Abstract
(1) Background: An improved understanding of soccer players’ match-related physical performance and recovery may help conditioning programs and re-warm up strategies to increase team performance during official competitions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the acute effects of 45 min of official competition (first half in matches) on physical performance variables in U-16 youth soccer players. (2) Methods: 20 male soccer players (age: 14.4 ± 0.5 years; height: 1.70 ± 0.05 cm; body mass: 65.1 ± 11.6 kg) were recruited to participate in this study. Data was collected from five official matches. Participants performed the assessments in two stages of each match: after the pre-match warm-up and after the first half. Tests included rate of perceived exertion (RPE), 30-m sprint and countermovement (CMJ). (3) Results: Statistically significant differences were found (p < 0.001) when the measurements prior to the game were compared with those recorded after half time across all variables. Effect sizes (ES) were very large for RPE (ES = 1.82), moderate for 30-m sprint times (ES = 0.64) and small for CMJ (ES = −0.25). (4) Conclusions: After 45 min of official competition, our results suggest that U-16 soccer players demonstrated a reduction in sprint and jump performance, in addition to a higher RPE. Hence, this information could be useful when designing re-warming strategies that can be performed before the second half.
Highlights
Soccer is a team sport that requires high-intensity intermittent actions repeatedly [1], performed during two 45-min periods separated by a 15-min interval [2]
(4) Conclusions: After 45 min of official competition, our results suggest that Under-16 category (U-16) soccer players demonstrated a reduction in sprint and jump performance, in addition to a higher rate of perceived exertion (RPE)
The results obtained show that after 45-min of official competition in U-16 soccer players, there is a decrease in sprint performance and jumping ability, along with an increase in RPE
Summary
Soccer is a team sport that requires high-intensity intermittent actions repeatedly [1], performed during two 45-min periods separated by a 15-min interval [2]. Mohr et al [13] reported that the players who re-warmed up in half time had a greater performance decrement at the end of the game than the control players who did not In this line, similar findings were reported by Zois et al [16] in terms of a greater perceived fatigue after an intermittent protocol for players who performed a re-warm up. Similar findings were reported by Zois et al [16] in terms of a greater perceived fatigue after an intermittent protocol for players who performed a re-warm up Due to this aforementioned controversy, it seems relevant to investigate the changes in physical performance between pre-game warm-up and before the second half in youth soccer players. This information will help coaches and physical trainers working in youth set-ups to make better decisions when deciding to perform a re-warm up protocol during half time (HT)
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