A Longitudinal Prospective Study: The Effect of Annual Seasonal Transition and Coaching Influence on Aerobic Capacity and Body Composition in Division I Female Soccer Players

Abstract

This study assessed how seasonal transitions and coaching influence affect aerobic capacity (AC) and body composition across the annual training cycle (ATC). Eleven division 1 female soccer players were tested after five predesignated time blocks (B1–B5): post-season 2016 (B1), nine-week transition (B2), spring season (B3), pre-season (B4), and post-season 2017 (B5). Height, weight, and body composition (fat-free mass (FFM)) were measured prior to a standardized 5 min treadmill running and dynamic movement warm up before a maximal AC test. Statistical analysis included a 4 × 5 repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) (dependent variable × time) with the Fishers Least Significant Difference (LSD) post-hoc test when relevant; data are presented as mean ± standard deviation, effect size (ES), and percent change (%). The statistical analysis revealed that the ATC had a significant main effect on AC and FFM (F3,4 2.81, p = 0.001; η2 = 0.22). There were significant increases in AC across the transition period (B1–B2) with reduced training volume (∆ + 12.9%, p = 0.001; ES = 0.50) while AC and FFM peaked after the spring season with directed concurrent training paired with adequate rest B1–B3 (∆ + 16.4%, p < 0.01; ES = 0.81). AC decreased across the pre-season with indirect training (B3–B4) (∆ − 7.0%, p = 0.02; ES = 0.50) and remained suppressed without change (p > 0.05) across the competitive season (B4–B5). Rest, concurrent training, and directed training positively affected AC, while indirect training and high training loads with little rest negatively affected AC.

Associations between Physical Status and Training Load in Women Soccer Players

“…The literature has shown that athletes generally change their fitness status over the season, although this is not so straightforward. For example, a study showed that players’ aerobic capacity was higher in the midseason than in the pre- and postseason, indicating that the participants tend to reach a peak performance in this variable in the middle of the competitive schedule before it decreases over the subsequent weeks [ 17 ]. However, another study revealed that these changes can be very different from season to season [ 40 ].…”

“…Even though no perfectly related variations were observed across the season, physical/physiological adaptations could be related to the training load and stimuli imposed on the players [ 17 ]. Therefore, a dose–response relationship is expected to arise between the training load and changes in fitness that may occur in soccer players [ 18 ].…”

Female Soccer Periodization on Anaerobic Power/Capacity

“…This study is the first to examine anaerobic power and capacity changes in Division I female soccer athletes over the full ATC. Previous research in female collegiate athletes indicates varying responses to seasonal change (20,22,24). However, this particular research is important as our results show seasonal changes while revealing the off-season effects on anaerobic power/capacity independent of body composition.…”

Effects of a short-term in-season break on repeated-sprint ability, jump height and locomotor performance in small-sided games in female soccer players

“…Furthermore, after the same period of training cessation, improvements in power 6 and sprint 5 have been observed. Specifically, previous studies on female soccer players have reported an increase 7 or maintenance in aerobic fitness 8 at the end of the off-season in young female players (∼20 years) in contrast to a ∼3% reduction experienced by professional male soccer players. 9 However, to the best of the authors' knowledge, there has never been a study to measure the short-term detraining effect on specific performance (i.e., RSA or locomotor performance in small-sided games (SSGs)) in female soccer players.…”