Comprehensive Fitness Control in Young Soccer Players - Comparison of Laboratory and Field Testing Indicators

Abstract

Young athletes require a specialized approach to training process, taking into consideration a broad range of physiological and training aspects. The study is focused on the evaluation of fitness level of young soccer players and the search for interrelations between parameters of laboratory and field tests with the physiologic measurements during match play. The proposed paper provides coaches, sports scientists and physicians with important information on effective training control based on accessible and reliable tests. Twenty six healthy male soccer players born in 2004 currently aged 12-13 were recruited for the study. Data obtained from laboratory testing (cycling stress-test with gas-exchange measurements, Wingate cycling test, and blood lactate measurements), maximal interval running field test and soccer game analysis with heart rate monitoring were analysed. Firstly, Wingate cycle test parameters in young soccer players aged 12-13 were described in details. Furthermore, significant interrelations between indicators of physical state, obtained from the various types of tests were revealed. The most important finding was close correlations between measured indicators during the game with results of laboratory and field tests. Based on mentioned above, laboratory and field tests can be widely used in training control of young soccer players.