Table 1 Studies included in the qualitative analysis

Aschendorf et al. [9]

15.1 ± 1.1

Basketball

N-24

E-11

C-13

5

E-specific basketball HIIT; 90–95% HRmax; 2 × a week; 25 min

C-maintained a normal training

BF

FFM

CMJ

CMJa

SJ

YYIR1

COD Shuttle run 20 m

E

C

COD180 ↑

CMJ ↔ 

CMJa ↔ 

SJ ↔ 

YYIR1 ↑

BF ↔ 

FFM ↔ 

COD180 ↓*

CMJ ↔ 

CMJa ↔ 

SJ ↔ 

YYIR1 ↔ 

BF ↔ 

FFM ↔ 

Sanchez-Sanchez et al. [22]

17.2 ± 1.1

Basketball

N-12

HITCOD1-6

HITCOD3-6

6

HIITCOD1-90% Vift; 2 × a week on 6 regular trainings; 2 × 6 min

HIITCOD3-90% Vift; 2 × a week on 6 regular trainings; 2 × 6 min

V-cut

RSA

MAT

Vift

HIITCOD1

HIITCOD3

V-cut ↑

RSA ↑

Vift ↑

MAT ↔ 

V-cut ↑*

RSA ↑*

Vift ↑*

Zeng et al. [23]

19.9 ± 1.1

Basketball

N-19

SSG-9

HIIT-10

4

3 × (6–9 min of 15′–15′ at 90–95% of Vift); 3 × a week

20 m

CMJ

MAT

RSA

Vift

SSG

HIIT

20 m ↑

CMJ ↑

MAT ↑*

RSA ↑*

Vift ↑*

20 m ↑

CMJ ↑

MAT ↑*

RSA ↑*

Vift ↑*

Alonso-Fernandez et al. [24]

15.2 ± 0.6

Handball

N-14

E-7

C-7

8

E-HIIT

C-regular warm-up;

HR = 85% + ; 2 × a week;

1–2 week: 4′

3–4 week: 4′2′4

5–6 week: 4′2′4′2′4′

7–8 week: 4′2′4′2′4′2′4′

BMI

BF

CMJ

VO₂max

E

C

VO₂max ↑*

CMJ ↔ 

BMI ↔ 

BF ↑*

CMJ ↔ 

BMI ↔ 

Jurišić et al. [25]

16.20 ± 1.28

Handball

N-24

SSG-12

HIIT-12

8

2 × (6–8 min of 15′–15′ at 90–95% of MAS with 3 min. recovery between series); 2 × a week

CMJ

SJ

20 m

30 m

YYIR1

SSG

HIIT

CMJ ↑*

SJ↑*

20 m↑*

30 m ↔ 

YYIR1 ↑*

CMJ ↑*

SJ ↑*

20 m ↑*

30 m ↑*

YYIR1 ↑*

Rowan et al. [27]

19.4 ± 0.87

Soccer

N-15

STR-8

COD-7

2

STR(1–3)–7 × 30 m; 3 series

STR (4–6) 4 series

COD(1–3)–7 × 20 m; 3 series

COD (4–6) 4 series; 2 weeks; 3 × a week

VO₂max

YYIR1

STR

COD

VO₂max↑*

YYIR1 ↑*

VO₂max↑*

YYIR1 ↑*

Wright et al. [8]

13.4 ± 1.5

Soccer

N-37

E1(pre-PHV)-6

E2(at PHV)-7 E3(after PHV)-24

8

All groups worked 2 blocks for 4 weeks

#1 block-longer HIIT

#2 block-SIT

1 block-1 week-1 training

2–4 week-2 trainings

#2 block-5 week-2 trainings

6–7 week-2 trainings

8 week-1 training + individual training for all (1 × 70 min)

20 m test

YYIR1

E1

E2

E3

20 m↓*

YYIR1↑

20↑m

YYIR1↑

20 m↓*

YYIR1↑*

Arazi et al. [26]

23.4 ± 1.3

Soccer

N-16

E-8

C-8

6

(E) HR HIIT-90% from maximal speed

(C) HIIT-90% from maximal speed

(3 × a week + regular trainings)

VO₂max

Vift

(E) HR HIIT

(C) HIIT

VO₂max↑*

Vift ↑*

VO₂max↑*

Vift ↑*

Kinnunen et al. [31]

22 ± 3

Ice hockey

N-14

2

2 × a week HIIT

6 × 30c sprint with an ascent of 9.5% with a break of 4 min between each series

CMJ

SJ

11 m skiing

34 m skiing

11 m skiing ↔ 

34 m skiing ↔ 

CMJ ↔ 

SJ ↔ 

Funch et al. [32]

19.29 ± 0.91

Field hockey

N-14

HIIT(run)-8

HIIT(Tab)-6

4

12 trainings

HIIT(run) 30 min run

HIIT(Tab) 4 min

(75–85%)

VO₂max

HIIT(run)

HIIT(Tab)

VO₂max↑*

VO₂max↑*

Teixeira et al. [29]

18.71 ± 1.94

Futsal

N-14

SRIT1-7

SRIT3-7

5

SRIT1 (89%)-4 × 4 min; 3 min rest (7.5 s run–7.5 s rest) 16 shuttles;

SRIT3 (86%)-4 × 4 min; 3 min rest (15 s run-15 s rest); 8 shuttles

40 m Shuttle CMJ

SJ

VO₂max

SRIT1

SRIT3

40 m Shuttle ↑

VO₂max↑ CMJ ↑*

SJ ↑*

40 m Shuttle ↔ 

VO₂max↑

CMJ ↑

SJ ↑

Teixeira et al. [28]

19.2 ± 2

Futsal

N-16

SRIT1(7.5 × 7.5)-7

SRIT3(15 × 15)-9

5

SRIT1 (89%)-4 × 4 min; 3 min rest (7.5 s run-7.5 s rest); 16 shuttles;

SRIT3 (86%)-4 × 4 min; 3 min rest (15 s run-15 s rest); 8 shuttles

RSA

VO₂max

SRIT1(7.5 × 7.5)

SRIT3(15 × 15)

RSA↑*

VO₂max↑

RSA↑* VO₂max↑

Afyon et al. [30]

15.27 ± 1.10

Volleyball

N-11

E-6

C-5

6

E-Tab; 2 × a week; 8 min

C- maintained a normal training

20 m test

20 m Shuttle

CMJ

20 m ↑*

20 m shuttle ↑*

CMJ ↑