Are there differences in elite youth soccer player work rate profiles in congested versus regular match schedules?

Zanetti, V., Carling, C. orcid iconORCID: 0000-0002-7456-3493, Aoki, M.S., Bradley, P.S., and Moreira, A. (2018) Are there differences in elite youth soccer player work rate profiles in congested versus regular match schedules? Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research . ISSN 1064-8011

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000002702 ,

Abstract

Official international tournaments in which youth soccer players participate can involve very congested schedules. Yet no information regarding physical and technical match performance during congested versus regular (non-congested) cycles is available. In this study, accelerations, decelerations, mean metabolic power, and technical performance (offensive and defensive variables) were compared across very congested (VCM; 10 international matches played over 3 successive days, including 2 days with 2 consecutive matches separated by a 4-5 hr interval) and 10 regular (non-congested) match periods (NCM) in elite male Under 15 (U15, n=11) and Under 17 (U17, n=13) soccer players. Players wore a 15-Hz GPS unit with a 100-Hz tri-axial accelerometer. The session-RPE was assessed 30 min post-match. Results showed a higher number of accelerations/min observed in VCM vs NCM (U15; 2.27±0.35 vs 2.12±0.23; effect size [ES]=0.49; U17; 2.27±0.41 vs 2.01±0.31; ES=0.69). Decelerations/min were higher during VCM (U15; 1.99±0.27 vs 1.84±0.25; ES=0.55; and U17; 1.98±0.35 vs 1.80±0.27; ES=0.56). Mean metabolic power was higher in the VCM (U15; 0.42±0.06 vs 0.37±0.02; ES=1.08; U17; 0.46±0.03 vs 0.30±0.03; ES=1.94). Technical actions/min were higher in the VCM for U17 (ES=1.60 and 1.37, for offensive and defensive performance, respectively); but lower (during VCM) for U15 (ES=3.59 and 0.28, for offensive and defensive performance). U15 reported a higher session-RPE in the VCM (7.9±0.5 AU vs 6.9±0.5 AU). The findings suggest that running activity in these youth players was unaffected overall in tournaments with congested schedules and that the intensity of match-play was actually greater than in regular match schedules.


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