The relationship between the anaerobic speed reserve and acute responses to high-intensity interval training in female soccer players. ASR and HIIT in female soccer players

The Anaerobic Speed Reserve (ASR) is a popular method of profiling soccer players, often used to individualise training prescription. This study explored the reliability of ASR profiling, and the relationship between the ASR and acute physiological responses to high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Acute physiological responses to different HIIT types were also compared. Thirteen sub-elite female soccer players aged 20.2±4.6 years completed six exercise sessions. In sessions 1-2, players completed a 40-m sprint to assess maximal sprint speed (MSS) and 1600-m time-trial to estimate maximal aerobic speed (MAS), which were used to calculate ASR and assess test-retest reliability. In sessions 3-6, players completed four HIIT sessions (repeated-sprint training, sprint interval training, long intervals, and short intervals HIIT). Intensity for long and short intervals HIIT were individualised according to MAS. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), Heart rate (HR) and post-session blood lactates were recorded throughout. Relationships between the ASR and acute responses to HIIT, and between HIIT Session comparisons in outcome measures were assessed. ASR (CV±95%CL; 3.1±1.5%), MAS (1.8±1.3%) and MSS (0.8±0.6%) indicated acceptable reliability. Moderate correlations between ASR and RPE (r = 0.33), post-session blood lactate (r = 0.34), and HR (r = 0.37) were observed during Long-intervals HIIT. A strong correlation was observed between ASR and RPE during sprint interval training (r = 0.50). Sprint interval training elicited higher RPE’s and post-session blood lactate’s than other HIIT sessions. ASR has good reliability and may influence acute physiological responses to HIIT in female soccer players.