What is the recommended amount of rest between repetitions of a Speed, Agility, and Quickness (SAQ) exercise for young athletes?

The recommended amount of rest between repetitions of Speed, Agility, and Quickness (SAQ) exercises for young athletes is 15 to 60 seconds. This duration allows young athletes to recover adequately between sets, enabling them to maintain high-quality performance throughout the exercise.

In SAQ training, the goal is to enhance the speed and quality of movement, which requires burst efforts followed by sufficient recovery. Resting for 15 to 60 seconds strikes a balance that allows athletes to regain their energy systems and optimal performance without leading to excessive fatigue, which could impair technique or increase the risk of injury.

Longer rest periods, such as 1 to 2 minutes, may not be as effective for maintaining the specific intensity of SAQ activities, as they could reduce the metabolic adaptation sought in younger athletes. Additionally, shorter rests, like 5 to 10 seconds, may not provide enough recovery time for the neuromuscular system to perform effectively in subsequent repetitions. Hence, the 15 to 60 seconds range is optimal for this demographic, promoting improvement in their speed, agility, and quickness while ensuring safety and proper technique.