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Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 1(27), p. 20-30, 2013

DOI: 10.1519/jsc.0b013e31824e1946

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Training Status and Match Activity of Professional Soccer Players Throughout a Season

This paper is available in a repository.
This paper is available in a repository.

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine match activity (MA) and fatigue development (FD) during official soccer games in different moments of a season and the influence of training status (TS) on MA and FD. MA of 13 professional players was examined by time-motion analysis at four time points of a competitive season. In addition, per time point within the two-week period between the two games video-filmed, players performed the following physical tests: countermovement jump, 5-m and 30-m sprints, change of direction, knee extensor and flexor isokinetic strength, and Yo-Yo intermittent endurance test-level two. Players covered a greater high-intensity distance running (HI; p < 0.05) in the last quarter of the season than in the second (E2) and third (E3). Within each assessment period, a greater distance was covered in HI during the peak five-minute period of the match (P5-min) than in the five-minute period after P5-min (Next5-min) and the remaining five-minute periods (Av5-min; p < 0.05) of the match. Also, P5-min was higher in E4 than in the beginning of the season (E1, E2 and E3; p < 0.05). The physical fitness variables, composites scores of power-related and isokinetic strength tests were correlated (r ranging: 0.59-0.73, p < 0.05) with game physical parameters (GPP) analyzed by time-motion. Soccer players showed to cover more HI during the game and in the P5-min towards end-of-season. Players with greater muscle strength and power expressed lower performance decrements in GPP. In conclusion, results highlight the relevance of players' neuromuscular function on game physical performance.