989;67:2376–82.

12. Stathis CG, Febbraio MA, Carey MF, Snow RJ. Influence of sprinttraining on human skeletal muscle purine nucleotide metabolism. JAppl Physiol 1994;76(4):1802–9.

Universita degli Studi di Verona, ItalyE-mail address: David.Bishop@univr.it