Differential Repeated Sprinting Training in Youth Basketball Players: An Analysis of Effects According to Maturity Status

<p> </p> <p><em>The differential learning approach, which includes fluctuations that occur without movement</em></p> <p><em>repetitions and without corrections has received growing interest in the skill acquisition field.</em></p> <p><em>This study aimed to determine the effects of a 9-week training intervention involving differential</em></p> <p><em>repeated sprint training on a series of physical tests in youth basketball players. A total of 29 participants</em></p> <p><em>with different maturity statuses (pre-peak height velocity (PHV), n = 7; mid-PHV, n = 6; post-</em></p> <p><em>PHV, n = 16) completed 2 sessions per week of differential repeated sprint training for a period of 9</em></p> <p><em>weeks. Sessions consisted of 2 Å~ 10 repetitions sprints of 20-m whereby participants were instructed</em></p> <p><em>to perform various additional fluctuations for each repetition. Before and after the training intervention,</em></p> <p><em>participants completed jumping tests (countermovement jump (CMJ), single-leg CMJs, the</em></p> <p><em>modified 505 agility test, and straight sprinting tests (0–10 splits time), and maturity status was</em></p> <p><em>evaluated as well. Within-group analysis showed improvement in CMJ asymmetries and changes</em></p> <p><em>in direction asymmetries and 10-m sprint performance for the pre-, mid-, and post-PHV groups,</em></p> <p><em>respectively (p < 0.05), with large to very large effects. Analysis of covariance demonstrated that</em></p> <p><em>changes in sprint time in post-PHV players were greater than in the pre- and mid-PHV groups (p <</em></p> <p><em>0.05), with moderate effect. Adding random fluctuations during repeated sprint training appear to</em></p> <p><em>be a suitable and feasible training strategy for maintaining and enhancing physical performance in</em></p> <p><em>youth basketball players, irrespective of maturity status. Furthermore, the present findings encourage</em></p> <p><em>practitioners to implement the present approach in youth athletes to improve their physical</em></p> <p><em>performance, but they should be aware that training response can vary according to maturity status.</em></p>