No studies have assessed whether changes in physical performance and inter-limb asymmetries (ILA) can be achieved with the FIFA 11+ prevention programme in adolescent female soccer players. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the FIFA 11+ programme compared with a standard warm-up on physical performance and ILA in adolescent female soccer players. Thirty-six adolescent female soccer players were randomly assigned to an experimental (EG; n = 19) or a control group (CG; n = 17). Unilateral/bilateral countermovement jump (CMJ), drop jump (DJ) and horizontal jump tests, two different change of direction tests, an ankle dorsiflexion test, the Y-Balance test (YBT) and inter-limb asymmetries were measured before and after 10 weeks of training. The results revealed no significant group-by-time interactions in the vast majority of variables (p>0.05). Paired t-test revealed significant improvements of the right [effect size (ES):0.56] and left (ES:0.49) CMJ, right (ES:0.74) and left (ES:0.54) DJ (ES:0.74), right (ES:1.27) and left (ES:1.26) posteromedial direction and right (ES:0.89) and left (ES:0.84) posterolateral direction in the YBT in the EG (p < 0.05). Right anterior direction in the YBT and V-cut test were significantly improved in both groups (p<0.05). For inter-limb asymmetry variables, no significant group-by-time interactions (ES:0 to 0.93) and an improvement between pre- and post-tests (ES:-0.76 to 0.49) were observed. Therefore, the FIFA 11+ programme led to improved unilateral jumping, dynamic balance and reduced lower extremity symmetries of several tests in adolescent female soccer players.

Purpose: To examine the effects of an 8-week combined strength and power training intervention on physical performance and interlimb asymmetries in adolescent female soccer players. Methods: Thirty-seven adolescent female soccer players (age 16.1 [1.1] y) were randomly assigned to a control group (n = 18) or experimental group (n = 19). The experimental group performed combined strength and power training twice a week, which consisted of strength and power exercises that trained the major muscles of the lower body and trunk musculature. Preintervention and postintervention tests included unilateral and bilateral horizontal and countermovement jump tests, a 40-m sprint test (10- and 30-m split times), a 10-m sprint with a 180° change-of-direction (COD) test, and a multiple-COD test (V-cut test). Asymmetries were also analyzed in the unilateral tests. Results: Significant group-by-time interaction of the improvement between pretest and posttest was observed for speed (effect size [ES]: −1.30 to −1.16) and COD tests (ES: −0.62 to −0.61) but not in jumping (ES: −0.09 to 0.28) and interlimb-asymmetry tests (ES: −0.13 to 0.57). Conclusions: The short-term in-season combined strength and power training program induced greater speed and COD performance improvements than soccer training alone in adolescent female soccer players.

The association between asymmetries in jump and change of direction (COD) with physical performance in several sports show inconclusive results. The purposes of this study were to: (1) measure inter-limb asymmetries in three distinct groups in adolescent female soccer players and, (2) to determine the association between inter-limb asymmetries and physical performance in different age groups. Fifty-four players were distributed in three age groups: U-18, U-16 and U-14. All of them performed a series of jumps, sprints and change of direction speed tests. Asymmetries were assessed as the percentage difference between limbs, with the equation: 100/Max value (right and left) * in value (right and left) * −1 + 100. Mean inter-limb asymmetries were 2.91%, 4.82% and 11.6% for 180° COD, single leg hop and single leg countermovement jump tests respectively, but higher percentages of asymmetries were observed in many players individually. U-18 and U-16 showed significant differences on 180° left COD compared to U-14. Effect size (ES): 0.80 and 0.74, respectively; U-18 presented differences on single left leg hop test compared to U-14, ES: −0.72; U-16 also showed differences on 40 m speed compared to U-14, ES 0.87 (All p < 0.05). Jumping and COD physical tests show asymmetries in adolescent female soccer players, but these asymmetries do not interfere with physical performance. The largest asymmetry was observed in the single leg countermovement jump, and no asymmetries between groups were found. Due to the high variability in the direction of asymmetries, it is recommended to consider players’ individual asymmetries for designing specific training programs.

The main purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the effects of strength training (ST) and plyometric training (PT) on vertical jump, linear sprint and change of direction (COD) performance in female soccer players. A systematic search of the PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar and SportDiscus databases revealed 12 studies satisfying the inclusion criteria. The inverse-variance random-effects model for meta-analyses was used. Effect sizes (ES) were represented by the standardized mean difference and presented alongside 95% confidence intervals (CI). The magnitude of the main effect was small to moderate (vertical jump (ES 0.53 (95% CI—0.11, 0.95), Z = 2.47 (p = 0.01); linear sprint (ES −0.66 (95% CI—2.03, −0.21), Z = 2.20 (p = 0.03); COD (ES −0.36 (95% CI—0.68, −0.03), Z = 2.17 (p = 0.03)). Subgroup analyses were performed (i.e., ST and PT duration, frequency, session duration and total number of sessions), revealing no significant subgroup differences (p = 0.12–0.88). In conclusion, PT provides better benefits than ST to improve vertical jump, linear sprint and COD performance in female soccer players. However, significant limitations in the current literature prevent assured PT and ST prescription recommendations being made.

The purpose of this study was three-fold: (1) to describe anthropometric, maturation, and somatotype differences of players based on playing positions; (2) to analyze variations of accumulated load training (AcL) and fitness parameters between playing positions; and finally (3) to explain the variation of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and peak power (PP) through the AcL, body fat (BF), maturity, somatotype and fitness levels. Twenty-seven male youth soccer players under-16 were divided by the following positions participated in this study: six central midfielders, four wingers (WG), five forwards, eight defenders, and four goalkeepers (GK). They were evaluated on two occasions: pre-season and after-season. Height, sitting height, body mass, BF, girths, percentage of BF (BF%), lean body mass, maturity, somatotype, sprint test, change of direction test, Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1, Wingate, PP, VO2max and fatigue index were assessed. Then, AcL was monitored during training sessions. The main results revealed significant differences between player positions for maturity offset (p = 0.001), for BF (p = 0.006), BF% (p = 0.015), and lean body mass kg (p = 0.003). Also, there were significant differences for AcL and fatigue index in pre-season between player positions (p < 0.05). In addition, there were some significant differences in pre- and after-season for VO2max and PP between player positions (p < 0.05). In conclusion, GK showed higher values in anthropometric, body composition variables and maturity offset compared to the other positions, while WG presented lower levels of BF. In pre-season, there were more differences by player positions for the different variables analyzed than after-season that reinforces the tactical role of the positions, and the emphasis in increased load in the beginning of the season. This study could be used by coaches, staff, and researchers as a reference for athletes of the same sex, age, and competitive level.

El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar el efecto de un entrenamiento pliométrico (ejercicios en extremidades superiores e inferiores) en acciones físicas explosivas específicas en jóvenes tenistas. Veintiún jóvenes tenistas (11 chicos, 10 chicas; media de edad 14.33 ± 1.77 años) participaron en el presente estudio y fueron divididos de forma no aleatoria en grupo control, el cual continuó con su entrenamiento habitual de preparación física y en experimental, al que se le sustituyó su entrenamiento de preparación física habitual por un programa de entrenamiento pliométrico dos veces por semana durante un período de 8 semanas. Las variables de rendimiento fueron analizadas a través de diferentes valoraciones: un sprint de 20 metros (tiempos parciales 5m, 10m y 15m), un sprint de 5 + 5 metros con un cambio de dirección de 180º, un test de salto con contramovimiento bilateral (CMJ) y unilateral, un test de lanzamiento de balón medicinal a la máxima distancia (BM), un test de velocidad de servicio y un test de salto horizontal bilateral (SH) y unilateral (SHU). El efecto producido por el entrenamiento fue calculado en base al tamaño del efecto. Todas las variables de rendimiento fueron mejoradas en ambos grupos en comparación con los valores del pre-test. Además, el grupo experimental obtuvo mejoras sustanciales con respecto al grupo control en el SH, SHU, CMJ Y BM. Por lo tanto, el programa de entrenamiento pliométrico podría considerarse como un estímulo efectivo en la mejora de las acciones explosivas en jóvenes tenistas.Palabras clave: Agilidad; fuerza explosiva; adolescentes; tenis. ResumenCorrespondencia/correspondence: Elena Pardos-Mainer Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad San Jorge, Zaragoza y GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group, Universidad de Zaragoza. España Email: emainer13@gmail.comThe aim of the current study was to assess the effect of plyometric training (upper and lower body exercises) in explosive actions in young tennis players. Twenty-one young tennis players (11 males, 10 females, age 14.33 ± 1.77 years old) participated in the present study and were divided, in a non-randomized manner, into a control group which continued with a regular physical training and in a experimental group, which performed a biweekly plyometric training instead of the habitual fitness training during an 8-week period. Performance variables were assessed through several assessments; a 20-m sprint test (split 5m, 10m and 15m), a 5 + 5 m sprint with a 180º change of direction test, a bilateral (CMJ) and unilateral countermouvement jump test, a maximum distance medicine ball throw test (BM), a speed serve test and a bilateral (SH) and unilateral (SHU) standing broad jump test. Performance's effect was calculated based on the effect size. All performance variables were improved in both group compared to the pre-test. Furthermore, substantial greater enhancements were obtained in SH, SHU, CMJ and BM in the experimental group in comparison to the control group. Therefore, the ply...

The current study surveyed weekly and daily variations of well-being ratings relative to the Hooper Index (HI): fatigue (wFatigue), stress (wStress), delayed onset muscle soreness (wDOMS), and sleep quality (wSleep) during a soccer season based on players’ positions. The full-season was divided into three meso-cycles: Early season, week (W)1 to W7; Mid-season, W8 to W13, and End-season, W14 to W20. Twenty-six young players participated in the study (age, 15.5 ± 0.2 years; height, 172.9 ± 4.2 cm; body mass, 61.4 ± 5.6 kg; body fat, 8.6 ± 2.9%; VO2max, 48.4 ± 2.4 mL.kg−1·min−1; maturity offset, 1.9 ± 0.3 years). Participants played in the same team and competed in Iran national under-16 competitions. Well-being status was monitored on training days using the HI questionnaire. The main result was a significant difference between well-being status 5 days before match day (MD) and 4 days before MD, compared to MD for all playing positions (p ≤ 0.001). The highest and lowest records occurred during End-season for wDOMS (strikers = 11.5 ± 8.4 arbitrary units (AU)), Early season (central defenders = 9.5 ± 0.7 AU) and for wFatigue (central midfielders = 11.4 ± 0.9 AU), and Early season (wide defenders = 9.7 ± 0.7 AU), respectively. Overall, the results showed a significant increase in wStress and wSleep for all players’ positions from Early- to End-season. The main application of this study is to make coaches aware of their players’ well-being fluctuations throughout the full season, especially in young elite soccer players, and to avoid injuries, overtraining, and overreaching as much as possible.

Agradecimientos: El estudio "Pasos que suman: programa saludable contra el sedentarismo en las personas mayores" ha sido financiado por las ayudas a los proyectos de Buenas Prácticas de Innovación Docente-USJ (2016). Los autores también desean dar las gracias a todos los voluntarios y a los centros participantes del municipio de Villanueva de Gállego, cuya colaboración y dedicación hicieron posible este estudio. Código UNESCO: 2312 Salud Pública Clasificación del Consejo de Europa: 17. Otras: Actividad Física y Salud. RESUMENDiferentes investigaciones muestran los efectos de la actividad física (AF) sobre la salud en los adultos mayores. Los objetivos principales de este estudio fueron: 1) evaluar la relación entre las recomendaciones de AF de la OMS y la percepción de calidad de vida en las personas mayores, y 2) valorar el efecto de un asesoramiento basado en la concienciación sobre el estilo de vida. Para ello participaron 28 adultos mayores (70,6±6,2) del municipio de Villanueva de Gállego (Zaragoza), que fueron distribuidos en grupo experimental (GE) y control. Todos los sujetos completaron un cuestionario de calidad de vida (EQ-5D) y de nivel de AF (RAPA). Los sujetos que practicaban AF regular presentaron mayores niveles de percepción de calidad de vida (p<0,05). La intervención basada en la concienciación podría ser una estrategia de utilidad en la mejora de la percepción de la calidad de vida de los adultos mayores.Palabras Clave: adultos, RAPA, EQ-5D, depresión, ansiedad. RESUMENEl fútbol es el deporte más popular en el mundo y lo practican tanto hombres, como mujeres y niños con diferentes niveles de experiencia. La práctica del fútbol depende de una multitud de factores como son la técnica, biomecánica, táctica, áreas mentales y demandas fisiológicas. La información ha sido recabada de diversos artículos científicos y revisiones relacionadas con el tema, todos ellos de actualidad y seleccionando únicamente la información que nos interesa en relación a este tema. En el presente artículo se describen los factores externos más importantes y que mayor influencia tienen en el rendimiento del deportista y que se deberían de tener en cuenta. Se muestran las demandas relacionadas con la distancia total recorrida por los jugadores durante los partidos, la intensidad y velocidad de desplazamiento, las acciones según el puesto específico que ocupa cada jugador en el terreno de juego y, por último, la superficie de contacto. Palabras clave: Requerimientos físicos, fútbol, entrenamiento, lesión. Rev.Ib.CC. Act. Fís. Dep. 2018; 8(3): 96-109 97 ACTIVIDAD FÍSICA Y CALIDAD DE VIDA EN LAS PERSONAS MAYORES: ESTUDIO PILOTO PQS ABSTRACTSeveral investigations show the effects of physical activity (PA) on health in the older adults. The main aims of this research were: 1) to evaluate the relationship between the PA recommendations proposed by the World Health Organization and the perception of quality of life in the elderly, and 2) to determine the effect of an intervention based on lifestyle advices. For this, we selected ...