Variations in important aerobic fitness parameters and physical characteristics during two consecutive preseason periods in adolescent soccer players

Abstract

Purpose. This study examined the variations in selected aerobic fitness parameters, namely maximum oxygen consumption (VO 2 max), running velocity at VO 2 max (vVO 2 max), running velocity at ventilatory threshold (vAnT) and 1-minute post-exercise heart rate recovery (%Hrrec) as well as height, body mass and percentage of body fat (%bF) in high-level adolescent soccer players. The relationship between %bF and VO 2 max values was also analyzed. Methods. 25 athletes (mean age: 14.5 ± 1.3 years) were measured at the second week of the preseason period (1 st period) and at the same corresponding week after a 12-month period (2 nd period). Results. VO 2 max, vVO 2 max and vAnT increased significantly by 6.6, 6.5 and 3.27%, respectively, from the 1 st to 2 nd period (p 0.01 -0.05; effect size (ES) = -0.35 -0.66). In contrast, %Hrrec remained relatively unchanged (-0.5%) during the same period (p > 0.05; effect size (ES) = 0.01). %bF showed a negative trend, but no significant correlation with VO 2 max was found during the same period (r = -0.331; p > 0.05). Significant variations were found for height and body mass (2.64 and 11.17%; p 0.01; effect size (ES) = -0.56 and -0.72, respectively), but not for %bF (1.34%; p > 0.05; effect size (ES) = -0.27).Conclusions. This data can provide useful information regarding physiological aerobic adaptations and changes in physical characteristics as a result of a year of soccer training, including growth and maturations processes, during the specific periods tested.

Variations of estimated maximal aerobic speed in children soccer players and its associations with the accumulated training load: Comparisons between non, low and high responders

“…The evidence about aerobic capacity changes in professional soccer players or elite youth players during the season is well-described [14,15]. However, the findings in children players are now so well-described.…”

Effect of a training macrocycle on physiological indicators, body composition and explosiveness of recreational runners

“…the increase to 48.11 ml • kg -1 • min -1 in the post-training Vo 2 max values generated a significant rise of 2.36% in relation to the first evaluation, demonstrating that there was a small improvement in the aerobic fitness of the subjects of the present study. Although they presented a certain amount of experience in street races, the Vo 2 max of the individuals evaluated was lower than that among the participants of the study by Iaia et al [25], men with a mean age of 33.5 years and Vo 2 max of approximately 54.80 ml • kg -1 • min -1 ; of the study by Zatoń and Michalik [26], men and women with a mean age of 34 years and Vo 2 max of 51.98 ml • kg -1 • min -1 ; and of the study by Manou et al [27], 25 male adolescents aged 13-16.1 years with training experience time with soccer of 6.7 ± 1.8 years, who presented an increase of 6.65% in Vo 2 max values after 2 preseason periods. Given that approximately 75% of the training sessions of the macrocycle were composed of low-intensity and high-volume loads, the improvement observed in aerobic fitness could be related to the fact that the participants of the present research were more prone to sensitive cardiorespiratory adaptations as a function of training status when compared with runners with higher levels of performance [28], such as the subjects of the above-mentioned studies.…”

Integrating field-based tests into weekly soccer training sessions: a comparison of physiological demands of three progressive multistage fitness tests and regular training demands

“…For example, soccer players with the greatest maximal oxygen uptake cover the longest distances at high intensity during a match [5,6]. Further, performance in a multistage fitness test correlates with match running performance [7], supporting the utility of these tests to monitor changes in aerobic performance [8,9].…”