Technical and physical performances of Chinese Super League soccer players differ according to their playing status and position

Physical Characteristics and Somatotype of Soccer Players according to Playing Level and PositionThe purpose of this study was to assess the physical characteristics of soccer players according to playing level and position. A total of 305 professional male soccer players [Turkish Super League (SL) (n = 161) and Turkish First League (FL) (n = 144)] were involved in this study. All data were gathered at the beginning of preparatory period of mid-season. Height, weight, flexed and tensed upper arm and calf girths, humerus and femur biepicondylar breadths, and four skinfold thicknesses (triceps, subscapular, supraspinale, and medial calf) were measured. Somatotypes were estimated using the Heath-Carter method. SL players were older (p≥0.002), and heavier (p≥0.007) than FL players, while height (p ≤ 0.497) was similar between SL and FL groups. There were significant differences for BW (p≥=0.000), and height (p≥0.000) between playing positions. Goalkeepers were taller (p≥0.000), and heavier (p≥0.001) than other players. Midfielders were shorter (p≥0.013) than other players, however, they were lighter than forwards (p≥0.008). The mean somatotype of the overall players was 2.4-4.8-2.3 (0.9-0.8-0.7) in SL and was 3.0-4.5-2.6 (0.9-0.9-0.8) in FL. SL players were more mesomorphic (p≥0.01), less endomorphic (p≥0.000), and less ectomorphic (p≥0.001) than FL players. Except for goalkeepers, there were significant differences in paired means between whole somatotype means of the SL and FL according to playing positions. The results of the present study demonstrate that both physical characteristics and somatotype of players were significantly different between playing levels and positions. Although the somatotype of soccer players in both levels was dominated by the mesomorph category, players at the higher playing level were more mesomorphic, and less endomorphic and ectomorphic than players at the lower level at all playing positions.

Download Full-text

Effects of Three Preseason Training Programs on Speed, Change-of-Direction, and Endurance in Recreationally Trained Soccer Players

Frontiers in Physiology ◽

10.3389/fphys.2021.719580 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Jérôme Koral ◽

Jaume Lloria Varella ◽

Fernando Lazaro Romero ◽

Clément Foschia

Keyword(s):

Interval Training ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Plyometric Training ◽

Training Time ◽

Change Of Direction ◽

Maximal Aerobic Speed ◽

Training Post ◽

Speed Change ◽

The Mean ◽

Physical Performances

Background: Modern coaches experience a drastic reduction of the available training time with an increasingly large number of competitions during the competitive season. Thus, they must choose wisely the most efficient methods to improve the physical fitness of their players during the preseason. Among all the methods, this study compared the effects of plyometric training (PT), sprint interval training (SIT), and small-sided games (SSGs) on the performance of recreationally trained soccer players.Methods: Seventy-three participants were randomly assigned in one of the three experimental groups (i.e., PT [n = 23], SIT [n = 26] or SSGs [n = 24]) and completed two sessions per week for a total of 3 weeks. Meanwhile, the whole group maintained their habitual soccer-specific training program who do not interfere in the preparation of the season. Repeated sprint ability (RSA), maximal aerobic speed (MAS), and a 30-m sprint were assessed at baseline (PRE) and post-training (POST).Results: Performance in SSGs decreased for the average speed from 0 to 10 m (V0−10m; −0.84 km h−1, −4 ± 5%, p < 0.001), the maximal distance (Dmax) covered in the 30-s RSA test (−3.65 m, −3 ± 6%, p < 0.01) and MAS (−0.52 km h−1, −3 ± 6%, p < 0.01). PT increased the mean distance (Dmean) covered in the 30-s RSA test (+5.98 m, 5 ± 4%, p < 0.001) and MAS (+0.58 km h−1, 7 ± 5%, p < 0.01) while an improvement of all parameters but the maximal sprint speed reached during the 30-m trip (Vmax) was found in the SIT group (V0−10m: +1.462 km h−1, 8 ± 5%, p < 0.001; Dmax: +7.89 m, 6 ± 5%, p < 0.001; Dmean: +8.69 m, 7 ± 5%, p < 0.001 and MAS: +1.74 km h−1, 12 ± 8%, p < 0.001). All SSG POST values were significantly lower than PT and SIT (p < 0.01). Dmean and MAS in POST were also significantly higher in SIT than in the PT group (p < 0.001).Conclusion: This study suggests that both PT and SIT could be a better alternative to SSGs to boost performances during preseason. Moreover, SIT seems to produce higher improvements in physical performances than PT.

Download Full-text

Physical and technical differences between domestic and foreign soccer players according to playing positions in the China Super League

Research in Sports Medicine ◽

10.1080/15438627.2018.1540005 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 314-325 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Yang Gai ◽

Anthony S. Leicht ◽

Carlos Lago ◽

Miguel-Ángel Gómez

Keyword(s):

Soccer Players ◽

Super League

Download Full-text

T418 ANALYSIS OF PAIN THRESHOLD AND TOLERANCE OF SOCCER PLAYERS PLAYING IN SUPER LEAGUE

European Journal of Pain Supplements ◽

10.1016/s1754-3207(11)70236-x ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 5 (S1) ◽

pp. 70-70

Author(s):

N. Yagci ◽

R. Lokmaoglu ◽

U. Cavlak

Keyword(s):

Pain Threshold ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Super League

Download Full-text

Physical performances and anthropometric characteristics of young elite North-African female soccer players compared with international standards

Science & Sports ◽

10.1016/j.scispo.2019.06.005 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 35 (2) ◽

pp. 67-74

Author(s):

M.A. Hammami ◽

W. Ben Klifa ◽

K. Ben Ayed ◽

R. Mekni ◽

A. Saeidi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

International Standards ◽

Soccer Players ◽

North African ◽

Anthropometric Characteristics ◽

Physical Performances

Download Full-text

Influence of players’ physical performances on the variation of the external and internal responses to repeated bouts of small-sided games across youth age categories

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part P Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology ◽

10.1177/17543371211017576 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 175433712110175

Author(s):

Daniel Castillo ◽

Javier Yanci ◽

Javier Raya-González ◽

Ángel Lago-Rodríguez

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

High Intensity ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Peak Heart Rate ◽

Youth Soccer ◽

Total Distance ◽

Physical Performances ◽

Training Impulse ◽

And Training ◽

Age Category

The aim of this study was twofold: (1) to test for differences on the external and internal responses encountered by youth soccer players during four bouts of 5-a-side small-sided game (SSG) across age categories and, (2) to analyze the external and internal responses attending to players’ sprinting and jumping profile within each age-category (i.e. under 14 (U14), under 16 (U16) and under 18 (U18)). Forty-eight young soccer players participated in this study and were distributed by each age-category. Players were classified based on jumping-profile (stronger and weaker) and sprint-profile (faster and slower). Also, players played four bouts of 4 min of a 5-a-side SSG, including goalkeepers. Likewise, external responses (i.e. total distance, distance covered at walking, jogging and high-intensity speeds, number of accelerations and decelerations, body impacts and player load) and internal responses (peak heart rate, % of peak heart rate and training impulse) were collected. The main results revealed a significant age-category by bout interaction for total distance covered, distance at jogging, number of accelerations, body impacts and player load for players from the U16 and U18 age categories, showing lower values during the last bouts, compared to the first bouts ( p ≤ 0.001–0.020, [Formula: see text] = 0.13–0.17). Moreover, while no significant ( p = 0.09–0.95) sprint-profile by bout interaction was found for the registered variables across age categories, stronger U18 players showed a smaller decrease across bouts for distance covered at high-intensity, compared to weaker U18 players. These findings suggest there is a need for coaching staff to include training strategies that allow for reducing accumulated neuromuscular fatigue in U16 and U18 age categories.

Download Full-text