Influence of warm-up duration on perceived exertion and subsequent physical performance of soccer players

© 2019 Institute of Sport. All rights reserved. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of three warm-up protocols with different durations in semi-professional soccer players. Fifteen semi-professional soccer players performed three warmup protocols (Wup₂₅ₘᵢₙ: 25 min, Wup₁₅ₘᵢₙ: 15 min and Wup₈ₘᵢₙ: 8 min duration) on three different days. Before (pre-test) and after (post-test) each warm-up protocol, the players’ physical performance (sprint, vertical jump and change of direction) was evaluated and all the players were asked to respond to the subjective scale of readiness to play a match. Also, after completing each warm-up protocol, all players responded to the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale. Although all protocols significantly improved the feeling of players being prepared to play the game (p<0.05 or p<0.01), after performing the Wup₂₅ₘᵢₙ protocol the players performed worse in the 10 m sprint (p<0.01) and in the 20 m sprint (p<0.05). However, the Wup₈ₘᵢₙ protocol significantly improved performance in both the 10 m sprint (p<0.05) and the 20 m sprint (p<0.05). In addition, with the Wup₂₅ₘᵢₙ protocol players stated a higher perceived exertion (RPE) (p < 0.05) than in the Wup₁₅ₘᵢₙ and Wup₈ₘᵢₙ protocols. The Wup₈ₘᵢₙ protocol was the only one that improved the acceleration ability of the soccer players in this study

Soccer small-sided games activities vary according to the interval regime and their order of presentation within the session

In order to investigate the physical demands of widely used in soccer small-sided games (SSGs), we compared game variations performed under different interval (fixed or variable) and timing regimens (beginning or end of a training session). Twelve male players wore GPS devices during the SSGs to record total distance, relative distance, distance at different speeds, and maximum velocity variables. Four variations of SSGs (4x4) were randomly applied: beginning of a training session with fixed and variable recovery, or end of a training session with fixed and variable recovery. During the beginning or end of a training session settings with fixed recovery duration, 2-min of playing and 2-min of recovery were provided. During the beginning and end of a training session settings with variable recovery, athletes kept playing until a goal was scored, or up to 2-min if no goals were scored. Results were analysed using MANOVA. Total distance and relative distance were higher in the beginning compared to end of training sessions for both fixed and variable recovery duration (small to moderate effect sizes). Distance at various speed ranges (i.e., 13-18 km/h and >18 km/h) was higher (p = 0.01) at the beginning than at the end of training sessions with variable recovery. In addition, distance >18 km/h was higher at the beginning of a training session with variable recovery than fixed recovery and at the end of a training session with variable recovery than fixed recovery. In conclusion, several physical demand characteristics are affected by the moment of SSG application, while others respond to the recovery regime during SSGs, thus providing indications to the coaches to prescribe the intended training intensity by manipulating the context

Effects of different post-activation potentiation warm-ups on repeated sprint ability in soccer players from different competitive levels

This study aimed to compare the effects of a traditional warm-up with two post-activation potentiation (PAP) warm-up strategies on the repeated sprint ability (RSA) of soccer players from national (NL) and regional (RL) competitive levels. Sixteen young players (NL, n = 8, age = 20.7 +/- 1.4 y, body mass = 68.5 +/- 7.0 kg, body height = 177.4 +/- 5.2 cm; RL, n = 8, age = 20.8 +/- 1.0 y, body mass = 68.7 +/- 4.0 kg, body height = 176.6 +/- 5.6 cm) were recruited to complete a traditional warm-up (CONTROL), a PAP warm-up incorporating squats with a load (similar to 60% 1RM) that allowed a high speed (1 m/s) of movement and a high number of repetitions (PAP-1), and a PAP warm-up with a load (similar to 90% 1RM) that allowed a moderate speed (0.5 m/s) of movement and a reduced number of repetitions (PAP-0.5). A RSA test (six 20-m sprints with 20 s of recovery) was performed 5 min after the PAP warm-up to assess the effects of the different protocols on the fastest sprint (RSAb) and the mean time of all sprints (RSAm). A meaningful improvement of RSA performance was observed with PAP-0.5, attaining a large effect on NL (RSAb, ES = -1.5; RSAm, ES = -1.3) and only a small effect on RL athletes (RSAb and RSAm, ES = -0.2). Moreover, when each RSA sprint performance was compared between NL and RL players, after PAP-0.5 greater performance for all sprints was observed in the NL players. Therefore, adding a heavy strength-based conditioning exercise during the warm-up prior to a RSA test may induce significant performance improvements in NL, but only small effects in RL players

Identification, Computational Examination, Critical Assessment and Future Considerations of Distance Variables to Assess Collective Tactical Behaviour in Team Invasion Sports by Positional Data: A Systematic Review

The aim of the study was the identification, computational examination, critical assessment and future considerations of distance variables to assess collective tactical behaviour in team invasion sports by positional data. A total of 3973 documents were initially retrieved. Finally, 72 articles met the inclusion criteria, but only 26 suggested original tactical variables based on the distance variables. The distance variables can be classified into player–player, player–space, player–ball, and Geometrical Centre (GC)–GC /player/space/goal. In addition, several nonlinear techniques have been used to analyse the synchronisation and predictability of the distance variables in team invasion sports. Player–opponent distance is of special interest in those sports in which man-marking is commonly used, and in the micro-structure close to scoring situations in all sports. In addition, player–player distances are used to measure the length and the width of the team and player–GC distance to assess the dispersion of the team. Player–space distances have been measured to assess the distance of the player/team-line to relevant areas of the playing space. Several techniques have been applied to analyse the synchronisation (i.e., Hilbert transformation and cluster analyses) and the complexity and regularity or predictability (i.e., approximate entropies, sample entropy, cross-sample entropy and average mutual information) of the distance variables in team invasion sports, revealing the lack of consensus. Although the distance variables may be interesting tactical variables when considered in isolation, it would be enriching to analyse the relationship among these variables

Effects of plyometric versus optimum power load training on components of physical fitness in young male soccer players

Purpose: The current study aimed to compare the effects of plyometric (PT) versus optimum power load (OPL) training on physical performance of young high-level soccer players. Methods: Athletes were randomly divided into PT (horizontal and vertical drills) and OPL (squat + hip thrust exercises at the load of maximum power output) interventions, applied over 7 weeks during the in-season period. Squat and countermovement jumps, maximal sprint (10 and 30 m), and change of direction (COD; agility t test) were the pretraining and posttraining measured performance variables. Magnitude-based inference was used for within- and between-group comparisons. Results: OPL training induced moderate improvements in vertical squat jump (effect size [ES]: 0.97; 90% confidence interval [CI], 0.32–1.61) and countermovement jump (ES: 1.02; 90% CI, 0.46–1.57), 30-m sprint speed (ES: 1.02; 90% CI, 0.09–1.95), and COD performance (ES: 0.93; 90% CI, 0.50–1.36). After PT training method, vertical squat jump (ES: 1.08; 90% CI, 0.66–1.51) and countermovement jump (ES: 0.62; 90% CI, 0.18–1.06) were moderately increased, while small enhancements were noticed for 30-m sprint speed (ES: 0.21; 90% CI, −0.02 to 0.45) and COD performance (ES: 0.53; 90% CI, 0.24–0.81). The 10-m sprint speed possibly increased after PT intervention (small ES: 0.25; 90% CI, −0.05 to 0.54), but no substantial change (small ES: 0.36; 90% CI, −0.40 to 1.13) was noticed in OPL. For between-group analyses, the COD ability and 30-m sprint performances were possibly (small ES: 0.30; 90% CI, −0.20 to 0.81; Δ = +1.88%) and likely (moderate ES: 0.81; 90% CI, −0.16 to 1.78; Δ = +2.38%) more improved in the OPL than in the PT intervention, respectively. Conclusions: The 2 different training programs improved physical performance outcomes during the in-season period. However, the combination of vertically and horizontally based training exercises (squat + hip thrust) at optimum power zone led to superior gains in COD and 30-m linear sprint performances

Post-activation potentiation: effects of different conditioning intensities on measures of physical fitness in male young professional soccer players

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of different warm-up conditioning intensities on the physical fitness (i.e., post-activation potentiation -PAP), of professional male field soccer players. Athletes (n = 10; age: 21.6 ± 3.2 years) completed a control warm-up and warm-ups aimed to induce PAP, in random and counterbalanced order. After control and experimental warm-up sessions participants completed a triple hop test with the dominant (H3Jd) and a non-dominant (H3Jnd) leg, a squat jump (SJ), a countermovement jump (CMJ), a change of direction ability (COD) test, a repeated sprint with a COD (RSCOD) test and a linear 30-m sprint test (S-30). The control warm-up (WU) protocol was designed according to athlete's regular warm-up practice. The experimental warm-ups included the same exercises as the WU, with addition of one set of half-back squats for 10 repetitions at 60%, 5 repetitions at 80%, and 1 repetition at 100% of 1RM (60%-1RM, 80%-1RM and 100%-1RM, respectively.) Threshold values for Cohen's effect sizes (ES) were calculated and used for group's comparison. Likely to most likely improvements were shown in H3Jd (ES = 0.52), H3Jnd (ES = 0.51), COD (ES = 0.38), fasted sprint (RSCODb) (ES = 0.58) and the total time of all sprints (RSCODt) (ES = 0.99) only after the 80%-1RM protocol in comparison to the WU. Conversely, 100%-1RM and 60%-1RM protocols, compared to WU, induced possibly to most likely poorer performance in all jumps, COD and RSCODb (ES = -0.07 to -1.03 and ES = -0.48 to -0.91, respectively). Possibly to most likely improvements were shown in all jumps, COD, RSCODb and RSCODt after the 80%-1RM warm-up protocol in comparison to the 100%-1RM and 60%-1RM warm-up protocols (ES = 0.35 to 2.15 and ES = 0.61 to 1.46, respectively). A moderate warm-up intensity (i.e., 80%-1RM back squat) may induce greater PAP, including improvements in jumping, repeated and non-repeated change of direction speed in male soccer players

Relationships between Workload, Heart Rate Variability, and Performance in a Recreational Endurance Runner

[EN] Background: The association between heart rate variability (HRV), training load (TL), and performance is poorly understood. Methods: A middle-aged recreational female runner was monitored during a competitive 20-wk macrocycle divided into first (M1) and second mesocycle (M2) in which best performances over 10 km and 21 km were recorded. Volume (km), session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE), TL, and monotony (mean TL/SD TL) were the workload parameters recorded. The root mean square of the successive differences in R-R intervals (RMSSD), its coefficient of variation (RMSSDcv), and the RMSSD:RR ratio were the HRV parameters monitored. Results: During M2, RMSSD (p = 0.006) and RMSSD:RR (p = 0.002) were significantly increased, while RR was significantly reduced (p = 0.017). Significant correlations were identified between monotony and volume (r = 0.552; p = 0.012), RR (r = 0.447; p = 0.048), and RMSSD:RR (r = −0.458; p = 0.042). A sudden reduction in RMSSD (from 40.31 to 24.34 ms) was observed the day before the first symptoms of an influenza. Conclusions: The current results confirm the practicality of concurrent HRV and sRPE monitoring in recreational runners, with the RMSSD:RR ratio indicative of specific adaptations. Excessive training volume may be associated to both elevated monotony and reduced RMSSD:RR. Identification of mesocycle patterns is recommended for better individualization of the periodization use

Effects of high-intensity training with one versus three changes of direction on youth female basketball players' performance

To compare the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIT) with one versus three changes of direction (COD) on young (age, 17.2 +/- 1.1 years) female basketball players' performance, six weeks of regular basketball training (control period) was followed by six weeks of high-intensity training added to regular training, two times per week, with a random allocation of athletes to either HIT with one (HIT-COD1; n=6) or three COD (HIT-COD3; n=6). Before and after the control and HIT-COD training periods athletes performed repeated-sprint ability test (RSA), modified agility T-test (MAT), V-cut, triple standing dominant (TS-D) and non-dominant (TS-ND) jump, TS-D and TS-ND with COD tests, and 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test (30-15(IFT)). With the exception of a substantial improvement in V-cut in both groups, no substantial changes occurred during the control period. Both HIT-COD training programs improved V-cut, although only HIT-COD3 substantially improved RSA mean time (RSA(m)), MAT and the final speed reached in 30-15(IFT) (V-IFT). The between-group comparison revealed greater improvements in RSA(m) and V-IFT in HIT-COD3 than in HIT-COD1. In conclusion, supplementation of basketball training with HIT-COD drills adds improvements to young female basketball player's performance, especially when 3 COD are incorporated into HIT

Physical performance during soccer-7 competition and small-sided games in U12 players

The aim of this study was to compare the activity profile (external loads) during soccer-7 competition versus 6 vs 6 small-sided games ( SSGs) in U12 players. Peak velocity (Vmax), total distance completed (DT), total distance relative to match duration, the percentage of DT in acceleration (%DAC) and in deceleration (%DEA), and the percentage of DT at different speeds were recorded. Six types of SSGs were randomly implemented: without pitch orientation-delimitation and with a limit of three ball-contacts per player (3TOU), with no limit of ball-contacts (MAN), with a greater number of players as internal-offensive wildcard players (2WI) or external-offensive wildcard players (4WE); and with pitch orientation-delimitation and crossing the rival goal-line while dribbling the ball without goalkeepers (INV) or using official goalkeepers (GKP). The physical demands of SSGs were compared with the average of two soccer-7 match plays. During soccer-7 match plays a lower %DAC and %DEA (p < 0.05) were observed compared to 2WI, 4WE, INV and GKP, and to INV and GKP, respectively. The Vmax and %HI were greater (p < 0.05) in soccer-7 match plays compared to all SSGs. In conclusion, the demands imposed on U12 players during different formats of SSGs differ from the soccer-7 match play demands, presenting a low stimulation of the actions performed at high-speed and an adequate simulation of acceleration-deceleration actions

Influence of scoring methods and numerical superiority on physical demands in elite young soccer players

Small-sided games (SSGs) are a useful strategy to optimize the training process in soccer. The modification of some variables simultaneously implies several physical adaptations in soccer players. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the differences in the physical demands encountered by soccer players in different SSGs formats focusing on the scoring methods (i.e., mini-goals and regular goals with goalkeepers) and to the numerical superiority situations (i.e., no superiority, variable superiority, and fixed superiority). Eight elite young soccer players from the same team (age: 17.9 ± 1.1 years) randomly completed six SSG formats. Physical parameters (i.e., total distance [TD], distance covered at different speeds [D1, D2, D3, D4, D5 and D6], and distance covered accelerating [ACC] and decelerating [DEC]) were collected. The main results showed that the variable superiority (i.e., 4vs4+1) situation is more demanding, in terms of TD and distance covered at D3 and D4, in comparison to no superiority (i.e., 4vs4) and fixed superiority (i.e., 5vs4) situations both SSGs played with mini-goals and regular goals with goalkeepers. Besides, higher physical demands were registered in fixed superiority (i.e., 5vs4) than in no superiority (i.e., 4vs4) situation. Finally, only in a no superiority (i.e., 4vs4) situation higher distances at D1 and D5 were registered during the SSG played with mini-goals but higher distance at D3 was covered in the SSG format with regular goals and goalkeepers. Playing SSGs in variable superiority situation is more demanding in comparison to no superiority (i.e., 4vs4) and fixed superiority situations both during those SSGs played with mini-goals and/or regular goals and goalkeepers. In addition, SSGs played with mini-goals induced higher physical demands than playing with regular goals and goalkeepers during no superiority games. These findings could be useful for coaches in order to periodize the training drills within the microcycle to modulate the training session intensity