Horizontal Versus Vertical Force Application: Association with the Change of Direction Performance in Soccer Players.

Although asymmetries in lower limbs have been linked with players’ performance in male soccer players, literature that has been published addressing female soccer is scarce. Thus, the aim of this study was twofold: (i) describe the asymmetries of women soccer players during jumping, change-of-direction and range-of-motion tests; and (ii) test possible relationships between asymmetries and injury risk in female soccer players. Sixteen female players (15.5 ± 1.5 years) performed a battery of fitness tests (i.e., jump ability, change-of-direction ability and passive range-of-motion) and muscle mass analysis via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, through which the specific asymmetry index and the related injury risk were calculated. Significant (p < 0.05) lower asymmetries in the change-of-direction test were observed in comparison to those observed in jumping and range-of-motion tests; significant (p < 0.05) lower asymmetries in muscle mass were also reported compared to those found in the change-of-direction and countermovement jump tests. Additionally, increased injury risk for countermovement jump and hip flexion with extended knee range-of-motion (relating to asymmetry values) and for ankle flexion with flexed knee range-of-motion in both legs (relating to reference range-of-motion values), as well as increased individual injury risk values, were observed across all tests. These findings suggest the necessity to implement individual approaches for asymmetry and injury risk analyses.

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Associations between Inter-Limb Asymmetries in Jump and Change of Direction Speed Tests and Physical Performance in Adolescent Female Soccer Players

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18073474 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (7) ◽

pp. 3474

Author(s):

Elena Pardos-Mainer ◽

Chris Bishop ◽

Oliver Gonzalo-Skok ◽

Hadi Nobari ◽

Jorge Pérez-Gómez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Performance ◽

Age Groups ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Adolescent Female ◽

Specific Training ◽

Countermovement Jump ◽

Change Of Direction ◽

Percentage Difference ◽

Hop Test ◽

Physical Tests

The association between asymmetries in jump and change of direction (COD) with physical performance in several sports show inconclusive results. The purposes of this study were to: (1) measure inter-limb asymmetries in three distinct groups in adolescent female soccer players and, (2) to determine the association between inter-limb asymmetries and physical performance in different age groups. Fifty-four players were distributed in three age groups: U-18, U-16 and U-14. All of them performed a series of jumps, sprints and change of direction speed tests. Asymmetries were assessed as the percentage difference between limbs, with the equation: 100/Max value (right and left) * in value (right and left) * −1 + 100. Mean inter-limb asymmetries were 2.91%, 4.82% and 11.6% for 180° COD, single leg hop and single leg countermovement jump tests respectively, but higher percentages of asymmetries were observed in many players individually. U-18 and U-16 showed significant differences on 180° left COD compared to U-14. Effect size (ES): 0.80 and 0.74, respectively; U-18 presented differences on single left leg hop test compared to U-14, ES: −0.72; U-16 also showed differences on 40 m speed compared to U-14, ES 0.87 (All p < 0.05). Jumping and COD physical tests show asymmetries in adolescent female soccer players, but these asymmetries do not interfere with physical performance. The largest asymmetry was observed in the single leg countermovement jump, and no asymmetries between groups were found. Due to the high variability in the direction of asymmetries, it is recommended to consider players’ individual asymmetries for designing specific training programs.

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Relationships between change of direction performance and fitness factors in amputee soccer players

Taiikugaku kenkyu (Japan Journal of Physical Education Health and Sport Sciences) ◽

10.5432/jjpehss.20077 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 65 (0) ◽

pp. 867-879

Author(s):

Hidetada KISHI ◽

Hirofumi MAEHANA ◽

Koichi KOMINE ◽

Koya SUZUKI

Keyword(s):

Soccer Players ◽

Change Of Direction

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Improvement of Physical Performance Following a 6 Week Change-of-Direction Training Program in Elite Youth Soccer Players of Different Maturity Levels

Frontiers in Physiology ◽

10.3389/fphys.2021.668437 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Dorsaf Sariati ◽

Raouf Hammami ◽

Hassane Zouhal ◽

Cain C. T. Clark ◽

Ammar Nebigh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Training Program ◽

Effect Size ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Height Velocity ◽

Adherence Rate ◽

Peak Height Velocity ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Significant Group ◽

Youth Soccer ◽

Change Of Direction

Background: Change-of-direction (CoD) is a necessary physical ability of a field sport and may vary in youth players according to their maturation status.Objectives: The aim of this study is: to compare the effectiveness of a 6-week CoD training intervention on dynamic balance (CS-YBT), horizontal jump (5JT), speed (10 and 30-m linear sprint times), CoD with (15 m-CoD + B) and without (15 m-CoD) the ball, in youth male soccer players at different levels of maturity [pre- and post-peak height velocity (PHV)].Materials and Methods: Thirty elite male youth soccer players aged 10–17 years from the Tunisian first division participated in this study. The players were divided into pre- (G1, n = 15) and post-PHV (G2, n = 15) groups. Both groups completed a similar 6-week training program with two sessions per week of four CoD exercises. All players completed the following tests before and after intervention: CS-YBT; 5 JT; 10, 30, and 15 m-CoD; and 15 m-CoD + B, and data were analyzed using ANCOVA.Results: All 30 players completed the study according to the study design and methodology. Adherence rate was 100% across all groups, and no training or test-related injuries were reported. Pre-PHV and post-PHV groups showed significant amelioration post-intervention for all dependent variables (after test > before test; p < 0.01, d = 0.09–1.51). ANOVA revealed a significant group × time interaction only for CS-YBT (F = 4.45; p < 0.04; η2 = 0.14), 5JT (F = 6.39; p < 0.02; η2 = 0.18), and 15 m-CoD (F = 7.88; p < 0.01; η2 = 0.22). CS-YBT, 5JT, and 15 m-CoD improved significantly in the post-PHV group (+ 4.56%, effect size = 1.51; + 4.51%, effect size = 1.05; and -3.08%, effect size = 0.51, respectively), more than the pre-PHV group (+ 2.77%, effect size = 0.85; + 2.91%, effect size = 0.54; and -1.56%, effect size = 0.20, respectively).Conclusion: The CoD training program improved balance, horizontal jump, and CoD without the ball in male preadolescent and adolescent soccer players, and this improvement was greater in the post-PHV players. The maturity status of the athletes should be considered when programming CoD training for soccer players.

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Evaluación y relación entre distintos parámetros de condición física en futbolistas semi profesionales (Evaluation and relationship among different fitness parameters in semi professional soccer players)

Retos ◽

10.47197/retos.v0i26.34411 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 114-117

Author(s):

Javier Yanci Irigoyen ◽

Alberto García Huerta ◽

Daniel Castillo Alvira ◽

Luis Ángel Rivero Benito ◽

Asier Los Arcos Larumbe

Keyword(s):

Average Distance ◽

T Test ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Arm Swing ◽

Change Of Direction ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Palabras Clave ◽

Fitness Parameters ◽

Cardiovascular Capacity ◽

Jump Ability

Los objetivos de este estudio fueron, por un lado, evaluar la capacidad cardiovascular, el rendimiento en el sprint en línea recta, la capacidad de cambio de dirección (CODA) y el salto horizontal en jugadores de fútbol semi profesionales, y por otro, examinar la relación existente entre las distintas capacidades analizadas. En este estudio participaron 18 jugadores de fútbol semi profesionales (25.6 ± 4.8 años, 1.82 ± .1 m, 77.9 ± 7.1 kg, 23.6 ± 1.8 kg·m-2). El VO2max estimado obtenido en el test intermitente de resistencia Yo-Yo nivel 1 (YYIR1) fue de 51.70 ± 3.94 ml·kg-1·min-1. Los resultados en el sprint 5 m (SP5), 15 m (SP15) y en el Modified Agility T-test (MAT) fueron de 1.01 ± .05 s, 2.39 ± .10 s y 4.89 ± .23 s, respectivamente. En la capacidad de salto horizontal (SH) se obtuvo una distancia media de 1.97 ± .15 m para el salto con contra movimiento (HCMJ) y de 2.37 ± .16 m para el salto con contra movimiento con manos libres (HCMJAS). Se observaron correlaciones significativas y altas entre los valores de SP15 con el MAT (r = .757, p < .01) y con el HCMJ (r = -.749, p < .01). Debido a las altas correlaciones encontradas entre las distintas cualidades anaeróbicas, podría resultar interesante implementar entrenamientos específicos de salto horizontal en las rutinas de entrenamiento con el fin de mejorar el rendimiento en la capacidad de aceleración y la capacidad de cambiar de dirección de los futbolistas. Palabras clave: aceleración, agilidad, salto horizontal, resistencia, correlación, rendimiento.Abstract: The aims of this study were, first, to analyze cardiovascular capacity, performance in the straight sprint, change of direction ability (CODA) and horizontal jump ability in semi-professional soccer players, and secondly, to examine the relationship among the different abilities. This study involved 18 semi professional soccer players (25.6 ± 4.8 years, 1.82 ± .1 m, 77.9 ± 7.1 kg, 23.6 ± 1.8 kg·m-2). The estimated VO2max obtained in the Yo-Yo intermittent endurance level 1 test (YYIR1) was 51.70 ± 3.94 ml·kg-1·min-1. The results in the 5 m sprint (SP5), 15 m sprint (SP15) and Modified Agility T-test (MAT) were 1.01 ± .05 s, 2.39 ± .10 s and 4.89 ± .23 s, respectively. In the horizontal jump (HJ) an average distance of 1.97 ± .15 m for the countermovement jump (HCMJ) and 2.37 ± .16 m for the arm swing counter movement jump (HCMJAS) was obtained. Significant and high correlations between the values of SP15 and MAT (r = 0.757, p < .01) and the HCMJ (r = -.749, p < .01) were observed. Correlations found among different anaerobic qualities, can lead us to think that it might be interesting to implement specific horizontal jump training routines to improve performance of sprint and change of direction abilities in soccer players.Key words: acceleration, agility, horizontal jump, endurance, correlation, performance.

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