ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Improving preseason soccer performance: a combination
of super high-intensity continuous training and
dribbling-based repeated-sprint training
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1
Department of Sports Coaching Education, Faculty of Sports
and Health Sciences, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Indonesia
2
Department of Sport Science, Faculty of Sports and Health
Science, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Indonesia
3
Sports and Exercise Science Program, Department of Applied
Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Loei Rajabhat
University, Thailand
Submission date: 2025-03-13
Final revision date: 2025-07-31
Acceptance date: 2025-09-24
Publication date: 2026-03-31
TRENDS in Sport Sciences 2026;33(1)
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
The preseason phase is crucial for restoring fitness
and preparing players for competitive demands. This study is
the first to integrate super high-intensity continuous training
(SHCT) with dribbling-based repeated sprint training (RST) as
a sport-specific, high-intensity training method.
Aim of the study:
This study analyzes the effects of combining SHCT and dribblingbased
RST during preseason on male soccer players’ aerobic
and anaerobic performance in the Indonesian Third Soccer
League.
Material and methods:
The study uses an experimental
method with a randomized parallel matched-group design.
The researchers assigned 42 participants into the experimental
group (EG) and the control group (CG), 21 participants each.
Participants’ average age was 20.19 ± 0.86 years, with 6.21 ±
0.87 years of soccer experience. The average height was 170.57 ±
4.76 cm, weight 61.71 ± 6.15 kg, and body mass index 21.21 ±
2.01 kg/m². The EG followed a combined SHCT and dribblingbased
RST program, while the CG performed regular club
training (technique, tactics, and small-sided games) without
additional physical training. The assessors were blinded to group
allocation (single-blind) to prevent bias. The study employed the
Shapiro–Wilk and Levene’s tests as prerequisites, independent
sample tests, and the Mann–Whitney U tests, with a significance
level of <0.05. The researchers also used percentages and effect
sizes to measure differences. The test instruments included the
Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 1 test and running-based
anaerobic sprint test.
Results:
The EG showed significant
improvements (p < 0.05) in all variables, while the CG had
minimal, non-significant changes. Between-group comparisons
confirmed that EG achieved significantly greater performance
improvements than CG in all measured variables: final speed
(p < 0.0001), total distance (p < 0.0001), VO2max (p < 0.0001),
peak power (p < 0.0001), average power (p < 0.0001), and fatigue
index (p = 0.0086).
Conclusions:
This study concludes that
the combined super high-intensity continuous training and
dribbling-based repeated-sprint training program effectively
enhanced soccer players’ aerobic and anaerobic capacities.