The ability to produce repeated sprints efforts is an
important determinant of performance within
field-based team sports (25). Repeated sprint
ability (RSA) refers to an individual’s ability to
perform maximal sprint efforts of short duration in succession
with little recovery between sprints (5). In the game of
soccer (for example), players with high RSA are more likely
to perform at a higher level compared with players who
have a lower ability to reproduce sprint efforts at a maximal
intensity (6). Indeed, it has been shown that repeated sprint
test performance before and after elite soccer matches is
extensively reduced with fatigue development (13). Thus,
the ability to delay fatigue during repeated sprint exercise
may have large implications to performance. It is therefore
important for coaches and trainers to be able to reliably test
the RSA of their athletes to assess sport-specific fitness and
efficacy of training.