Fitness assessment of English league soccer players through the competitive season.

Abstract

A battery of 26 tests was administered to professional soccer players (n = 31) at 3 points during the competitive season. Significant changes from start to mid-season were limited to improved muscular power, increased resting heart rate (fH), decreased force expiratory flow (FEF) and ankle mobility. No further changes with the duration of the competitive season were observed. Differences between squads were predominantly cardiac function measures at mid-season, and strength, muscular power and limb girths at the end of the season. The First Team squad had consistently less fat and poorer ankle mobility. It seems that mean fitness levels remain relatively stable during the playing season, though the measures significantly discriminating between the top and reserve squads fluctuate.

Physiological adaptations to soccer specific endurance training in professional youth soccer players

“…16 The mean Vo 2max of elite soccer players is normally reported to be between 55 and 68 ml kg 21 min 21 . 14 [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] These moderate to high values are similar to those found in other team sports, 25 but are substantially lower than elite endurance performers where values close to 90 ml kg 21 min 21 have been found. 15 Individual values higher than 70 ml kg 21 min 21 for modern soccer players have been recently reported.…”

Seasonal DXA-measured body composition changes in professional male soccer players

“…The seasonal variation in body composition of male adult soccer players has been investigated as well (Carling & Orhant, 2010;Casajus, 2001;Egan, Reilly, Chantler, & Lawlor, 2006;Hoshikawa et al, 2005;Kutlu, Sofi, & Bozkus, 2007;Thomas & Reilly, 1979) because of its relevance to the fitness status of players. However, most of these studies only examined 2 time points across the season (typically around the beginning and the end of the competitive season) and only one used DXA (in collegiate soccer players).…”

Differences in Anthropometric Characteristics, Somatotype Components, and Functional Abilities Among Young Elite Kosovo Soccer Players Based on Team Position

“…Morphol., 36(1):41-47, 2018. percentage of fat tissue. However, the results vary significantly and are subject to inter/intra-individual fluctuations, depending on the position, the standards of game and season (Thomas & Reilly, 1979). The average values of the fat component in Kosovian footballers is around 11.6 %, which is within the value of the players from the first Brazilian league (10.9 %), Portuguese players (10.5 %) and English players (12.4 %) according to Matkovic et al The percentage of fat component in Kosovian goalkeepers is somewhat higher, but not statistically significant in terms of the players that play on other positions in the team.…”