The Effect Of A Mixed Method Pre- And Halftime Cooling Strategy On Soccer Skill Performance

Abstract

Repeated sprinting ability and skill proficiency are key to success in team sports. Cooling lessens the thermal stress during repeated high intensity exercise, and as a result, better preserves repeated sprinting ability. It is unknown if cooling benefits skill performance. PURPOSE: To examine the effect of a mixed method cooling strategy on thermoregulatory responses and skill performance during simulated soccer in the heat. METHODS: Six male university soccer players completed 1 practice and 2 experimental sessions. In the experimental sessions, players completed 2 soccer halves. Each half consisted of a 36-min soccer specific cycling protocol (40 s at 3.3 Wkg-1 followed by 20 s at 1 Wkg-1 x 36 repeats) in the heat (30-32°C, 40-45% humidity). Skills testing made up the remainder of each half. Skill was assessed with a modified Loughborough Soccer Passing Test (LSPT) and a dribbling test. In one session cooling was applied for 25 min before the 1st half and for 15 min at halftime (COOL). Cooling involved ingestion of a sports drink slushy combined with wearing an ice vest. In the other session (CTL) players ingested sports drink. Core (TC) and tympanic temperature (TTY) were monitored throughout. RESULTS: TC at the start of the 1st half was lower in COOL than in CTL (37.0 ± 0.2 vs. 37.4 ± 0.1 °C; p=0.01). The increase in TC in the 1st half (1.3 ± 0.3 vs. 1.3 ± 0.5 °C), TC at the start of the 2nd half (37.4 ± 0.5 vs. 37.8 ± 0.3 °C), and the rise in TC in the 2nd half (0.9 ± 0.2 vs. 0.8 ± 0.5°C) were not different between COOL and CTL. TTY did not differ between COOL and CTL at any time. In COOL, the time needed to complete the LSPT in the 1st and 2nd half was 37.9 ± 1.1 s and 37.8 ± 0.4 s, respectively. Players amassed 8.1 ± 4.4 s and 5.4 ± 3.1 s of penalty time during these tests. Completion time and penalty time in CTL were 38.0 ± 1.2 s and 6.6 ± 2.3 (1st half) and 38.6 ± 1.7 s and 6.9 ± 4.0 s (2nd half). Time to complete the dribbling test in the 1st half equaled 7.0 ± 0.5 s and 6.9 ± 0.5 s in COOL and CTL. In the 2nd half these times equaled 7.1 ± 0.5 s and 7.2 ± 0.5 s. No between-condition differences were observed for any of the skill variables. CONCLUSION: The combination of ice slushy and ice vest cooling effectively reduced TC prior to the simulated soccer. Although thermal stress was slightly lower during the 1st and 2nd half due to cooling, this did not result in better skill performance.