The Effects of Sprint vs. Resisted Sled-Based Training; an 8-Week in-Season Randomized Control Intervention in Elite Rugby League Players

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to examine the efficacy of resisted sled-based training compared to traditional unresisted sprint training in terms of mediating improvements in speed, agility and power during an 8-week period of in-season training in elite rugby league players. Participants were randomly separated into either resisted sled or traditional sprint-based training groups and they completed an 8-week in-season training block with training prescribed based on the group to which they were assigned. Measures of 5 m, 10 m and 20 m sprint times in addition to coun-termovement jump height and 505-agility test time were measured at baseline, 4-weeks and 8-weeks. For sprint-based outcomes, although both groups improved significantly, there were no statistical differences between the two training methods. However, at the 8-week time point there were significant improvements in 505-agility test (sprint group: baseline=2.45 & 8-weeks=2.42s/ sled group: baseline=2.43 & 8-weeks=2.37s) and countermovement jump (sprint group: base-line=39.18 & 8-weeks=39.49cm/ sled group: baseline=40.43 & 8-weeks=43.07cm) performance in the sled training group. Therefore, the findings from this investigation may be important to strength & conditioning coaches working in elite rugby league, in that resisted sled training may represent a more effective method of sprint training prescription.