Preseason and In-Season High-Speed Running Demands of 2 Professional Australian Rules Football Teams

Abstract

Background: Australian Rules Football athletes complete long preseasons, yet injuries occur frequently at early stages of the competitive season. Little is known about the high-speed running (HSR) prescription during a preseason or whether players are adequately prepared for competition. This study described absolute and relative preseason and in-season HSR demands of 2 professional Australian football teams. Hypothesis: HSR and sprinting volumes are significantly lower in elite Australian Rules football athletes during in-season compared with preseason. Study Design: Cohort study. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Methods: During the 2019 season, HSR volume was collected for 2 professional Australian football teams (n = 55). Individual maximum speeds (Vmax) were captured to calculate relative running speed thresholds, as reported in 5% increments from 70%Vmax to 100%Vmax. Results: Weekly volume of running above 70%Vmax ( P = 0.01; r = 0.56) and 80%Vmax ( P = 0.01; r = 0.58) was significantly greater in the preseason than the in-season. The weekly volume completed above 90%Vmax was not significantly greater in the preseason than the in-season ( P = 0.10; r = 0.22). Individual variation in the distance completed at specific percentages of Vmax expressed as a coefficient of variation was reported as 51% at 71% to 80%Vmax, 39% at 81% to 90%Vmax, and 41% at 91% to 100%Vmax. Conclusion: The volume of HSR completed by athletes is far greater in the initial 4 weeks of the preseason than in any other point in preseason or competitive phases. At the individual level, there is substantial variation in the distance covered. This supports the concept of a heavily individualized approach to high-speed prescription and monitoring. Clinical Relevance: Practitioners should carefully consider individual variation regarding sprinting volume during both preseason and in-season when prescribing and monitoring training to improve on-field performance and reduce the risk of injury.