Table 5.

Practical considerations of training forms utilized during intensified training periods conducted in the late preparation phase or competitive season in elite football players

Training form	Parameters	Description
AHT	Prescription	Twice weekly for 2–4 weeks during the late preparation phase and once or twice weekly for 1–2 weeks in-season
	Internal load	High cardiovascular load, moderate muscle metabolic load, and some musculoskeletal load
	External load	Efforts at intensities near or slightly exceeding that corresponding to aerobic capacity
	Positive effects	Enhances the ability to cover long distances of high-speed running and recover from intense actions
	Negative effects	Induces neuromuscular fatigue
	Other factors & considerations	Can be performed early and later in the weekly microcycle (until 48 h pre-match) Relevant to central midfielders, wingers, and full-backs in-season
SET-M	Prescription	Once or twice weekly for 1–2 weeks during the late preparation phase or in-season
	Internal load	Imposes musculoskeletal strain, a high muscle metabolic, and a moderate cardiovascular load
	External load	Near all-out efforts at high speeds and intensities
	Positive effects Negative effects	Enhances the ability to tolerate fatigue and sustain high-speed runs Depresses neuromuscular function and induces micro-damages in muscles taking days to recover from
	Other factors and considerations	Should be performed early in the weekly microcycle (until 72 h pre-match) Particularly relevant to central midfielders, wingers, and full-backs in-season
SET-P	Prescription	Once or twice weekly for 1–2 weeks during the late preparation phase or in-season
	Internal load	Imposes severe musculoskeletal strain and a high muscle metabolic load
	External load	All-out efforts at high speeds and intensities
	Positive effects	Enhances the ability to perform repeated high-speed runs and sprints
	Negative effects	Depresses neuromuscular function and induces micro-damages in muscles taking days to recover from
	Other factors and considerations	Should be performed early in the weekly microcycle (until 72 h pre-match) Particularly relevant to center-backs, strikers, wingers, and full-backs in-season

AHT aerobic high-intensity training, SET-M speed endurance maintenance training, SET-P speed endurance production training. The framework is based on Jeffries et al. [134]