Modern soccer is characterized by repeated high-intensity actions separated by short recovery periods, and match-defining sequences often depend on the capacity to accelerate, decelerate, re-accelerate, and sprint repeatedly under accumulating fatigue (1-3). Within this context, repeated-sprint ability (RSA) is a core performance quality, whereas change-of-direction speed (CODS) reflects the ability to brake, reorient, and accelerate efficiently in response to task constraints. Although both qualities are relevant to soccer, their overlap is incomplete because COD tasks impose additional coordinative, eccentric-braking, and multiplanar-control demands that are not captured fully by straight-line sprint tests (4-6). Identifying recovery strategies that help preserve both linear and multidirectional sprint performance is therefore of direct practical interest to strength and conditioning practitioners.

Today's soccer involves continuous bursts of intense activity with brief rest intervals between them, and the moments that decide games frequently rely on players' ability to speed up, slow down, speed up again, and sprint multiple times while growing increasingly tired (1-3). Given these demands, repeated-sprint ability (RSA) serves as a fundamental performance trait, while change-of-direction speed (CODS) represents how well players can stop, change direction, and accelerate effectively when responding to game situations. Both abilities matter in soccer, but they don't completely overlap since change-of-direction tasks require extra coordination, eccentric braking strength, and control across multiple movement planes that straight-line sprinting tests don't fully measure (4-6). For this reason, finding recovery methods that help maintain both straight-line and multidirectional sprinting performance holds clear practical value for strength and conditioning professionals.