A Longitudinal Prospective Study: The Effect of Annual Seasonal Transition and Coaching Influence on Aerobic Capacity and Body Composition in Division I Female Soccer Players.

Troy M Purdom,Kyle S Levers,Chase S Mcpherson,Lindsey Brown,Jacob Giles

doi:10.3390/sports8080107

Abstract

This study assessed how seasonal transitions and coaching influence affect aerobic capacity (AC) and body composition across the annual training cycle (ATC). Eleven division 1 female soccer players were tested after five predesignated time blocks (B1–B5): post-season 2016 (B1), nine-week transition (B2), spring season (B3), pre-season (B4), and post-season 2017 (B5). Height, weight, and body composition (fat-free mass (FFM)) were measured prior to a standardized 5 min treadmill running and dynamic movement warm up before a maximal AC test. Statistical analysis included a 4 × 5 repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) (dependent variable × time) with the Fishers Least Significant Difference (LSD) post-hoc test when relevant; data are presented as mean ± standard deviation, effect size (ES), and percent change (%). The statistical analysis revealed that the ATC had a significant main effect on AC and FFM (F3,4 2.81, p = 0.001; η2 = 0.22). There were significant increases in AC across the transition period (B1–B2) with reduced training volume (∆ + 12.9%, p = 0.001; ES = 0.50) while AC and FFM peaked after the spring season with directed concurrent training paired with adequate rest B1–B3 (∆ + 16.4%, p < 0.01; ES = 0.81). AC decreased across the pre-season with indirect training (B3–B4) (∆ − 7.0%, p = 0.02; ES = 0.50) and remained suppressed without change (p > 0.05) across the competitive season (B4–B5). Rest, concurrent training, and directed training positively affected AC, while indirect training and high training loads with little rest negatively affected AC.

Highlights

Seasonal training stress variation throughout the annual training cycle (ATC) is known to affect aerobic capacity (AC) [1,2] and body composition [1,3,4,5]
Our results indicate that coaching strategy, training style, training load, and rest affect both AC
Large increases in training volume along with insufficient recovery may result in accumulated physiological stress, which is shown to negatively affect AC and body composition in collegiate athletes

Summary

Introduction

Seasonal training stress variation throughout the annual training cycle (ATC) is known to affect aerobic capacity (AC) [1,2] and body composition [1,3,4,5]. Physiological adaptation is the result of exercise stress and recovery, which varies according to training volume, intensity, frequency, and influenced by seasonal transitions [6]. Training volume, intensity, and frequency make up total training load, which influences adaptation. Training goals to affect adaptation are known to differentiate throughout the ATC with consideration of the competitive and off-season training [1,2,3,7], Sports 2020, 8, 107; doi:10.3390/sports8080107 www.mdpi.com/journal/sports. Sports 2020, 8, 107 in addition to the transition period(s) [6,8].

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