The effect of acute caffeine ingestion on repeated sprint ability in soccer players

Introduction: Caffeine is an ergogenic resource widely used in different sports. In soccer, the ability of repeated sprints is essential for performance during competition, however, the effects of caffeine in this skill still unclear. Aim: to evaluate the acute effect of caffeine intake on the performance of repeated sprints in young soccer athletes. Methods: Thirteen athletes from the U-20 soccer category participated in this study. Athletes ingested 5 mg/kg of caffeine or placebo in a double-blind crossover design. One hour after ingestion, the athletes were submitted to the test of 6 sprints repeated of 40 meters with 20 seconds of rest between each sprint. Each sprint time was recorded using the photocell system. For statistical analysis, repeated measures ANOVA (2 x 6) were used. Results: A significant difference statistically was found for the time factor (p < 0.0001), indicating an increase in the total time spent to complete the test, independent of the condition (caffeine/placebo). No significant difference was found for the condition factor (p = 0.66). Conclusion: In the present study 5 mg/kg of caffeine does not improve the performance of repeated sprints in young soccer athletes.