Biology of Sport
eISSN: 2083-1862
ISSN: 0860-021X
Biology of Sport
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abstract:
Original paper

Does curvilinear sprint training with different radii improve multidirectional speed and sprint mechanics in youth soccer players?

David Solleiro-Duran
1, 2
,
Jose Suarez-Rial
3
,
Ezequiel Rey
3, 4
,
Andrés Baena-Raya
5, 6
,
Miguel Lorenzo-Martínez
3
,
Alberto Filter
7, 8
,
Alexis Padrón-Cabo
3

  1. University of A Coruña, Department of Physical and Sports Education, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, A Coruña, Spain
  2. Sport Sciences Department, RC Celta, Vigo, Spain
  3. University of Vigo, Faculty of Education and Sport Sciences, Pontevedra, Spain
  4. Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias del Deporte (CIDEGA), University of Vigo, Spain
  5. Department of Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Almería, Almería, Spain
  6. SPORT Research Group (CTS-1024), CIBIS (Centro de Investigación para el Bienestar y la Inclusión Social) Research Center, University of Almería, Almería, Spain
  7. FSI Lab, Football Science Institute, Granada, Spain
  8. Research Group Physical Activity, Health and Sport CTS-948, Pablo de Olavide University, Sevilla, Spain
Biol Sport.2026;43:829-838
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.157996
Online publish date: 2026/02/06
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This randomized parallel-group study examined the effects of curvilinear sprint (CS) training with different radii on linear sprint (LS) performance, CS ability, change of direction (COD), and horizontal forcevelocity (FV) profile in youth soccer players. Eighteen male youth soccer players from the same academy were randomly assigned to a narrow CS group (NCSG; 5.15 m radius) or a wide CS group (WSCG; 11.15 m radius). Both groups completed 12 CS sessions over 6 weeks (2 sessions/week), integrated into their regular team training. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included LS (5–30 m), CS tests on both the good and weak sides over two radii (7.15 m and 9.15 m), modified 505 COD test, and sprint mechanical variables from the FV profile (F0, V0, Pmax, RFmax, Drf). No significant time × group interactions were found for any variable (p > 0.05), indicating that narrow and wide CS training produced similar adaptations. However, within-group analyses revealed significant improvements (p ≤ 0.05) in most CS tests (except for the good side on 9.15 m), in 5 m and 20 m LS times and COD performance. Additionally, the NCSG and WCSG showed small to moderate significant enhancements (p ≤ 0.05) in Pmax and RFmax after the training intervention. In conclusion, 6 weeks of CS training improved LS, CS ability, COD performance, and key sprint mechanical outputs in youth soccer players. These findings suggest that CS training is a specific and effective method for enhancing multidirectional speed and sprint mechanics in this population.
keywords:

Curve sprinting, Force-velocity profile, Change of direction, Sprint training, Multidirectional speed

  
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