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European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science ISSN: 2501 - 1235 ISSN-L: 2501 - 1235 Available on-line at: www.oapub.org/edu Volume 3 │ Issue 12 │ 2017 doi: 10.5281/zenodo.1119118 EFFECTS OF SPEED, AGILITY AND QUICKNESS (SAQ) TRAINING ON ANAEROBIC ENDURANCE AND FLEXIBILITY OF NOVICE TENNIS PLAYERS Nafih Cherappurath1i, M. Elayaraja2 1 Research Scholar, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Pondicherry University, India 2 Associate Professor, Dr., Department of Physical Education and Sports, Pondicherry University, India Abstract: This study aims to analyse the effects of SAQ training on anaerobic endurance and flexibility of novice tennis players, selected subject from Ramanadan Krishnan Tennis Academy, Trivandrum, Kerala, India. Totally twenty participants were selected and randomly divided them into two groups (n=10) namely SAQ training group (age: 10.80 ± 0.78 years, height: 147.90 ± 2.60 cm and weight: 39.95 ± 1.51 kg) and control group (age: 11.10 ± 0.73 years, height: 147.30 ± 2.79 cm and weight: 40.12 ± 2.23 kg). After 12 weeks training, all subjects had tested their anaerobic endurance and flexibility according to Tennis Specific Agility Endurance Test and V-Sit and Reach Test. The data were analyzed by SPSS software, Paired- t test was used to determine the difference between pre and post mean scores of experimental and control groups and experimental group had improved more significantly (p<0.05) than the control group. The study suggests that SAQ training is more beneficial for anaerobic endurance and flexibility of novice tennis players. Keywords: SAQ training, tennis players, anaerobic endurance, flexibility Copyright © The Author(s). All Rights Reserved. © 2015 – 2017 Open Access Publishing Group 386 Nafih Cherappurath, M. Elayaraja EFFECTS OF SPEED, AGILITY AND QUICKNESS (SAQ) TRAINING ON ANAEROBIC ENDURANCE AND FLEXIBILITY OF NOVICE TENNIS PLAYERS 1. Introduction Tennis is one of the popular anaerobic sports where the prevailing glycolytic or glycogenolytic metabolic processes provide energy during the game. There is a general consensus that the average work intensity is in the range of 60 to 70percentile of the maximum oxygen intake during a tennis match. Observing the time parameters of the play, it is seen that the players usually don t get sufficient time to fully recover from the points. This lack of time for recovery leads to deterioration of the players physical condition in the larger context of the annual calendar of tennis matches and competitions. Thus, though tennis is an anaerobic sport, good aerobic capacity is a must in order to provide the players with high levels of cardio-respiratory endurance which would enhance their performance in a consistent manner and would consequently lead to sporting success (Barbaros T et al., 2011). There are repeated bouts of high-intensity activity during tennis matches. Typically, the rally lasts around 6 seconds and rarely over 10 seconds even while playing on a clay court (Smekal G et al., 2001). The players have the luxury of resting up to 25 seconds between the points, and 90 seconds at the changeover. Therefore, the overall physical requirement is more akin to a moderate-intensity exercise that is prolonged (such as distance running) than a true sport involving multi-sprints (Bergeron MF et al., 1991). The tennis player will, on average, move around 3 meters for each shot and around 8 to 12 meters while scoring each point (USTA, 2016). Therefore, it is certain that quickness and good speed throughout the court are very necessary in order to attain most of these shots. Around 48 percentage of a player s movement is the sideways motion during a match, and so agility i.e. the ability to shift direction quickly while maintaining control is equally essential. The regular training programme of tennis must be based on the solid aerobic endurance of the player in order to maintain a high rate of work for the entire game which may last for several hours. Also, anaerobic endurance is an essential parameter so that power in each shot within a rally as well as over each rally can be maintained at the same high level. Tennis is considered an anaerobic sport because of the sprinting, changing directions, stopping and the explosive movements involved in it. Also, most points rarely require longer than 90 seconds. Simultaneously, it is essential for the tennis players to develop aerobic conditioning in order to have a quicker recovery period between points; as this enables them to last through a 3-hour match or a longer period. Conditioning of flexibility and strength are also very important and need to be improved along with anaerobic and aerobic fitness. European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science - Volume 3 │ Issue 12 │ 2017 387 Nafih Cherappurath, M. Elayaraja EFFECTS OF SPEED, AGILITY AND QUICKNESS (SAQ) TRAINING ON ANAEROBIC ENDURANCE AND FLEXIBILITY OF NOVICE TENNIS PLAYERS The definition of the term flexibility is taken as the degree of extensibility of the structures of soft tissue that surround the joint, which include muscles, connective tissue and tendons. The players of the sport of tennis are usually very flexible in terms of external rotation of the shoulder, but on the side that is dominant (Chandler T.J et al, 1990; Ellenbecker T.S, 1995). In order to address this imbalance in flexibility, it is recommended to do specific stretches for the back of the shoulder. But it is generally not recommended to do exercises that stress the front of the shoulder, usually by placing the arms around the body (Ellenbecker T.S et al, 1993). The factors affecting flexibility are inclusive of tissue temperature, neuromuscular components, and heredity. With regard to heredity, the physical condition of the body determines overall potential of flexibility. Though usually, people tend to be physically relatively inflexible, there is a small percentage of them who are hyper-flexible. Hereditary traits and the design of the body that affect flexibility potential include the shape as well as the orientation of joint surfaces, along with the physiological dimensions of the joint muscles, capsule, ligaments and tendons. Additionally, some regions of the body of the player could be very tight and inflexible due to the nature of the movements during the playing of tennis. These include the lower back, hamstrings and muscles at the back of the shoulder. Simultaneously, other areas in the player s body may be overly flexible, especially the front of the shoulder due to external rotation. These result from many years of playing the sport (Chandler T.J et al, 1990). The SAQ exercise is a training method that has been commonly used by athletes, both beginners and advanced, in recent times. According to Mario et al. (2011), SAQ is an acronym of the transitional Speed, Agility and Quickness. Palaniswamy and Velmurugan (2012) noted that SAQ exercises incorporated in the modern training system produced, within a single training programme, the integrated effects of many physical capacities. Also, Remco et al. (2009) contend that training systems integrated with SAQ are designed for improvement of compatibility of acceleration between the hand and the eye along with the explosive power and the response speed. Training in SAQ is thought to enable football players to improve their reaction to stimuli, along with improvement in acceleration, effective movements in multiple directions and changing direction or stopping quickly to make a play in an efficient, smooth, fast and repetitive manner (Polman et al., 2009).A typical SAQ session usually consists of explosive movements aiming towards progressing from fundamental patterns of movement to specific movements that are highly positional. Therefore, this form of training is supposed to enhance the adaptation of movement mechanics, European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science - Volume 3 │ Issue 12 │ 2017 388 Nafih Cherappurath, M. Elayaraja EFFECTS OF SPEED, AGILITY AND QUICKNESS (SAQ) TRAINING ON ANAEROBIC ENDURANCE AND FLEXIBILITY OF NOVICE TENNIS PLAYERS frequency and length of steps along with increased hip height aimed at increased agility, speed and quickness (Pearson and International, 2001). For viewing / downloading the full article, please access the following link: https://oapub.org/edu/index.php/ejep/article/view/1297 European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science - Volume 3 │ Issue 12 │ 2017 389