EFFECTS OF HIGH INTENSITY CYCLING INTERVAL TRAINING ON ENDURANCE PERFORMANCE IN ICE-HOCKEY PLAYERS Samu Martinmäki

Master`s Thesis Science of Sports Coaching and Fitness Testing Summer 2012 Department of Biology of Physical Activity University of Jyväskylä Supervisors: Professor Keijo Häkkinen and MD, Docent Merja Perhonen

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SUMMARY

Martinmäki, Samu 2012. Effects of high intensity cycling interval training on endurance performance in ice-hockey players. Master`s thesis in Science of Sports Coaching and Fitness Testing. Department of biology of physical activity, University of Jyväskylä, 59 pages.

Ice-hockey has changed considerably during the last few decades. Sport has become quicker, more physical and demanding for players. High levels of aerobic and anaerobic performance are crucial. Training programs and endurance training are expected to cause beneficial changes in aerobic performance which may ultimately lead to enhanced on-ice performance in ice-hockey players. Advanced and optimized training programs are developed to find optimal training intensity, load and recovery. The purpose of this study was to find out how effective a carefully planned high intensity cycling training program is for endurance performance in ice-hockey players. 24 competitive ice-hockey players trained for six weeks in three different groups. The cycling training group (n=8, 23.1 ± 1.2 yrs., 178.9 ± 4.9 cm, 78.9 ± 6.0 kg) trained endurance with high intensity cycling total of ten training sessions. The running group (n=8, 25.1 ± 1.2 yrs., 181.3 ± 6.4 cm, 83.2 ± 11.0 kg) trained endurance with high intensity running total of ten training sessions. The team training group (n=8, 19.8 ± 0.7 yrs., 182.3 ± 5.8 cm, 86.6 ± 8.9 kg) trained endurance according to the team training program. The cycling group resulted in significant changes in cycling time (5.9 %, p