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
 
 
Corresponding author
I Dewa Made Aryananda Wijaya Kusuma   

Department of Sports Coaching Education, Faculty of Sports and Health Sciences, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia
 
 
TRENDS in Sport Sciences 2026;33(1)
 
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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.
eISSN:2391-436X
ISSN:2299-9590
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