The relationship between the 1200 m shuttle test and 40 m sprint test performance and distances covered in English Premier League matches: A retrospective two season study

To identify a relationship between the 1200 m shuttle test and 40 m sprint test performance with distances covered at varying intensities in English Premier League (EPL) matches. A squad (n = 21) of full-time professional 1st team male football players (age 29.8±3.4 years; height 183.7±5.2 cm; weight 83.7±6.9 kg) participated in this study. League match data from the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons were recorded and analysed via an Optical Tracking System (OTS) (Second Spectrum®, Los Angeles, USA) to report physical match performance data. Average velocity during the 1200 m shuttle test (V1.2ST) was calculated, while Peak sprinting speed (PSS) was estimated using a 40 m maximal sprint. ASR1.2ST was established by subtracting V1.2ST from PSS. The relationship between V1.2ST, 30%ASR1.2ST and distances covered at varying intensities in EPL matches was assessed by a series of independent Linear Mixed Effects (LME) models. Although not statistically significant, for every unit increase in V1.2ST, there was an increase of 1032 m in distance covered, (p = 0.07). A single unit increase in 30%ASR1.2ST is associated with a significant increase of 495 m in high-speed running distance (> 5.5 m·s −1) (p = 0.02). While for each unit increase in 30%ASR1.2ST, sprint distance (> 7 m·s −1) covered significantly increased by 209 m (p = 0.02). In conclusion, high levels of physical fitness such as V1.2ST and 30%ASR1.2ST derived from the 1200 m shuttle and 40 m sprint tests can improve match running performance in elite soccer. Knowledge of this information allows practitioners to tailor training load based on each players individual characteristics, potentially increasing performance.

Keywords

maximal aerobic speed anaerobic speed reserve training soccer English Premier League players

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.15/4971

Citation

Kavanagh, R., Matteotti, M., Oliveira, R., McDaid, K., Alexander, J., Harper, D.,Zmijewski, P.,Rhodes, D. & Morgans, R. (2025). The relationship between the 1200 m shuttle test and 40 m sprint test performance and distances covered in English Premier League matches: A retrospective two season study. Biology of Sport, 42(2), 105-111. https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2025.142641