In my system, it depends on where we are in the year. We only perform RDL’s the first three weeks in Winter and Summer off-season and the rest of the year are back raise variations on a 45 degree or GHR device.
I have a great track record of keeping my skill guys healthy during off-season training even though we do a great deal of speed work. The most I’ll encounter with my guys during those periods is ‘tightness’ not pulls.
It’s during training camps where the pulls occur due to the overload.
Since the hamstring work is already much less structurally demanding at that point, because it’s performed in an auxiliary capacity, most players won’t miss a beat even with a minor pull (no structural defect) because we rarely see a significant hamstring pull even during those times of year.
Obviously it follows that each individual is different and must be treated accordingly and T&F is unique in that the maximal outputs/velocities reached in the sprints are unrivaled relative to the operational outputs seen in the team sports (most of which are in the early acceleration zone) so the severity of pulls sustained in the team sports will rarely rival those of a track athlete.