Effective conditioning of female soccer players
01 Jan 2004-
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compared the efficacy of three physical conditioning programmes provided over a 12 week period (24 h in total) on selected anthropometric and physical fitness parameters in female soccer players.
Abstract: We compared the efficacy of three physical conditioning programmes provided over a 12 week period (24 h in total) on selected anthropometric and physical fitness parameters in female soccer players. Two of the groups received physical conditioning training in accordance with speed, agility and quickness (SAQ); one group used specialized resistance and speed development SAQ equipment (equipment group; n = 12), while the other group used traditional soccer coaching equipment (non-equipment group; n = 12). A third group received their regular fitness sessions (active control group; n = 12). All three interventions decreased (P <0.001) the participants' body mass index (−3.7%) and fat percentage (−1.7%), and increased their flexibility (+14.7%) and maximal aerobic capacity ([Vdot]O2max) (+18.4%). The participants in the equipment and non-equipment conditioning groups showed significantly (P <0.005) greater benefits from their training programme than those in the active control group by performing significantly better on the sprint to fatigue (−11.6% for both the equipment and non-equipment groups versus −6.2% for the active control group), 25 m sprint (−4.4% vs −0.7%), left (−4.5% vs −1.0%) and right (−4.0% vs −1.4%) side agility, and vertical (+18.5% vs +4.8%) and horizontal (+7.7% vs +1.6%) power tests. Some of these differences in improvements in physical fitness between the equipment and non-equipment conditioning groups on the one hand and the active control group on the other hand were probably due to the specificity of the training programmes. It was concluded that SAQ training principles appear to be effective in the physical conditioning of female soccer players. Moreover, these principles can be implemented during whole team training sessions without the need for specialized SAQ equipment. Finally, more research is required to establish the relationship between physical fitness and soccer performance as well as the principles underlying the improvements seen through the implementation of SAQ training programmes.
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TL;DR: An update on the physiology of soccer players and referees, and relevant physiological tests is provided, and examples of effective strength- and endurance-training programmes to improve on-field performance are given.
Abstract: Soccer is the most popular sport in the world and is performed by men and women, children and adults with different levels of expertise. Soccer performance depends upon a myriad of factors such as technical/biomechanical, tactical, mental and physiological areas. One of the reasons that soccer is so popular worldwide is that players may not need to have an extraordinary capacity within any of these performance areas, but possess a reasonable level within all areas. However, there are trends towards more systematic training and selection influencing the anthropometric profiles of players who compete at the highest level. As with other activities, soccer is not a science, but science may help improve performance. Efforts to improve soccer performance often focus on technique and tactics at the expense of physical fitness. During a 90-minute game, elite-level players run about 10 km at an average intensity close to the anaerobic threshold (80-90% of maximal heart rate). Within this endurance context, numerous explosive bursts of activity are required, including jumping, kicking, tackling, turning, sprinting, changing pace, and sustaining forceful contractions to maintain balance and control of the ball against defensive pressure. The best teams continue to increase their physical capacities, whilst the less well ranked have similar values as reported 30 years ago. Whether this is a result of fewer assessments and training resources, selling the best players, and/or knowledge of how to perform effective exercise training regimens in less well ranked teams, is not known. As there do exist teams from lower divisions with as high aerobic capacity as professional teams, the latter factor probably plays an important role. This article provides an update on the physiology of soccer players and referees, and relevant physiological tests. It also gives examples of effective strength- and endurance-training programmes to improve on-field performance. The cited literature has been accumulated by computer searching of relevant databases and a review of the authors' extensive files. From a total of 9893 papers covering topics discussed in this article, 843 were selected for closer scrutiny, excluding studies where information was redundant, insufficient or the experimental design was inadequate. In this article, 181 were selected and discussed. The information may have important implications for the safety and success of soccer players and hopefully it should be understood and acted upon by coaches and individual soccer players.
1,841 citations
TL;DR: Results show major fitness differences by gender for a given competitive level in football players, and it is suggested that training and talent identification should focus on football-specific endurance and agility as fitness traits in post-adolescent players of both sexes.
Abstract: In this study, we examined gender and age differences in physical performance in football Thirty-four elite female and 34 elite male players (age 17 ± 16 to 24 ± 34 years) from a professional football club were divided into four groups (n = 17 each) according to gender and competitive level (senior males, senior females, junior males, and junior females) Players were tested for specific endurance (Yo-YoIR1), sprint over 15 m (Sprint-15m), vertical jump without (CMJ) or with (ACMJ) arm swing, agility (Agility-15m), and ball dribbling over 15 m (Ball-15m) The Yo-YoIR1 and Agility-15m performances showed both a gender and competitive level difference (P 005) More ma
325 citations
01 Jan 2008
TL;DR: The ability to change direction while sprinting is considered essential for successful participation in most team and individual sports and it has traditionally been thought that strength and power development would enhance change of direction (COD) performance as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The ability to change direction while sprinting is considered essential for successful participation in most team and individual sports. It has traditionally been thought that strength and power development would enhance change of direction (COD) performance. The most common approach to quantifying these relationships, and to discovering determinants (physiological and mechanical) of COD performance, is with correlation analysis. There have not been any strength or power variables that significantly correlated with COD performance on a consistent basis and the magnitude of the correlations were, for the most part, small to moderate. The training studies
315 citations
TL;DR: For women soccer players top-class international players perform more intervals of high-intensity running than elite players at a lower level, fatigue develops temporarily during and towards the end of a game, and defenders have lower work rates than midfielders and attackers.
Abstract: We sought to study the physical demands and match performance of women soccer players. Nineteen top-class and 15 high-level players were individually videotaped in competitive matches, and time-motion analysis were performed. The players changed locomotor activity >1,300 times in a game corresponding to every ~4 seconds and covered 9-11 km in total. The top-class players ran 28% longer (P < 0.05) at high intensities than high-level players (1.68 +/- 0.09 and 1.33 +/- 0.10 km, respectively) and sprinted 24% longer (P < 0.05). The top-class group had a decrease (P < 0.05) of 25-57% in high intensity running in the final 15 minutes compared with the first four 15-minutes intervals, whereas the high-level group performed less (P < 0.05) high-intensity running in the last 15 minutes of each half in comparison with the 2 previous 15-minute periods in the respective half. Peak distance covered by high intensity running in a 5-minute interval was 33% longer (P < 0.05) for the top-class players than the high-level players. In the following 5 minutes immediately after the peak interval top-class players covered 17% less (P < 0.05) high-intensity running than the game average. Defenders performed fewer (P < 0.05) intervals of high-intensity running than midfielders and attackers, as well as fewer (P < 0.05) sprints than the attackers. In conclusion, for women soccer players (1) top-class international players perform more intervals of high-intensity running than elite players at a lower level, (2) fatigue develops temporarily during and towards the end of a game, and (3) defenders have lower work rates than midfielders and attackers. The difference in high-intensity running between the 2 levels demonstrates the importance of intense intermittent exercise for match performance in women soccer. Thus, these aspects should be trained intensively in women soccer.
313 citations
TL;DR: It seems appropriate to individualise preventive training programmes, as is recommended for other training content, to decrease injury risk in elite female soccer players.
Abstract: Objective: To describe risk factors for injuries in elite female soccer.
Methods: A total of 143 female soccer players from the German national league participated in the study. Baseline information on player characteristics—for example, anthropometric measurements and playing position—and medical history were recorded at the start of the study. During one outdoor season, injuries and training and match exposure times were prospectively documented for each player.
Results: The risk of a new anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture was significantly increased in players with a previous rupture (odds ratio (OR) = 5.24, p = 0.01). This was not the case for ankle sprain (OR = 1.39) or knee sprain (OR = 1.50). In addition, no significantly increased risk of new sprains or ACL ruptures was found when the injured leg was the unit of analysis. Injury incidence was considerably higher in defenders (9.4 injuries per 1000 hours exposure) and strikers (8.4/1000 hours) than goalkeepers (4.8/1000 hours) and midfielders (4.6/1000 hours). Ten per cent of all players (n = 14) sustained more than three injuries. Most of these were defenders (n = 8) or strikers (n = 4). Significantly more injuries occurred to the dominant leg (105 v 71, p = 0.01); this was particularly true for contact injuries (52 v 29, p = 0.01).
Conclusions: Injury risk should be assessed on an individual basis. Therefore it seems appropriate to individualise preventive training programmes, as is recommended for other training content. Evaluating the existing rules of soccer and their appropriate application may also help to decrease injury risk, particularly in contact situations.
199 citations
References
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TL;DR: Skinfold thicknesses at four sites – biceps, triceps, subscapular and supra-iliac – and total body density were measured on 209 males and 272 females aged from 16 to 72 years, finding it necessary to use the logarithm of skinfold measurements in order to achieve a linear relationship with body density.
Abstract: The fat content of the human body has physiological and medical importance. It may influence morbidity and mortality, it may aIter the effectiveness of drugs and anaesthetics, and it may affect the ability to withstand exposure to cold and starvation. Thus the measurement of the total body fat provides useful information. In many people, but by no means everyone, a moderately satisfactory estimate of the body fat content can be obtained from the height and weight. However, for more precise evaluation several methods are available which give a reasonably accurate measure of body fat both in normal subjects and in individuals with unusual body builds. Most of these methods are based on the assumption that the body can be considered to consist of two compartments of relatively constant composition but which are distinctly different; these compartments are: (I) the body fat, which includes the entire content of chemical fat or lipids in the body, and (2) the fat-free mass (FFM), which includes all the rest of the body apart from fat. The body fat compartment is anhydrous, contains no potassium and has a fairly constant density of about 0.90 x 103 kg/m3. The fat-free compartment on the other hand probably has a fairly constant density of about 1.10 x 103 kg/m3, a potassium content of about 68 mequiv./kg in males (about 10% less in females) and a water content of about 720 g/kg. Thus measurement of body density or of total body K or of total body water allows a calculation of the relative proportion of these two compartments in the body and therefore also of the total fat content. The accuracy of these measures, however, is limited by the variability of the composition and density of the fat-free compartment in different individuals. In particular, individuals with a relatively high or
6,287 citations
TL;DR: A maximal multistage 20 m shuttle run test was designed to determine the maximal aerobic power of schoolchildren, healthy adults attending fitness class and athletes performing in sports with frequent stops and starts, indicating that the same equation could be used keeping age constant at 18.
Abstract: A maximal multistage 20 m shuttle run test was designed to determine the maximal aerobic power of schoolchildren, healthy adults attending fitness class and athletes performing in sports with frequent stops and starts (e.g. basketball, fencing and so on). Subjects run back and forth on a 20 m course and must touch the 20 m line; at the same time a sound signal is emitted from a prerecorded tape. Frequency of the sound signals is increased 0.5 km h‐1 each minute from a starting speed of 8.5 km h‐1. When the subject can no longer follow the pace, the last stage number announced is used to predict maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) (Y, ml kg‐1 min‐1) from the speed (X, km h‐1) corresponding to that stage (speed = 8 + 0.5 stage no.) and age (A, year): Y=31.025 + 3.238 X ‐ 3.248A + 0.1536.AX, r = 0.71 with 188 boys and girls aged 8–19 years. To obtain this regression, the test was performed individually. Right upon termination VO2 was measured with four 20 s samples and VO2max was estimated by retroextrap...
2,197 citations
TL;DR: An update on the physiology of soccer players and referees, and relevant physiological tests is provided, and examples of effective strength- and endurance-training programmes to improve on-field performance are given.
Abstract: Soccer is the most popular sport in the world and is performed by men and women, children and adults with different levels of expertise. Soccer performance depends upon a myriad of factors such as technical/biomechanical, tactical, mental and physiological areas. One of the reasons that soccer is so popular worldwide is that players may not need to have an extraordinary capacity within any of these performance areas, but possess a reasonable level within all areas. However, there are trends towards more systematic training and selection influencing the anthropometric profiles of players who compete at the highest level. As with other activities, soccer is not a science, but science may help improve performance. Efforts to improve soccer performance often focus on technique and tactics at the expense of physical fitness. During a 90-minute game, elite-level players run about 10 km at an average intensity close to the anaerobic threshold (80-90% of maximal heart rate). Within this endurance context, numerous explosive bursts of activity are required, including jumping, kicking, tackling, turning, sprinting, changing pace, and sustaining forceful contractions to maintain balance and control of the ball against defensive pressure. The best teams continue to increase their physical capacities, whilst the less well ranked have similar values as reported 30 years ago. Whether this is a result of fewer assessments and training resources, selling the best players, and/or knowledge of how to perform effective exercise training regimens in less well ranked teams, is not known. As there do exist teams from lower divisions with as high aerobic capacity as professional teams, the latter factor probably plays an important role. This article provides an update on the physiology of soccer players and referees, and relevant physiological tests. It also gives examples of effective strength- and endurance-training programmes to improve on-field performance. The cited literature has been accumulated by computer searching of relevant databases and a review of the authors' extensive files. From a total of 9893 papers covering topics discussed in this article, 843 were selected for closer scrutiny, excluding studies where information was redundant, insufficient or the experimental design was inadequate. In this article, 181 were selected and discussed. The information may have important implications for the safety and success of soccer players and hopefully it should be understood and acted upon by coaches and individual soccer players.
1,841 citations
13 May 2003
TL;DR: Experimental Design Statistics How ToChapter 10 Experimental Research | Research Methods for Statistical analysis in nursing research Rebekah G Design of experiments Wikipedia11.
Abstract: Experimental Design Statistics How ToChapter 10 Experimental Research | Research Methods for Statistical analysis in nursing research Rebekah G Design of experiments Wikipedia11.3 The Four Principles of Experimental Design(PDF) An Introduction to Experimental Design ResearchExperimental Research Design Mitchell Major (PDF) Experimental Research MethodsChapter 6 The t-test and Basic Inference PrinciplesNonexperimental Designs SAGE Research MethodsBasic Principles of Experimental Design Basic Statistics Split-Plot DesignChapter 8: Quasi-Experimental Research – Research Methods Statistics WikipediaSTATISTICAL METHODS11 Reporting the Results of a Statistical Test BSCI Chapter 4 Experimental Designs and Their AnalysisTrue Experimental Design SAGE Research MethodsDesign of experiments (DoE) in pharmaceutical developmentExperimental Design Software | NCSS Statistical SoftwareWhen should I use a quasi-experimental design?Guidelines for the Design and Statistical Analysis of Use and Interpretation of QuasiExperimental Studies in Psychology | UCLA Graduate Programs5.2 Experimental Design – Research Methods in PsychologyMain Principles of experimental design: the 3 “R’s BASIC PRINCIPLES OF EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS in Research Principles, Statistical and Computational Tools for Experimental Design – Research Methods in Psychology – 2nd Topic 1: INTRODUCTION TO PRINCIPLES OF EXPERIMENTAL ...STATISTICAL PRINCIPLES FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDY PROTOCOLS:Experimental Design an overview | ScienceDirect TopicsExperimental design and sample size determinationDesign of Experiments an overview | ScienceDirect TopicsPrinciples, Statistical and Computational Tools for Experimental Data Products Census.govStudy/Experimental/Research Design: Much More Than StatisticsChapter 10. Experimental Design: Statistical Analysis of
1,573 citations
TL;DR: Enhanced aerobic endurance in soccer players improved soccer performance by increasing the distance covered, enhancing work intensity, and increasing the number of sprints and involvements with the ball during a match.
Abstract: HELGERUD, J., L. C. ENGEN, U. WISLOFF, and J. HOFF. Aerobic endurance training improves soccer performance.Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 33, No. 11, 2001, pp. 1925–1931. Purpose: The aim of the present study was to study the effects of aerobic training on performance during soccer match and soccer specific tests. Methods: Nineteen male elite junior soccer players, age 18.1 0.8 yr, randomly assigned to the training group (N 9) and the control group (N 10) participated in the study. The specific aerobic training consisted of interval training, four times 4 min at 90 –95% of maximal heart rate, with a 3-min jog in between, twice per week for 8 wk. Players were monitored by video during two matches, one before and one after training. Results: In the training group: a) maximal oxygen uptake (V u O2max) increased from 58.1 4.5 mL·kg 1 ·min 1 to 64.3 3.9 mL·kg 1 ·min 1 (P 0.01); b) lactate threshold improved from 47.8 5.3 mL·kg 1 ·min 1 to 55.4 4.1 mL·kg 1 ·min 1 (P 0.01); c) running economy was also improved by 6.7% (P 0.05); d) distance covered during a match increased by 20% in the training group (P 0.01); e) number of sprints increased by 100% (P 0.01); f) number of involvements with the ball increased by 24% (P 0.05); g) the average work intensity during a soccer match, measured as percent of maximal heart rate, was enhanced from 82.7 3.4% to 85.6 3.1% (P 0.05); and h) no changes were found in maximal vertical jumping height, strength, speed, kicking velocity, kicking precision, or quality of passes after the training period. The control group showed no changes in any of the tested parameters. Conclusion: Enhanced aerobic endurance in soccer players improved soccer performance by increasing the distance covered, enhancing work intensity, and increasing the number of sprints and involvements with the ball during a match. Key Words: V u O2max, LACTATE THRESHOLD, RUNNING ECONOMY, SKILL
981 citations