Step frequency and running speed in young football players

Introduction. Speed is a necessary skill in different sports: its different use is established by technical and physiological model of specific sports. Speed can be considered as a quality influenced by three expressive attitudes that determine the performance: muscular strength, technique and rhythm (1). Literature showed that highest speeds are the best compromise between steps frequency and length (2). The purpose of this study is to check, in young amateur soccer players, whether steps frequency improvements, after a specific workout protocol, could increase the speed in short sprint ability. Methods. 29 male young amateur football players (12.43 ± 1.7 years) have been evaluated, splitted into three groups by age: 2000 (G00), 1999 (G99), 1998 (G98). Running speeds (RS), tested by Polifemo photocells and Racetime (Microgate, Bolzano, Italy), and step frequency (SF), evaluated with video analysis by camera at 50 Hz, were assessed. Three tests were performed on 30m distance, with 3 minutes of recovery, in two non-consecutive days, before and after a specific training protocol to improve step frequency. All data were analyzed with Student's t-test for paired data on SPSS v.15 software, and P<0,05 was chosen as the significant rate. Results. Maximum values of SF significantly increased of 5% (p<0.01), in particular in G98 (8% and p<0.001). Also the average values of SF significantly increased of 3% (p<0.05), and G98 of 8% (p<0.001). Finally, RS significantly raised of 1% (p<0.05), G98 in particular improved the speed performance of 3% (p<0.001). Discussion. Like other studies that have analyzed greater distances (2), this study indicates that a specific training can improve step frequency and speed in short sprint ability. Therefore, to improve short sprint ability, it would recommended to include training of the step frequency in workout plans for young football players. References. (1) Cavagna GA, Willems PA, Franzetti P, Detrembleur C. The two power limits conditioning step frequency in human running. J. Physiol. (Lond.). 1991 Giu;437:95-108; (2) Vittori C. L'allenamento delle specialità di corsa veloce per gli atleti d'élite. Atleticastudi; FIDAL, Centro Studi e Ricerche, Roma 2003.