HEART RATE ANALYSIS OF MEN'S COLLEGIATE SOCCER WITH COMPARISONS BY POSITION, BY GAME, AND BY HALF

Abstract

987 Heart rate analysis has been used on a limited scale to describe the physiological demands of soccer, most frequently on professional players. The purpose of this study was to describe the physiological demands of men's collegiate soccer through heart rate analysis with comparisons by position (fullback, central defender, midfield, forward, and goalkeeper) and with comparisons by game and by half. Six male collegiate soccer players volunteered to wear heart rate monitors during 2 to 4 spring games. The games were competitive, score was kept, and officials were used; however, the games consisted of 30 or 35 min halves. Heart rates, collected at 5 sec intervals for the duration of the game, were converted to relative heart rates (% of HRmax). The relative heart rate (RHR) for each 5 sec interval was subsequently placed into 1 of 6 categories: 50-74%, 75-79%, 80-84%, 85-89%, 90-94%, or 95-100% of HRmax. Chi square analysis revealed that the frequencies of RHR differed significantly (p<.001) between positions. Central defender showed a higher frequency of RHRs at 90-94% & 95-100% HRmax than the other positions. Fullback showed a higher frequency of RHRs at 50-74% & 75-79% HRmax than the other positions. Midfield showed the most equally distributed RHRs over all intensities. Significant differences (p<.001) in the frequencies of RHRs were also observed between games and between the first vs second half. Game 3, the most competitive game and the only game lost, showed the highest frequency of RHRs at 90-94% & 95-100% HRmax. Also, more frequent higher RHRs were observed in the first half than in the second half. It was concluded that the physiological demands of soccer differ between games, between halves of a game, and between positions played within the same game, all of which imply training considerations.