CIRCUIT TRAINING: THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICAL APPLICATION IN THE PHYSICAL TRAINING OF FOOTBALL PLAYERS

Abstract

Introduction. The article considers the theoretical and methodological foundations and practical aspects of the use of circuit (interval) training in the physical training of football players. An analysis of modern scientific sources was conducted, the structure and principles of building the training process were determined, and an experimental circuit training program was developed for the U-18 youth team. The results of the eight-week experiment (n=24) showed a significant improvement in the indicators of speed-strength qualities, aerobic endurance and functional readiness of football players. The feasibility of using circuit training in the preparatory period was substantiated.

The aim of the study – to substantiate theoretically and experimentally verify the effectiveness of circuit training in the training of football players.

The main part. Circuit training as a separate method of organizing physical exercise classes was proposed in 1953 by English scientists R. Morgan and G. Adamson in the city of Leeds (Morgan & Adamson, 1953). They were the first to systematize exercises in the form of “stations” that were performed in a circle with a given number of repetitions, duration and rest intervals. The effectiveness of circuit training is based on the principle of the complex effect of physical exercises on the main functional systems of the body. During the exercises, all energy mechanisms are activated: anaerobic-alactic, which provides short-term, intense efforts; anaerobic-glycolytic, which is responsible for work of medium duration; aerobic, which provides endurance during long work (McArdle et al., 2015). The main principles of constructing circuit training are the sequence of exercises, where the exercises are arranged so that the loads on different muscle groups alternate. Heart rate (HR) monitoring and subjective stress level according to the Borg scale are used.

Conclusions. Circuit training provides effective development of physical qualities of football players due to complex influence on strength, speed and endurance characteristics. After the author’s training program, we received a significant improvement in speed, explosive strength and endurance tests. The method is recommended to be used in the preparatory period with heart rate control (85–90 % HRmax).