The Training of Short Distance Sprint Performance in Football Code Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background Short-sprint (≤20m) performance is an important quality for success in the football codes. Therefore, developing an evidence base for understanding training methods to enhance short-sprint performance is key for practitioners. However, current systematic reviews are limited by 1) a lack of focus on football code athletes, 2) a lack of consideration of all training modalities, and 3) a failure to account for the normal training practices undertaken by intervention groups within their analysis. Therefore, this review aimed to 1) conduct a systematic review of the scientific literature evaluating training interventions upon short-sprint performance within football code athletes, 2) undertake a meta-analysis to assess the magnitude of change of sport-sprint performance following training interventions, and 3) identify how moderator variables affect the training response. Methods A systematic search of electronic databases was conducted. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to establish standardised mean difference with 95% confidence intervals. This identified the magnitude and direction of the individual training effects of intervention subgroups (primary, secondary, combined-specific, tertiary and combined training methods) on short-sprint performance while considering moderator variables (i.e., football code, sex, age, playing standard, phase of season). Results 121 studies met the inclusion criteria, totalling 3,419 athletes. Significant improvements (small-large) were found between pre- and post-training in short-sprint performance for the combined, secondary, tertiary and combined-specific training methods. No significant effect was found for primary or sport only training. No individual mode was found to be the most effective. Between-subgroup analysis identified that football code, age, playing standard and phase of season all moderated the overall magnitude of training effects. Conclusions This review provides the largest systematic review and meta-analysis of short-sprint performance development methods and the only one to assess football code athletes exclusively. Practitioners can apply combined, secondary and tertiary training methods to improve short-sprint performance within football code athletes. The application of sport only and primary methods does not appear to improve short-sprint performance. Regardless of the population characteristics, short-sprint performance can be enhanced by increasing either or both the magnitude and the orientation of force an athlete can generate in the sprinting action.