Eduardo Sáez de Villarreal

• PhD
• Professor at Pablo de Olavide University

Taekwondo has experienced rapid growth over the last three decades, solidifying its position as one of the most prominent combat sports worldwide. The objective of this study was to analyze the academic output on taekwondo published in scientific journals using bibliometric methods. The search included publications up to December 31, 2024. Data was...

Sleep is one of the most important aspects of recovery; however, insufficient sleep has been described in elite athletes. The objective of the present study was to investigate sleep quality and quantity in water polo (WP) players and coaches worldwide. In all, 231 WP players (male: n = 112; female: n = 119) and 76 coaches (male: n = 70; female: n =...

Background: Manipulation of resistance training variables influence the structural and functional adaptations of muscle, having a great impact on sport performance and hamstrings injury prevention. Objective: To analyze how the main resistance training variables affect the biceps femoris long head architecture in soccer players. Data Sources: Five...

Although bullfighting is not considered a sport, bullfighters require an optimal level of physical preparation to be able to face the difficult activity of fighting a brave bull. The usual approaches to the physical preparation of professional bullfighters are based on decontextualized training methods, or on the practice of sports modalities with...

The effect of plyometric jump training (PJT) on children’s jump and sprint performance remains unclear. To explore the effects of PJT on jump and sprint performance in children, and to further analyze the influence of participant characteristics and training variables, a systematic review of the literature was conducted in the PubMed, Web of Scienc...

Purpose : To compare the acute effects on mechanical, metabolic, neuromuscular, and muscle contractile responses to different velocity-loss (VL) thresholds (20% and 40%) under distinct blood-flow conditions (free [FF] vs restricted [BFR]) in full squat (SQ). Methods : Twenty strength-trained men performed 4 SQ protocols with 60% 1-repetition maximu...

This study aimed to compare the effects of an accentuated eccentric training programme on physical performance between men and women. Distributed in two groups by gender, 21 male and 21 female athletes performed four sets of seven repetitions of the half-squat exercise twice per week for 6 weeks. Both groups lifted the same absolute load using a ro...

Repeated sprint ability (RSA) is crucial for success in team sports, involving both neuromuscular and metabolic factors. While single-mode training (SGL; e.g., sprint training) and combined training (CT; e.g., sprint + plyometric) can improve RSA, whether CT offers additional benefits compared to SGL or active controls maintaining routine training...

El objetivo de este estudio es determinar la influencia del entrenamiento combinado a corto plazo de pliometría (PL), velocidad y cambio de dirección (COD) dentro de la práctica regular del fútbol en los saltos, la velocidad y el cambio de dirección de jugadoras de fútbol durante la temporada. Veintitrés sujetos fueron asignados al azar a PL + velo...

Background: Basketball is a high-intensity sport, which includes actions such as jumping, changes of direction, accelerations, and decelerations, which generates fatigue situations that may increase the risk of injury. Specifically, the joints at greatest risk are the ankle and knee, with ankle sprains and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears bei...

The objective of this study was to assess the perceived usefulness, actual use and limitations for the application of recovery strategies among water polo (WP) players and their coaches around the world. A total of 231 WP players and 76 coaches representing all continents, both genders and all levels of competition, completed a freely accessible on...

(1) Background: The aim of this paper is to analyze the acute effects of different velocity loss (VL) thresholds during a full squat (SQ) with blood-flow restriction (BFR) on strength performance, neuromuscular activity, metabolic response, and muscle contractile properties. (2) Methods: Twenty strength-trained men performed four protocols that dif...

Las acciones de corta duración y esfuerzo máximo, como los saltos, son decisivas en los deportes. El uso de un método de entrenamiento combinado (CT) puede ser efectivo para proporcionar variación en el estímulo y aumentar la adaptación general al entrenamiento. Sin embargo, los estudios que analizan los efectos del CT suelen estar limitados por ta...

El objetivo de este estudio es determinar la influencia del entrenamiento pliométrico a corto plazo o del entrenamiento combinado (6 semanas) dentro de la práctica regular de fútbol en los saltos y las acciones de cambio de dirección de jóvenes jugadores de fútbol durante la temporada. Treinta jugadores fueron asignados al azar a tres grupos: pliom...

El objetivo de esta revisión sistemática con metaanálisis fue examinar los efectos de los métodos combinados de entrenamiento de fuerza en el rendimiento de sprint y fuerza, en comparación con grupos de control (CG). El metaanálisis incluyó artículos revisados por pares que incorporaron métodos de entrenamiento combinado (CT) en participantes salud...

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of short-term plyometric or combined training (6 weeks) within regular soccer practice on the jumping and change of direction actions of young soccer players during the season. Thirty players were randomly assigned to three groups: plyometrics (PL), plyometrics + speed + Change of direction...

Actions of short-duration and maximal-effort, such as jumping, are decisive in sports. Using a combination of training (CT) method may be effective to provide variation in stimulus and to increase the overall training adaptation. However, studies analysing the effects of CT are generally limited by small sample sizes. This problem of underpowered s...

Background The running performance of middle-distance and long-distance runners is determined by factors such as maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), velocity at VO2max (vVO2max), maximum metabolic steady state (MMSS), running economy, and sprint capacity. Strength training is a proven strategy for improving running performance in endurance runners. How...

La presente tesis doctoral está dedicada a la comprensión del contexto de la tauromaquia desde la perspectiva de la actividad física y el rendimiento deportivo. Considerando que el análisis del contexto competitivo permitió una evolución cuantitativa y cualitativa de la preparación física en multitud de disciplinas deportivas, la comprensión de las...

The objective of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to examine the effects of combined strength training methods on sprint and Strength performance, compared to controls groups (CG). The meta-analysis included peer-reviewed articles that incorporated CT in healthy participants and athletes, a CG, and a measure of sprint (5m, 10m, 20m and...

Hamstring injuries in soccer continue to be a challenge for professionals who work with soccer players daily. Although its origin is multifactorial, the proper management of neuromuscular fatigue during the training microcycle is a very important factor to consider. There are no clear guidelines regarding the weekly distribution of certain exercise...

The aim of the study was to analyze whether the physiological variables and movement time of bullfighters are different with each bull fought during a professional bullfight. For this purpose, heart rate monitors were used to record heart rate parameters and GPS to record the speed and distance traveled of three bullfighters during the fight with s...

Background Running economy is defined as the energy demand at submaximal running speed, a key determinant of overall running performance. Strength training can improve running economy, although the magnitude of its effect may depend on factors such as the strength training method and the speed at which running economy is assessed. Aim To compare t...

This work aimed to analyze the relationships between maturity offset, anthropometric variables and the vertical force–velocity profile in youth (12–18 years old) male basketball players. The vertical force–velocity profile was measured in 49 basketball players, grouped in competitive-age categories, i.e., under 14, 16 and 18 years of age (U-14, U-1...

El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar variables asociadas al rendimiento del torero durante la corrida de toros y el tentadero (entrenamiento para una corrida de toros real). Los participantes fueron monitorizados durante una corrida de toros oficial y un tentadero. Los parámetros de frecuencia cardíaca se registraron con pulsómetros, la distanc...

The aim of this study was to analyze variables associated with the performance of the bullfighter during the bullfight and tentadero (training for a real bullfight). Participants were monitored during both an official bullfight and a tentadero. Heart rate parameters were recorded with pulsometers, distance travelled, speeds and accelerations were r...

This study compared the effects of a 6-week combined plyometric and sprint-training program on the sand to regular preseason training, on the athletic performance and technical actions of beach handball (BH) players. Athletes were randomly assigned either to the control (CG, n = 12; BH training only) or the experimental group (EG, n = 12; plyometri...

Background Two specific sprint training methods that are present to varying degrees in research and practice are combined uphill–downhill sprinting (UDS) and resisted sprint training methods (RS). Both methods seem to improve sprint performance, but to the author’s knowledge a comparison does not exist investigating the differences between the two...

Abstract. Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of playing several friendly matches on consecutive days affects neuromuscular fatigue evaluated with countermovement jump (CMJ), session rate of perceived effort (sRPE) and wellness in young male soccer players. Participants: Forty-four young male soccer players from Under 1...

The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of 10 weeks of systematic steps aerobic practice on strength and functional mobility in three groups of women of different ages. One hundred and twenty women between the ages of 50 and 70 years were selected. This sample was divided into three experimental groups; 50-60 years (E-5...

This study aimed to compare the effects of two 8-week in-season strength-training programs on handball players’ physical and technical parameters. Thirty-six male athletes were randomly separated into three groups: a control group (n = 12), a plyometric training group (PG, n = 12), and an eccentric-overload training group (EG, n = 12). The PG and E...

Objectives: This intervention study aimed to evaluate how the use of Foam Roller (FR) as a recovery strategy affects water polo performance after a seven-week (28-session) program. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty water polo players (14 male amateur players and 16 female sub-elite players) were assigned by means of sealed...

The aims of this study were to examine the effects of eight weeks of individualised force‐velocity imbalance (F‐Vimb) training on physical performance in basketball players and to analyse the differences in physical performance between two periods of time (four to eight weeks) with this training. Thirty male players (age, 22.8 ± 5.68 years; height,...

Padel is an intermittent racket sport played in pairs (2 vs. 2) on a small-sized grass court (20 x 10 m), involving high physical fitness demands for the players. Therefore, this study aims to compare the effect of two 8-week in-season training programs on the athletic performance of male padel players. Participants (age, 22.1±0.8; body height, 182...

This study analyze the number of sprints and distances traveled at high speed by Chilean professional soccer players considering the playing position with a GPS device. Methods: The data from high-speed efforts of 10 professional soccer players were recorded. The amount of effort in sprints (> 21 km·h−1) and the distances covered in zone 4 (> 21 km...

Background A growing body of literature is available regarding the effects of plyometric jump training (PJT) on measures of physical fitness (PF) and sport-specific performance (SSP) in-water sports athletes (WSA, i.e. those competing in sports that are practiced on [e.g. rowing] or in [e.g. swimming; water polo] water). Indeed, incoherent findings...

Water polo (WP) is a high-intensity intermittent aquatic sport, with a predominance of swimming skills and non swimming activities and in- complete recovery periods. Consequently, recovery after exercise is a fundamental part of sports performance. The main purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the effects of different recovery strategi...

Traditionally, strength coaches prescribed resistance training based on constant and concentrically oriented goals. However, most movements in the field require players to produce forces in variable and unpredictable contexts, with an emphasis on the eccentric (ECC) component. If movement repetition varies during competition, it makes sense to cond...

INTRODUCTION: Two of the main current problems in training sports reside in the wide anthropometric differences that exist in the different categories (U-14, U-16, and U-18) and the need to individualize training to optimize the present and future performance of basketball players. The objective of this work was to analyze the relationships between...

INTRODUCTION: vertical jumping (VJ) performance is determined by a complex interaction among several factors including maximal force capacity, rate of force development, muscle coordination, and stretch shortening cycle. Enhancement of vertical jump performance is a common goal since the capacity to jump higher than an opponent may be advantageous...

Background: A growing body of literature is available regarding the effects of plyometric jump training (PJT) on measures of physical fitness (PF) and sport-specific performance (SSP) in water sports athletes (WSA, i.e., those competing in sports that are practiced on [e.g., rowing] or in [e.g., swimming; water polo] water). Indeed, incoherent find...

Since most movements on the field require athletes to produce forces in variable and unpredictable contexts, the use of training programs based on identical repetitions of an exercise may not be optimal for movement transference. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse the effects of unexpected eccentric load variability during resistance t...

This article includes four separate experiments. In the first experiment male beach handball players (n=24) were randomly assigned to regular training (n=12) or plyometric and sprint training (n=12). In the second experiment male players were assigned to handball practice only (n=12), plyometric training (n=12), or an eccentric-overload (e.g., vers...

In this chapter, the authors explore jump training exercises as a mean to maximise vertical force production and related physical fitness traits. Jump training may enhance muscular force, the rate of force development, muscular power, muscle contraction velocity, cross-sectional area, muscle stiffness, among other biological and biomechanical facto...

Athletes can utilize resistance training and the magnitude of strength improvement is influenced by the structure of the training program. Periodization enables systematic, sequential, and integrative scheduling and programming of training sessions to maximize specific physiological adaptations underpinning performance outcomes. There are several w...

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 15 weeks (2/week) of two different resistance training (RT) programs [the self-load group (SG) vs. the overload group (OG)] on selected measures of physical performance in young male soccer players. Methods: The countermovement jump (CMJ), aerobic endurance (VO2 max), and body composi...

The aim of this study was to assess antioxidant markers before and after a mid-season of professional soccer players from the 3rd Spanish Division, and to correlate antioxidant markers with competitive performance. Sixty-five male players (age = 25.3 ± 4.2 yr, body mass = 73.2 ± 6.7 kg, body height = 177.8 ± 5.7 cm) from three soccer clubs from Cád...

The authors explore jump training exercises as a mean to maximize vertical force production and related physical fitness traits. Jump training may enhance muscular force, the rate of force devel¬opment, muscular power, muscle contraction velocity, cross-sectional area, muscle stiffness, among other biological and biomechanical factors associated wi...

The study aim was to compare the effects of a 7-week plyometric, strength and change of direction (COD) training program on basketball-specific performance measures in high-school players. Forty male players were randomly assigned to one of the four groups: plyometric (PG, n = 10), strength (SG, n = 10), COD (CODG, n = 10), and control group traini...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a combined plyometrics and sled training carried out two days a week for 8 weeks. 60 young male soccer players were distributed in 4 groups (Under U16) [Experimental Group (U16 Exp, n=15) and Control Group (U16 Cont, n=15); and (Under19) [U19 Exp, (n=15) and U19 Cont, (n=15)]. The jump with...

Ló pez Mariscal, S, Sánchez Garcia, V, Fernández-García, JC, and Sáez de Villarreal, E. Acute effects of ballistic vs. passive static stretching involved in a prematch warm-up on vertical jump and linear sprint performance in soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 35(1): 147-153, 2021-The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of introducing...

Rodríguez-Rosell, D, Sáez de Villarreal, E, Mora-Custodio, R, Asián-Clemente, JA, Bachero-Mena, B, Loturco, I, and Pareja-Blanco, F. Effects of different loading conditions during resisted sprint training on sprint performance. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2020-The aim of this study was to compare the effects of 5 loading conditions (0, 20,...

Background: Even from a young age, modern soccer requires high levels of physical fitness development, particularly jumping and sprinting. Plyometric jump training (PJT), combined with young athletes’ regular soccer sessions, has the potential to improve jumping and sprinting. However, studies exploring the effects of PJT are generally limited by s...

Most movements in the field require players to produce forces in variable and unpredictable contexts, with an emphasis on the eccentric (ECC) component . Biomechanical analyses of the production of athletic movements have indicated that even after thousands of repetitions, it is possible to see significant different levels of variability in the mov...

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effects of unresisted versus heavy sled sprint training (0% vs 40% body mass [BM]) on sprint performance in women. Moreover, the effects of the aforementioned loads on resisted sprint and jump performance were analyzed. Methods: Twenty-eight physically active women were randomly allocated into 2 groups: u...

This study aims (a) to assess and compare the acute mechanical, physiological, and perceptual demands induced by a lower and upper body repeated power ability (RPA) protocols, and (b) to examine how the somatic maturation could predict training response in RPA. Thirteen young male basketball players (chronological age = 15.2 ± 1.1 years; height = 1...

We examined the effects of five loading conditions (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% of body-mass [BM]), on resisted sprint performance and kinematics in male rugby players over different distances. Ten players from the Brazilian National Team (20.1±3.3 years; 88.7±18.8 kg; 178.3±6.2 cm) performed 20-m sprints under the five loading conditions. Sprint ti...

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the short and long-term effects of a simple strength training program on muscle injury prevention in soccer players. Methods: Twenty-seven U-19 elite male soccer players participated in the study. The investigation was conducted over two consecutive and similar seasons (e.g. the same staff, players, wee...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of self-loading strength training program (SLSTP) on countermovement jump performance (CMJ) and body composition (BC) in young soccer players. 60 young soccer players were distributed in 4 groups [U16 14,67 ± 0,49 years); U17 (15,73 ± 0,46); U18 (16,67 ± 0,82); U19 (18,27 ± 0,46)]. Completed...

Galiano, C, Pareja-Blanco, F, Hidalgo de Mora, J, and Sáez de Villarreal, E. Low-velocity loss induces similar strength gains to moderate-velocity loss during resistance training. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2019-This study aimed to analyze the effects of 2 velocity-based resistance training (VBT) programs that used the same relative loadin...

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effects of 5 different 18-week in-season strength training programs on strength gains and specific water polo performance. Methods: A total of 56 young male water polo players were randomly assigned to the following 5 training groups: dry-land strength training, in-water-specific strength training, combin...

El objetivo de este estudio fue describir los cambios en la composición corporal, la fuerza y el rendimiento de sprint en respuesta a toda una temporada competitiva de entrenamiento de fútbol complementada con 2 sesiones a la semana de entrenamiento con sobrecarga excéntrica inercial en jóvenes futbolistas profesionales masculinos. Se evaluó la com...

Context: As the number of injuries in young soccer players increases, an epidemiological study is the first step in improving preventive strategies. Objectives: To analyze the injury profile of a Spanish professional soccer club's academy during 4 consecutive seasons and to examine the injury incidence across different chronological age groups....

The present prospective cohort study investigated changes in body composition (BC) in young male football players (n = 18, 16.1 ± 0.8 years; 181.0 ± 0.1 cm; 71.3 ± 4.9 kg) after combined football and strength training (ST) during a whole in-season period (26 weeks). BC was measured at whole-body absolute and regional levels by dual-energy X-ray abs...

The purpose of this study was to compare the physical and physiological demands of a small-sided game (SSG) in three different age groups (senior, under-19 [U-19] and under-17 [U-17]) belonging to the same academy. A further aim was to contrast the physical and physiological profiles of normal and floater players during this task. Thirty male footb...

Pareja-Blanco, F, Asián-Clemente, JA, and Sáez de Villarreal, E. Combined squat and light-load resisted sprint training for improving athletic performance. J Strength Cond Res 35(9): 2457-2463, 2021-This study aimed to analyze the effects of 5 training methods: squat (SQ), light-load sled towing (LST), heavy-load sled towing (HST), squat combined w...

El objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar los efectos de un protocolo de entrenamiento pliométrico (EP) realizado dos veces por semana durante 8 semanas, sobre el test de salto vertical evaluado mediante salto con contramovimiento (CMJ) en jugadores de fútbol de categoría cadete (CA) y juvenil (JU). Participaron 40 futbolistas de dos grupos...

The aim of this study was to describe the changes in body composition, strength and sprint performance in response to an entire competitive season of football training supplemented with 2 inertial eccentric-overload training sessions a week in young male professional soccer players. Whole body and regional composition (assessed using dual-energy X-...

Plyometric training composed by unilateral exercises with horizontal jumping direction seems to be an effective way to improve physical performance in athletes. The present study aimed to compare the influence of a combined jumping direction and force application (horizontal-unilateral vs. vertical-bilateral) plyometric training on linear sprinting...

De los muchos factores para el control del rendimiento en fútbol, la fuerza de tren inferior adquiere una relevancia importante, por ello, el test más utilizado es el salto con contramovimiento (CMJ). Para mejorar la especificidad de los entrenamientos, la planificación y programación en los deportes de equipo ha evolucionado de manera significativ...

Introduction Due to its high incidence, muscle injury is one of the major problems for football players. The aim was to analyse the rate and characteristics of muscle injuries in the academy of a Spanish professional football team (Spanish First Division) during a complete competitive season (2015–2016) using a prospective cohort design. Material...

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of introducing passive static and ballistic stretching in a standard soccer match warm-up. The variables addressed were the Counter Movement Jump (CMJ), Abalakov jump and the 40 m linear sprint. The sample was composed of 33 male subjects, divided in two age groups. U16 and adult players formed t...

Abstract. To analyse the effect of an eccentric-overload training program (i.e., lateral squat exercise using a flywheel device) on performance in junior elite soccer players. Sixteen soccer players (14.7 ± .2 years) were randomly assigned to 2 groups: control group (n=8, CG) and strength group (n=8, SG). The SG complemented the soccer training wit...

Resumen. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar el efecto de un programa de entrenamiento de fuerza con sobrecarga excéntrica (squat lateral ejecutado en un dispositivo inercial) sobre el rendimiento en futbolistas junior de élite. Dieciséis futbolistas de 14.7 ± .2 años de edad fueron asignados aleatoriamente en dos grupos: grupo control (n=8, G...

Núñez Sanchez, FJ and Sáez de Villarreal, E. Does flywheel paradigm training improve muscle volume and force? A meta-analysis. J Strength Cond Res 31(11): 3177–3186, 2017—Sev-eral studies have confirmed the efficacy of flywheel paradigm training for improving or benefiting muscle volume and force. A meta-analysis of 13 studies with a total of 18 ef...

The aim of this research was to compare the effects of two different neuromuscular training programs (vertical vs. horizontal orientation), conducted during 6 weeks, on the physical performance of soccer players in-season. Sixteen soccer players of 16.6 0.3 years were randomly assigned to two equally large experimental groups, and both supplemented...

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of maturation on power and sprint performance adaptations following 6 weeks of plyometric training in youth soccer players during pre-season. Sixty male soccer players were categorized into 3 maturity groups (Pre, Mid and Post peak height velocity [PHV]) and then randomly assigned to plyometric g...

The purpose of this study was to analyse the raw lifting speed collected during four different resistance training exercises to assess the optimal sampling frequency. Eight physically active participants performed sets of Squat Jumps, Countermovement Jumps, Squats and Bench Presses at a maximal lifting speed. A linear encoder was used to measure th...

Purpose: The best sprint performances are usually reached between the ages of 20 and 30; however even in well-trained individuals, performance continues to decrease with age. While this inevitable decrease in performance has been related to reductions in muscular force, velocity and power capabilities, these measures have not been assessed in the...

Purpose: To examine the effects of a standard off-season period (OSP) on aerobic, sprint and jumping performance, body and blood composition in a top-level soccer team. Methods: Nineteen soccer players were measured. The OSP included to 2-week of no training (resting phase) and 4 week period of moderate-training load (phase in which each player...

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to show a clear picture about the possible variables to enhancements of change of direction (COD) ability using longitudinal plyometric training (PT) studies and determines specific factors which influence the training effects. Methods: A computerized search was performed, and...

Purpose: To analyze the match running profile, distance travelled over successive 15 minutes of match-play, heart rates and effindex of professional soccer players with Global Positioning System (GPS) and heart rate (HR) in official competition. Methods: Twenty-six professional players were investigated during full-matches in competitive club le...

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to describe the repeated high-intensity activity and internal training load of rugby sevens players during international matches and to compare the differences between the first and second halves. Methods: Twelve international-level male rugby sevens players were monitored during international competiti...

The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of an 8-week (conducted biweekly for a total of 16 sessions) plyometric training programme (PT) (e.g., upper- and lower-body exercises) combined with regular tennis training on physical qualities in young tennis players. Sixty tennis players between the ages of 12 and 13 years (age 12.5 ± 0.3 years,...