Abstract

The ability to repeat sprints and vertical jumps are variables of great importance in sports like soccer and basketball. However, there is a lack of studies describing the ability to repeat sprints and vertical jumps and the relationship between these variables in young elite male and female soccer and basketball players. To this end, 37 female (N=37, age=15±0.5 years, height=167.7±9.5 cm, weight=55.8±8.0 kg) and 40 male (N=40, age=15±0.5 years, height=176.4±11.1 cm, weight=69.5±10.1 kg) young soccer and basketball players competing at the highest level for their age participated in this study. The Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST) and the Countermovement Jump (CMJ) before and after the RAST were measured, and the best sprint, the fatigue index and the power produced in the RAST and CMJ decrease after the RAST were analyzed by multiple analysis of variance (MANOVA) and the Pearson correlation coefficient. The results show, first, statistically significant differences between sports in the sprints (p <0.001, d=0.70) and the CMJ (p <0.001, d=0.60) and, second, statistically significant differences between genders in all variables except CMJ decrease (p> 0.05). In addition, CMJ decrease significantly correlated with the fatigue index in the RAST (r = 0.293, p <0.05). These results show for the first time the relationships, differences, and descriptive profile of RAST and CMJ performance in young elite male and female basketball and soccer players.