THE EFFECT OF INTERVAL TRAINING METHOD ON THE SPEED ENDURANCE OF YOUTH FOOTBALL PLAYERS

Youth football has specific requirements related to the functional capabilities of the growing body, making it crucial to carefully dose the training process to enhance key skills and abilities.In football, explosive movements at maximum speed with frequent repetitions are common. Therefore, a decision was made to develop an interval training methodology aimed at improving specific motor actions for targeted impact on youth athletes.As an interval method, speed intervals were used: 60 meters with 4 minutes of rest, 45 meters with 3 minutes of rest, 34 meters with 2 minutes and 25 seconds of rest, 25 meters with 1 minute and 41 seconds of rest, and 19 meters with 1 minute and 16 seconds of rest.The control group, instead of the interval method, used a small-sided game in a square, measuring 2x 15 meters/15 meters with 4/3 players, for 4 repetitions of 2 minutes each, with 30 seconds of rest between repetitions. During the game, the team of 4 players rotated with a team of 3 players by substituting one player.The application of interval training protocols and the integration of small-sided game formats, such as exercises in a restricted area (square games), demonstrate a significant improvement in speed endurance for football players, enhancing this indicator by 5.4% and 1.8%, respectively.The study did not reveal statistically significant differences between the groups despite a higher percentage increase in speed endurance in the EG.