College Soccer Research Articles

Impact of curcumin supplementation on exercise performance and muscle damage after a soccer match: a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over study.

Curcumin ingestion can mitigate muscle damage, soreness, and inflammation following a laboratory-based eccentric exercise. Similar effects were observed in recent field-based studies wherein responses were evaluated after a soccer match. However, various potential confounding factors, such as matching opponent skill levels and daily training conditions, may have influenced the outcomes. In the present study, we investigated whether curcumin intake ameliorates changes in muscle damage markers following a soccer match while controlling for the potential confounding factors. Fifteen collegiate athletes were tested in a randomized, double-blind, cross-over manner. They were recruited from the same college soccer team and thus followed the same daily training regimen and competition levels. Furthermore, athletes positioning during matches were counterbalanced. They consumed either 180mg/day of curcumin or a placebo starting 1h before the match and continuing for 2days after a match (two 45-min plays and a 15-min half-time). Muscle soreness, jump performance (including countermovement jump and rebound jump index), and inflammatory and muscle damage markers (high-sensitive C-reactive protein, serum creatine kinase activity, and urinary N-terminal fragment of titin concentration) were evaluated before and after the match. The washout period between matches was set at 1week. After the match, all markers showed similarity between the placebo and curcumin conditions (all P > 0.208). These findings indicate that ingesting 180mg/day of curcumin may not expedite recovery from muscle damage elicited by soccer matches in collegiate soccer players.

Wearable Devices and Digital Biomarkers for Optimizing Training Tolerances and Athlete Performance: A Case Study of a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Soccer Team over a One-Year Period.

Wearable devices in sports have been used at the professional and higher collegiate levels, but not much research has been conducted at lower collegiate division levels. The objective of this retrospective study was to gather big data using the Catapult wearable technology, develop an algorithm for musculoskeletal modeling, and longitudinally determine the workloads of male college soccer (football) athletes at the Division III (DIII) level over the course of a 12-week season. The results showed that over the course of a season, (1) the average match workload (432 ± 47.7) was 1.5× greater than the average training workload (252.9 ± 23.3) for all positions, (2) the forward position showed the lowest workloads throughout the season, and (3) the highest mean workload was in week 8 (370.1 ± 177.2), while the lowest was in week 4 (219.1 ± 26.4). These results provide the impetus to enable the interoperability of data gathered from wearable devices into data management systems for optimizing performance and health.

대학축구선수들의 지도자신뢰, 자아존중감, 성인지감수성과의 구조적 관계

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship among coach trust, self-esteem and gender sensitivity of university soccer players. Two hundred ninety five university soccer players completed questionnaires to analyze for the coach trust, self-esteem, and gender sensitivity. Analysis of frequency, confirmation factor, correlation, structural equation model and reliability verification were performed using SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 23.0. Coach trust had a positive effect on self-esteem. Coach trust did not have a positive effect on gender sensitivity. Self-esteem had a positive effect on gender sensitivity. It was found that self-esteem was as a mediator in the relationship between coach trust and gender sensitivity. The results of the study indicate that self-esteem is the mediation variable that affects the relationship between the player’s coach trust and gender sensitivity.

"Dietary Self-Management in University Soccer Players: Are There Differences by Athletic Performance?"

"Dietary Self-Management in University Soccer Players: Are There Differences by Athletic Performance?"

Optimization path of physical training in college soccer teaching based on multivariate statistical analysis

Abstract Physical training in college soccer teaching has the problems of poor science and insufficient data management, this paper applies multivariate statistical methods to uncover data associations in training to construct a digital planning method. The digital characteristics of random vectors can be identified through the theoretical analysis of the multivariate statistical analysis algorithm. Correlation analysis is applied to test the validity of the research data, followed by the construction of regression equations of pre-competition functioning on competition fitness, to achieve the statistical examination of the research data. The multivariate statistical analysis algorithm was used to conduct a case study on physical training for college soccer. The results showed that after 16 weeks of soft ladder training the average muscle strength of the left rectus femoris muscle of 35 players in the experimental group increased from 31.17Kg to 33.32Kg (P < 0.01), and the average muscle strength of the right rectus femoris muscle increased from 30.29Kg to 32.37Kg (P < 0.01) There was a highly significant difference. This study provides theoretical references for physical training in college soccer teaching and promotes the development of college sports teaching.

Design of physical function monitoring system for athletes in soccer training in college sports

Abstract A comprehensive assessment of the physical capabilities and attributes of soccer players is essential for effective college soccer training. The ability to implement targeted tactical training relies on a thorough understanding of each player’s physical condition. This paper presents a monitoring system for soccer players’ bodily functions, developed using inertial sensor technology alongside Beer’s Law, tailored to recognize human body movement states and to measure blood oxygen and heart rate. The system’s efficacy in movement recognition and physiological monitoring was evaluated through comparative testing, assessing its performance against established algorithms. Notably, this system demonstrated a 9.75% improvement in the average accuracy for recognizing walking and running actions compared to the Juha Parkka decision tree algorithm and a 6.5% increase in accuracy over the D.M. Karantonis algorithm for walking action recognition. Heart rate measurements incurred an error of approximately ±2 BPM, with a maximum error of 1.7, and oxygen saturation monitoring displayed an error margin of ±2%, with a maximum deviation of 1.6. These deviations fall within acceptable limits. The results of this study furnish valuable data to support the customization of training content and intensity for college soccer athletes and offer insights for optimizing player selection and tactical strategies during matches.

Quantification in shooting precision for preferred and non-preferred foot in college soccer players using the 95% equal confidence ellipse.

Shooting precision is a fundamental characteristic in soccer, yet the probabilistic structure and magnitude of precision in soccer shooting remain quantitatively unexplored. This study aimed to quantify shooting precision using measures derived from the bivariate normal distribution for both preferred and non-preferred feet. Sixteen right-footed collegiate soccer players participated by performing instep kicks aiming at targets which are placed close to the left and right top corners of the soccer goal. We used bivariate normal distribution modeled the ball positions, revealing an ellipsoidal distribution, and the area of the 95% confidence ellipses served as an index of precision. Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed a significant main effect of the kicking foot. For shots aimed at the same side as the kicking foot, the area of the 95% confidence ellipse was 6.17 ± 1.93 m2 (mean ± SD) for the preferred foot and 10.22 ± 3.53 m2 for the non-preferred foot. Similar results were observed for shots aimed at the opposite side of the kicking foot. These quantitative findings hold promise for advancing soccer research and enhancing practical applications in soccer skill assessment.

Relationship Between Nordic Hamstring Strength and Single Leg Bridge Test in University Soccer Players.

Nordic hamstring strength (NH strength) and single leg bridge test (SLBT) scores are used to predict the risk of hamstring strain injury. Although NH strength and SLBT scores may be related, the relationship between NH strength and SLBT score remains unknown. This study investigated the relationship between NH strength and SLBT scores in university soccer players. Cross-sectional study. Research laboratory. 38 male university soccer players. NH strength and SLBT scores. A participant was instructed to lean forward gradually at the slowest possible speed from a kneeling posture with the knee joint flexed 90° for the NH strength measurement. Participants in the SLBT crossed their arms over their chests, pushed down from their heels, and lifted their hips off the ground as many times as they could until they failed. We investigated the relationship between NH strength and SLBT scores in the left and right sides using Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Additionally, we calculated the percentage of left-right asymmetry in NH strength and SLBT scores and investigated the relationship between these variables using Pearson correlation coefficient. There were no significant correlations between NH strength and SLBT scores in the right (rs = .239, P = .16) and left (rs = .311, P = .065) legs. Furthermore, there was no significant relationship between NH strength and SLBT between-limb asymmetry (r = .073, P = .671). NH strength and SLBT scores could be different indexes, indicating either maximal muscle strength or muscle endurance. Thus, the findings suggested that when assessing risk factors for hamstring strain injury, both NH strength and SLBT scores should be measured.

University Soccer Players Using Supplements Correctly?

University Soccer Players Using Supplements Correctly?

Advanced Force Coordination of Lower Extremities During Visuomotor Control Task in Soccer Players

ABSTRACT Purpose: This study is aimed to determine specific bilateral lower extremity motor performances and coordination patterns in soccer players with healthy controls using the bilateral force control paradigm. We hypothesized that soccer players would show more advanced bilateral force control performances than untrained controls. Methods: Participants were 13 university soccer players and 13 healthy controls. Each group performed bilateral ankle dorsiflexion force control tasks across two vision conditions (i.e., vision and no-vision) and two targeted force levels (i.e., 10% and 40% maximum voluntary contraction). We calculated force accuracy, variability, and symmetry to assess force control performances. To estimate bilateral force coordination, we calculated Pearson’s correlation coefficients between feet-within a single trial and considered uncontrolled manifold variables across multiple trials. In the no-vision condition, we performed secondary analyses for initial force control patters after removal of visual feedback. Results: There were no significant group differences in bilateral force accuracy and variability but, compared to the control group, soccer players showed higher force symmetry between left and right ankle dorsiflexion forces. For force coordination between feet, soccer players revealed more negative values of the correlation coefficient and greater good variability from the uncontrolled manifold analysis than those for the control group. The secondary analysis revealed no significant group differences in the time until force drift and amount of force adjustments. Conclusions: Soccer players have more compensatory and flexible interlimb force coordination strategies between feet.

Adequate Interval between Matches in Elite Female Soccer Players.

The present study compared four different intervals between three simulated soccer matches for changes in muscle damage and performance parameters. Thirteen well-trained female university soccer players performed three bouts of 90-min Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test (LIST) with four different intervals between bouts; one (1d), two (2d), three (3d) and four days (4d), with >12-weeks between conditions in a counterbalanced order. Heart rate, blood lactate, rating of perceived exertion and distance covered in each LIST were measured. Changes in several muscle damage markers (e.g., maximal voluntary isometric torque of the knee extensors: MVC-KE, muscle soreness), performance parameters (e.g., Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1: Yo-Yo IR1), and blood measures (e.g., osmolality, high sensitivity cardiac troponin T) before the first LIST, 1 h after each LIST, and one to five days after the third LIST were compared among the conditions. The total distance covered during the first two LISTs was not different among the conditions, but that during the third LIST was shorter (P < 0.05) for the 1d (9,416 ± 885 m) and 2d conditions (9,737 ± 246 m) than the 3d (10,052 ± 490 m) and 4d conditions (10,432 ± 538 m). Changes in all measures were smaller (P < 0.05) in the 3d and 4d conditions (e.g., the decrease in MVC-KE at one day after the third LIST was -13 ± 4% and -10 ± 3%, respectively) when compared with the 1d and 2d conditions (-20 ± 7%, -18 ± 5%). Performance parameters showed smaller (P < 0.05) changes in the 4d (e.g., the decrease in Yo-Yo IR1 at one day after the third LIST was -9 ± 3%) and 3d (-13 ± 6%) conditions when compared with the 1d (-19 ± 4%) and 2d (-20 ± 8%) conditions. These results suggest that muscle damage and fatigue accumulate when soccer matches are performed three consecutive days or every other day, but if more than three days are inserted between matches, this could be minimized.

Prediction Of Soccer Playing Ability from Selected Fundamental Skill Performances and Anthropometric Measurements of Soccer Players

The intension of the study was prediction of soccer playing ability from selected fundamental skill performances and anthropometric measurements of soccer players. To attain this aim, the investigator selected one hundred and sixty male inter-collegiate level Bangalore north university soccer players as subjects. Random group design was used for this investigation, as it is considered most suitable. The age of the selected subjects ranged from eighteen to twenty five years. In this study one criterion (soccer playing ability) and eight determinant variables are included. Pearson product moment correlation was utilized to verify the association between criterion (soccer playing ability) and determinant shooting ability, dribbling ability, passing ability, height, weight, leg length, calf girth and thigh girth variables respectively. The relationship between criterion and determinant variables as well as inter-correlations among determinant variables was calculated by using Pearson product-moment correlation formula. To test the hypothesis 0.05 level of confidence was fixed. The selected fundamental skill performance and anthropometric measurements such as shooting ability, calf girth, dribbling ability and weight were highly significantly correlated with soccer playing ability of Bangalore north university affiliated inter collegiate level soccer players.&#x0D;

Association between sports expertise and visual attention in male and female soccer players.

Visual attention plays a crucial role in daily living and in sports, affecting an athlete's performance and thus, potentially, the outcome of a match. However, studies assessing the association between the level of sports expertise and visual attention have yielded mixed results. This study was conducted to examine whether visual attention could be developed with increased sports expertise, and whether visual attention differed between male athletes and female athletes. A total of 128 participants were included in this study: 64 first-level national soccer athletes recruited from college soccer teams (considered elite athletes; 32 men and 32 women with similar soccer performance requirements and training experience), and 64 physical education college students with limited soccer experience (considered novice athletes; 32 men and 32 women with matched soccer experience). To assess visual attention, we used a multiple object tracking (MOT) task with four targets among a total of 10 objects moving at a fixed speed of 10°/s in random directions across a computer monitor screen. Tracking accuracy on the MOT task was calculated for each participant as the proportion of correctly selected targets. A univariate analysis of variance was performed, with group (expert, novice) and sex (male, female) as independent variables, and tracking accuracy on the MOT task as the dependent variable to assess whether sports expertise or sex influenced visual attention. Simple effects tests followed by comparisons with Bonferroni corrections were used, and effect size calculations were performed using Cohen's f statistic. Tracking accuracy on the MOT task was significantly affected by sports expertise (F(1,124) = 91.732, p < 0.001, ηP2 = 0.425), with accuracy among expert soccer athletes superior to that among novice soccer athletes. Moreover, a statistically significant interaction between sports expertise and sex was detected (F(1,124) = 7.046, p = 0.009, η P2= 0.054). Better tracking performance was observed for male soccer players (mean [SD], 0.39 [0.12]) than for female soccer players (mean [SD], 0.27 [0.08]); p<0.01; d=1.17; r=0.51) but only in the novice group. No significant sex difference was detected in tracking performance between elite male soccer athletes (mean [SD], 0.51 [0.09]) and elite female soccer athletes (mean [SD], 0.49 [0.11]). These findings confirm previous results indicating that long-term extensive sports training develops visual attention as assessed by MOT performance and extend previous findings to include soccer athletes. The findings of a sex difference in visual attention among novice soccer players but not among elite soccer athletes who had similar performance requirements and training experience suggest that long-term extensive training may minimize the sex difference in visual attention.

Acute effects of sprint training for hamstrings injury prevention on male college soccer players

In soccer, the hamstring is one of the most common injury portions. Among the various interventions, it can be assumed that modification of sprinting movement is directly helpful in hamstring injuries. The acute effects of sprinting interventions would be useful for pre-match interventions if they were immediate. The present study aimed to clarify the acute effects of sprint training for hamstring injury prevention on a collegiate soccer player. A total of twenty–seven male collegiate soccer players participated in the present study. Participants performed a 30 m sprint test as a pre-test after warming up. Subsequently, an hour-long sprint training session, targeting the modification of movements associated with hamstring injuries, was conducted, followed by a post-test involving a 30 m sprint. From these trials, 30 m time and kinematic variables associated with a hamstring injury; trunk angle, thigh angle and shank angle, were computed. The results revealed a significant positive modification in the trunk angle between the pre-test and post-test sessions. However, no marked differences were observed in 30 m time and other kinematic data. Therefore, sprinting modification was shown to have an acute effect on improving trunk angle without affecting the running speed.

Research on the effective guidance method of college soccer training activities based on SAQ training method

Abstract A more effective instructional method is proposed to address the shortcomings of current college soccer training activities. In this paper, 30 students with comparable soccer quality in colleges and universities were selected and divided equally into experimental and control groups, with the experimental group using SAQ training methods and the control group using traditional training methods. The square dribbling test, 15-meter zigzag dribbling test, straight line with the ball around the barrel test and DAT non-directional dribbling test were selected as the dribbling ability test indexes, and the cross quadrant jump, Illinois test, cross disguised running and Nebraska test were selected as the agility quality test indexes. The analysis of the data measured before and after the experiment by factor analysis showed that the Р values of the players in the experimental group were less than 0.05 in the square dribble and DAT non-directional dribble test, and the Р values were greater than 0.05 in the comparison of the linear barrel test. This study used a scientific analysis method to investigate soccer training activities in colleges and universities, which can effectively optimize the instructional methods of soccer training.

The effects of sex hormones during the menstrual cycle on knee kinematics.

The effects of the menstrual cycle and sex hormones on knee kinematics remain unclear. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of the menstrual cycle and serum sex hormone concentrations on knee kinematic parameters of the 90°cutting in female college soccer athletes. Three female college soccer teams (53 subjects) participated in the study. During the first menstrual cycle, a three-step method was used to exclude subjects with anovulatory and luteal phase-deficient (LPD) (12 subjects). The subjects' menstrual cycle was divided into the menstrual phase, late-follicular phase, ovulatory phase, and mid-luteal phase (group 1, 2, 3, 4). In each phase of the second menstrual cycle, we used a portable motion analysis system to enter the teams and tested the sex hormones concentrations and knee kinematics parameters in three universities in turn. We found that subjects had a lower maximum knee valgus in group 4 compared with other groups. This meant that subjects had a lower biomechanical risk of non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in the mid-luteal phase. There was no significant correlation between serum estrogen, progesterone concentration, and knee kinematic parameters. This meant that sex hormones did not have a protective effect. Future studies need to incorporate more factors (such as neuromuscular control, etc.) to investigate.

Analysis of the Application of Combination Training Method in College Soccer Teaching

Analysis of the Application of Combination Training Method in College Soccer Teaching

The Effects of Exercise Commitment According to Self-management on Exercise Continuation Intention in College Soccer Players

The Effects of Exercise Commitment According to Self-management on Exercise Continuation Intention in College Soccer Players

Dynamic adjustment of submaximal effort soccer side-foot kicks

ABSTRACT We aimed to illustrate kicking leg dynamics during submaximal effort soccer side-foot kicks. Side-foot kicks with three effort levels (50, 75 and 100% effort levels based on maximal effort) of eight male university soccer players were captured (500 Hz) while initial ball velocities were monitored simultaneously. Systematic regulation in joint kinetics (angular impulses) was clearly demonstrated for hip flexion and knee extension moments thereby supporting the interpretation that the final foot velocity is controlled in a context of a planar, sequential segmental system. Out of the thigh-shank plane motion (hip external rotation moment) was also found to be systematically adjusted. Kinematic contributions of knee extension angular velocity to the final foot velocity increased significantly in the maximal effort while that of hip external rotation reduced significantly, coinciding with a more straightforward approach-run. The adjustable range of the foot-ball interaction was found to be rather smaller in side-foot kicks. However, significantly smaller ball/foot velocity ratios in the two submaximal conditions suggested ankle joint fixation was manipulated towards ball impact. Players and coaches ought to recognise that the intensities of side-foot kicks were regulated by the motions within and without the thigh-shank plane alongside several kinematic changes.

Accumulated Workload Differences in Collegiate Women's Soccer: Starters versus Substitutes.

The purpose of this study was to estimate the workloads accumulated by collegiate female soccer players during a competitive season and to compare the workloads of starters and substitutes. Data from 19 college soccer players (height: 1.58 ± 0.06 m; body mass: 61.57 ± 6.88 kg) were extracted from global positioning system (GPS)/heart rate (HR) monitoring sensors to quantify workload throughout the 2019 competitive season. Total distance, distance covered in four speed zones, accelerations, and time spent in five HR zones were examined as accumulated values for training sessions, matches, and the entire season. Repeated-measures ANOVA and Student's t tests were used to determine the level of differences between starter and substitute workloads. Seasonal accumulated total distance (p < 0.001), sprints (≥19.00 km/h; p < 0.001), and high-speed distance (≥15.00 km/h; p = 0.005) were significantly greater for starters than substitutes. Accumulated training load (p = 0.08) and training load per minute played in matches (p = 0.08) did not differ between starters and substitutes. Substitutes had similar accumulated workload profiles during training sessions but differed in matches from starters. Coaches and practitioners should pursue strategies to monitor the differences in workload between starters and substitutes.