The soccer season: performance variations and evolutionary trends

Silva, João R.

doi:10.7717/peerj.14082

Cited by 14 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 234 publications

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“…However, due to practical issues (i.e., refusal of the coaches to perform maximal strength tests during the in-season), we could not measure any changes in strength. Although this is a limitation of the present study, it may be argued that in-season resistance strength training with high intensity, moderate volume training performed once per week maintained the level of strength and power achieved during the pre-season [ 14 , 33 , 35 ] which would otherwise decline [ 36 ]. This approach of strength and power maintenance may be superior to plyometric training during the in-season period [ 15 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-Intensity Interval Training Combined with High-Load Strength Training Improves Aerobic Fitness, Match Goals and Match Result during the In-Season Period in Under-19 Soccer Players

Thomakos,

Spyrou,

Tsoukos

et al. 2023

Sports

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This study compared the effects of adding a weekly session of either strength training followed by high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or high load plyometric training followed by small-sided games (SSG) on aerobic fitness, goals scored and conceded, and match results. Twenty-nine players from two youth elite teams competing in an under 19 (U19) first division league took part in the study. Of those, 16 players from one team followed the HIIT program (age: 17.8 ± 0.6 years) and 13 players from the other team trained once a week, following the SSG program (age: 18.0 ± 0.6 years). The training intervention lasted for 11 weeks and was applied once per week. For the HIIT team it included high-load strength training (80–95% of 1 RM) followed by high-intensity intermittent running, whereas for the SSG team (n = 13) it included plyometric exercises followed by SSG. Aerobic fitness was assessed before and after the intervention, while goals scored and conceded, as well as match results during the intervention period, were compared with the 11-week period preceding it. Only the HIIT team improved Yo-Yo IR2 performance (running distance: from 902.5 ± 147.5 to 1092.5 ± 155.8 m, p < 0.001) while there was no change for the SSG group. Moreover, during the 11-week intervention, the HIIT team improved the number of goals scored in the last 30 min of the game compared with the pre-intervention period (0.36 ± 0.50 to 1.27 ± 0.90 per match, p < 0.05) and the scored vs. conceded goals were higher in the second half (1.36 ± 1.03 vs. 0.27 ± 0.47, p < 0.05). No significant differences were found for these parameters in the SSG team. Regarding match result, the HIIT team increased the proportion of wins from 5 wins in 11 matches (or 45%) in the pre-intervention period to 9 wins in 11 matches (or 82%) during the intervention period, while this profile remained unchanged for the SSG team. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that the HIIT program performed once per week was superior to SSG as it improves aerobic fitness, scored and conceded goals, and match result during the in-season period.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-Intensity Interval Training Combined with High-Load Strength Training Improves Aerobic Fitness, Match Goals and Match Result during the In-Season Period in Under-19 Soccer Players

Thomakos,

Spyrou,

Tsoukos

et al. 2023

Sports

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“…To increase performance and reduce injury incidence, elite clubs implement training programs, monitoring strategies, and complementary strategies to aid player recovery [ 16 , 20 , 32 ]. Moreover, given the specific characteristics of each player (e.g., age and profile, field position training status, injury records, lifestyle), there are significant acute and chronic inter-individual responses to training and match stimuli [ 33 , 34 ].…”

Section: The Within-club Multidisciplinary Teammentioning

confidence: 99%

Building Bridges Instead of Putting Up Walls: Connecting the “Teams” to Improve Soccer Players’ Support

Silva

Buchheit

Hader³

et al. 2023

Sports Med

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The increase in the economic value of soccer occurred in parallel with an increase in competing demands. Therefore, clubs and federations evolved to greater specialization (e.g., state-of-the-art facilities and high-profile expertise staff) to support players’ performance and health. Currently, player preparation is far from exclusively club or national team centered, and the lack of control in each player’s environment can be more prevalent than expected. For example, an elite group of professional players faces disruptions in the season club-oriented planification due to involvement in national teams. Moreover, as elite players’ financial resources grow, it is common for them to employ specialized personal staff (e.g., strength and conditioning, nutritionist, and sports psychologist) to assist in their preparation, resulting in complex three-fold relationships (i.e., club, player’s staff, national team). Although efforts have been made to improve communication with and transition from the club to the national team supervision, this new reality (club-players’ staff) may generate serious compound role-related problems and difficulties in monitoring load and training adaptation and having a unified message. Therefore, efforts must be implemented to ensure a more informed management of the players’ performance environment, where the existence and impact of these various personal staff are considered to avoid a long-term non-zero sum for all intervening parties. If left unchecked, current professional thinking may collide or overlap, potentially triggering conflict escalation and impairing athletic performance or health, especially if effective communication routes are not adequately established. Moreover, diluted personal responsibility regarding performance may ensue, resulting in decreased productivity from all involved, which may cause more harm than benefits for the player’s overall health and performance. This emerging reality calls for developing a joint working framework (i.e., between the player’s personalized support team and the clubs’ team) and better managing of a player-centered process.

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“…It remains unknown whether the high PFO reported in football players increases following pre‐season, when the players' fitness level is expected to improve, 19 and to our knowledge, no studies have investigated the relationship between PFO and physical performance in football players.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peak fat oxidation, peak oxygen uptake, and running performance increase during pre‐season in sub‐elite male football players

Rømer,

Hansen,

Lange

et al. 2024

Scandinavian Med Sci Sports

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PurposeIn Football, the high‐intensity running bouts during matches are considered decisive. Interestingly, recent studies showed that peak fat oxidation rates (PFO) are higher in football players than other athletes. This study aimed to investigate whether PFO increases following a pre‐season. Secondarily, and due to COVID‐19, we investigated whether PFO is related to the physical performance in a subgroup of semi‐professional male football players.MethodsBefore and after 8 weeks of pre‐season training, 42 sub‐elite male football players (18 semi‐professionals and 24 non‐professionals) had a dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry scan and performed a graded exercise test on a treadmill for the determination of PFO, the exercise intensity eliciting PFO (Fatmax) and peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak). Additionally, the semi‐professional players performed a Yo‐Yo Intermittent Recovery Test level 2 (YYIR2) before and after pre‐season training to determine football‐specific running performance.ResultsPFO increased by 11 ± 10% (mean ± 95% CI), p = 0.031, and V̇O2peak increased by 5 ± 1%, p < 0.001, whereas Fatmax was unchanged (+12 ± 9%, p = 0.057), following pre‐season training. PFO increments were not associated with increments in V̇O2peak (Pearson's r2 = 0.00, p = 0.948) or fat‐free mass (FFM) (r2 = 0.00, p = 0.969). Concomitantly, YYIR2 performance increased in the semi‐professional players by 39 ± 17%, p < 0.001, which was associated with changes in V̇O2peak (r2 = 0.35, p = 0.034) but not PFO (r2 = 0.13, p = 0.244).ConclusionsPFO, V̇O2peak, and FFM increased following pre‐season training in sub‐elite football players. However, in a subgroup of semi‐professional players, increments in PFO were not associated with improvements in YYIR2 performance nor with increments in V̇O2peak and FFM.

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The soccer season: performance variations and evolutionary trends

Cited by 14 publications

References 234 publications

High-Intensity Interval Training Combined with High-Load Strength Training Improves Aerobic Fitness, Match Goals and Match Result during the In-Season Period in Under-19 Soccer Players

High-Intensity Interval Training Combined with High-Load Strength Training Improves Aerobic Fitness, Match Goals and Match Result during the In-Season Period in Under-19 Soccer Players

Building Bridges Instead of Putting Up Walls: Connecting the “Teams” to Improve Soccer Players’ Support

Peak fat oxidation, peak oxygen uptake, and running performance increase during pre‐season in sub‐elite male football players

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