Subjective well-being and training load predict in-season injury and illness risk in female youth soccer players

Background: Although increased training load (TL) and impaired sleep are associated with decreases in subjective well-being in adult athletes, these relationships among female youth athletes are unclear. It is unknown whether the effects of sleep and TL on well-being are independent or whether alterations in sleep mediate the effects of TL on subjective well-being. Hypothesis: Sleep and TL exert independent effects on subjective well-being among youth athletes, although alterations in sleep mediate a significant portion of the effect of TL on well-being in female youth athletes. Study Design: Prospective cohort study. Level of Evidence: Level 4. Methods: A total of 65 female soccer athletes (age range, 13-18 years) were monitored for 1 year. Daily TL was determined by session rating of perceived exertion and converted to z-scores. Every morning, participants recorded sleep duration in hours and rated stress, mood, fatigue, and soreness on a scale from −3 to +3 (worst to best). Linear mixed-effects models and mediation analysis were used to evaluate the independent effects of TL and sleep on well-being. Results: Average sleep duration was 7.9 ± 1.4 hours during the study period. In the multivariable model, TL and sleep duration were independently associated with fatigue (TL: β = −0.19, P < 0.001; sleep: β = 0.15, P < 0.001), mood (TL: β = −0.030, P = 0.014; sleep: β = 0.13, P < 0.001), stress (TL: β = −0.055, P = 0.001; sleep: β = 0.13, P < 0.001), and soreness (TL: β = −0.31, P < 0.001; sleep: β = 0.022, P = 0.042). Sleep duration mediated a significant portion of the effect of TL on mood (26.8%, P < 0.001), fatigue (12.6%, P < 0.001), and stress (24.5%, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Among female youth athletes, decreased sleep duration and increased TL are independently associated with impairments of subjective well-being. In addition, decreased sleep mediates a significant portion of the negative effect of increases in TL on subjective well-being. Clinical Relevance: Monitoring and promoting sleep among female adolescent athletes may significantly improve subjective well-being, particularly during periods of increased TL.

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Comparison of Subjective and Objective Measures of Internal Training Load in Female Youth Soccer Players

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise ◽

10.1249/01.mss.0000487371.45840.3c ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 48 ◽

pp. 790

Author(s):

Carol Coutinho ◽

Stacey Brickson ◽

Jennifer Sanfilippo ◽

Andrew Watson

Keyword(s):

Training Load ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Objective Measures ◽

Female Youth ◽

Youth Soccer

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Effects of 14-weeks betaine supplementation on pro-inflammatory cytokines and hematology status in professional youth soccer players during a competition season: a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition ◽

10.1186/s12970-021-00441-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hadi Nobari ◽

Jason M. Cholewa ◽

Jorge Pérez-Gómez ◽

Alfonso Castillo-Rodríguez

Keyword(s):

Inflammatory Cytokines ◽

Blood Cells ◽

Well Being ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin ◽

Significant Group ◽

Youth Soccer ◽

Tnf Α ◽

Betaine Supplementation ◽

Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

Abstract Objective Systemic elevations in pro-inflammatory cytokines are a marker of non-functional over reaching, and betaine has been shown to reduce the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of betaine supplementation on tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukins-1 beta (IL-1β), − 6 (IL-6) and the complete blood cell (CBC) count in professional youth soccer players during a competitive season. Methods Twenty-nine soccer players (age, 15.5 ± 0.3 years) were randomly divided into two groups based on playing position: betaine group (BG, n = 14, 2 g/day) or placebo group (PG, n = 15). During the 14-week period, training load was matched and well-being indicators were monitored daily. The aforementioned cytokines and CBC were assessed at pre- (P1), mid- (P2), and post- (P3) season. Results Significant (p < 0.05) group x time interactions were found for TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. These variables were lower in the BG at P2 and P3 compared to P1, while IL-1β was greater in the PG at P3 compared to P1 (p = 0.033). The CBC count analysis showed there was significant group by time interactions for white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). WBC demonstrated increases at P3 compared to P2 in PG (p = 0.034); RBC was less at P3 compared to P1 in BG (p = 0.020); Hb was greater at P2 compared to P1, whilst it was less at P3 compared to P3 for both groups. MCHC was greater at P3 and P2 compared to P1 in BG, whereas MCHC was significantly lower at P3 compared to P2 in the PG (p = 0.003). Conclusion The results confirmed that 14 weeks of betaine supplementation prevented an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines and WBC counts. It seems that betaine supplementation may be a useful nutritional strategy to regulate the immune response during a fatiguing soccer season.

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The association between training load indices and upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in elite soccer players

International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching ◽

10.1177/17479541211020479 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 174795412110204

Author(s):

Caoimhe Tiernan ◽

Thomas Comyns ◽

Mark Lyons ◽

Alan M Nevill ◽

Giles Warrington

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Tract ◽

Signs And Symptoms ◽

Training Load ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Upper Respiratory Tract ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Upper Respiratory ◽

Tract Infections ◽

Load Indices ◽

And Training

This study aimed to investigate the association between training load indices and Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) across different lag periods in elite soccer players. Internal training load was collected from 15 elite soccer players over one full season (40 weeks). Acute, chronic, Acute:Chronic Workload Ratio (ACWR), Exponentially Weighted Moving Averages (EWMA) ACWR, 2, 3 and 4-week cumulative load, training strain and training monotony were calculated on a rolling weekly basis. Players completed a daily illness log, documenting any signs and symptoms, to help determine an URTI. Multilevel logistic regression was used to analyze the associations between training load indices and URTIs across different lag periods (1 to 7-days). The results found a significant association between 2-week cumulative load and an increased likelihood of a player contracting an URTI 3 days later (Odds Ratio, 95% Confidence Interval: OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 0.026-1.431). Additionally, a significant association was found between 3-week cumulative load and a players’ increased risk of contracting an URTI 4 days later (OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 0.013–1.006). These results indicate that accumulated periods of high training load (2- and 3-week) associated with an increased risk of a player contracting an URTI, which may lead to performance decrements, missed training sessions or even competitions.

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Training load and schedule are important determinants of sleep behaviours in youth-soccer players

European Journal of Sport Science ◽

10.1080/17461391.2018.1536171 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 19 (5) ◽

pp. 576-584 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Craig M. Whitworth-Turner ◽

Rocco Di Michele ◽

Ian Muir ◽

Warren Gregson ◽

Barry Drust

Keyword(s):

Training Load ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Youth Soccer

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Level of Confidence of Male and Female Youth Soccer Players: On Detecting a False Underconfidence

Overconfidence in SMEs ◽

10.1007/978-3-319-66920-5_3 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 51-71

Author(s):

Anna Chiara Invernizzi

Keyword(s):

Soccer Players ◽

Male And Female ◽

Female Youth ◽

Youth Soccer ◽

Level Of Confidence

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Influence of 2D:4D ratio on fitness parameters and accumulated training load in elite youth soccer players

BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation ◽

10.1186/s13102-021-00354-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hadi Nobari ◽

Ana Ruivo Alves ◽

Filipe Manuel Clemente ◽

Jorge Pérez-Gómez

Keyword(s):

Body Mass ◽

Muscular Strength ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Knee Extensor ◽

Training Load ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Youth Soccer ◽

Fitness Parameters ◽

Three Stages ◽

Left And Right

Abstract Background Digit ratio (2D:4D) characterized by the length of the second digit (2D) divided by the length of the fourth digit (4D), is a powerful marker of athletic performance. Some studies showed a negative correlation between 2D:4D ratio and sports performances. Objectives The purpose of the present study was three-fold: (1) to analyze the influence of anthropometric and 2D:4D ratio on variations of accumulated training load (ATL) and fitness parameters: maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max), countermovement jump (CMJ), isometric muscular strength of the knee extensor for hamstring (ISH) and flexor for quadriceps (ISQ) muscles; along three stages of evaluation of soccer players based on playing positions; (2) to analyze the correlations between 2D:4D ratio and aforementioned parameters; and (3) to investigate if variance in fitness levels and ATL can explain the 2D:4D ratio. Methods Twenty-four elite players under 17 years were daily monitored for their rating perceived exertion and ATL across 24 weeks over the season. Soccer players have also measured in three stages for anthropometric traits and fitness parameters. Results Significant differences were observed between playing positions for body mass, goalkeepers had higher body mass compared to centre-midfielder and winger players. Moreover, there were significant differences in ATL between early-season to mid-season in goalkeepers (P = 0.032). The 2D:4D ratio (left and right) shown largely and negatively association with muscular strength (ISQ: r = − 0.80; r = − 0.78, P ≤ 0.001, ISH: r = − 0.63; r = − 0.62, P = 0.001, respectively) and VO2max changes (r = − 0.55, P = 0.005; r = − 0.50, P = 0.013, respectively); lastly, both 2D:4D ratio significantly predicted changes in muscular strength and VO2max in young soccer players. Conclusions Goalkeepers tended to have higher body mass compared to centre-midfielder and winger players; and 2D:4D ratio revealed a mighty predictor of physical fitness changes in soccer players. Evidence should be helpful to professionals to highlight the usefulness of the 2D:4D into the identification of talent, but also to optimize young players' performance.

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