Relationship between Repeated Sprint Ability and Maximal Oxygen Uptake in Youth Football Players

The aims of this study were to explore the repeated sprint ability (RSA) test (8 x 30 m) with 25 seconds of jogging recovery and to determine the relationship to the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) in a Colombian elite football team. 24 male youth football players aged 20.21±0.39 years, height 72.96±6.99 cm, and body mass 69.0±6.78 kg who competed in the first A category participated in this study (Tier 3). Descriptive statistics included the mean and SD of the anthropometry, each sprint, RSA outputs and Vo2max . Spearman correlations were used between each sprint, the best sprint, the worst sprint, estimated fatigue, and Vo2max . Finally, a correlation between VO2max and RSA was plotted. The results identified that VO2max mL/kg·min was related to the 4th sprint p < 0.01 and the 5th, 6th and 8th sprints p < 0.05 of RSA and the relationship between RSA, total time and VO2max was moderate r = -0.422, 95% CI -0.711 to -0.010, p = 0.039. In conclusion, estimated Vo2max mL/kg·min seems to influence better performance in the last sprints of RSA and does not have a strong relationship to RSA total time in this sample of Colombian players. Coaches and physical trainers should take advantage of the ecological validity of field tests in developing countries.