Maximal 20-m sprints The running speed of participants was evaluated with a 5- and 20-m sprint effort using photocells (Racetime2, Microgate®, Bolzano, Italy). The timing gates were positioned 5- and 20-m cross-wind from a pre-determined starting point. Participants were instructed to run as fast as possible along the 20-m distance from a standing start. Subjects started the test in their own time from a static position 30 cm behind the photocells, with timing starting once

the beams of the first timing gate (0 m) were broken. The fastest time obtained from three trials was used in data analysis. There was a 2-min recovery period between trials. selleck inhibitor Time spent to cover 20-m was measured to the nearest 0.001 s. Poziotinib repeated sprint ability The repeated sprint ability test, which attempts to quantify fatigue by comparing actual performance to an imagined “ideal performance”, MLN4924 in vitro consisted of 6 times 24.69 m (3 times 8.23 m,

corresponding to the width of the tennis court) of discontinuous sprints, interspersed with 30 s of walking recovery. The timing gates were positioned in the width of the court, at the opposite of the court’s two single lines. Subjects were instructed to run as fast as possible from one side to another 3 times from an initial standing start. Subjects started the test from a static position 30 cm behind the photocells, with timing starting once the beams of the first timing gate (0 m) were broken. Speed was measured to the nearest 0.001 s. A photoelectric cell timing system (Racetime2, Microgate®, Bolzano, Italy) linked to a digital chronoscope was used to record each sprint and rest interval time with an accuracy of 0.001 s. Fatigability (percent decrease in time between the fastest and slowest sprints) and sprint decrement score

(Sdec) were calculated from sprint Fenbendazole times using the following formula : Fatigue (%) = −((slowest sprint-fastest sprint)/fastest sprint)×100; Sdec (%) = −(((Sprint 1 time + Sprint 2 time + … + Sprint 6 time)/Best sprint time × number of sprints)-1)×100 [16]. Knee and elbow extensors maximal isometric strength The maximal isometric strength of the dominant knee extensors was measured from maximum voluntary contractions (MVC) performed on a custom-made ergometer. This ergometer was built in order to allow placement of the force transducer (Model F2712, 0- to 100-daN force range, Meiri Company, Bonneuil, France) at the level of the lateral malleolus and adjustment of the seat depth depending on the length of the thighs. The knee angle and the hip angle were set at 60° (0° is full extension). The knee was fixed at an angle of 60° of flexion since it has been demonstrated to be the angle of maximal isometric force generation for human muscles [17,18]. The dominant leg was defined as the preferred kicking leg. Subjects were secured to the chair by a strap slung over the shoulders to avoid any compensatory movement of the trunk.