Gender Differences in Fitness and Fatigue Over a Competitive Season in Varsity Soccer Players

Background Gender differences in lower extremity motion patterns were previously identified as a possible risk factor for non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injuries in sports. Hypothesis Gender differences in lower extremity kinematics in the stop-jump task are functions of age for youth soccer players between 11 and 16 years of age. Study Design Descriptive laboratory study. Methods Three-dimensional videographic data were collected for 30 male and 30 female adolescent soccer players between 11 and 16 years of age performing a stop-jump task. The age effects on hip and knee joint angular motions were compared between genders using multiple regression analyses with dummy variables. Results Gender and age have significant interaction effects on standing height (P = .00), body mass (P = .00), knee flexion angle at initial foot contact with the ground (P = .00), maximum knee flexion angle (P = .00), knee valgus-varus angle (P = .00), knee valgus-varus motion (P = .00), and hip flexion angle at initial foot contact with the ground (P = .00). Conclusion Youth female recreational soccer players have decreased knee and hip flexion angles at initial ground contact and decreased knee and hip flexion motions during the landing of the stop-jump task compared to those of their male counterparts. These gender differences in knee and hip flexion motion patterns of youth recreational soccer players occur after 12 years of age and increase with age before 16 years. Clinical Relevance The results of this study provide significant information for research on the prevention of noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

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Changes in Muscle Strength in U19 Soccer Players During an Annual Training Cycle

Journal of Human Kinetics ◽

10.2478/hukin-2014-0072 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

pp. 175-185 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Michal Lehnert ◽

Zuzana Xaverová ◽

Mark De Ste Croix

Keyword(s):

Peak Torque ◽

Quadriceps Strength ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Muscle Action ◽

Strength Assessment ◽

Training Cycle ◽

Competitive Season ◽

Post Hoc ◽

Testing Range ◽

Knee Flexors

Abstract The aim of the study was to investigate the seasonal variation in isokinetic strength of the knee flexors and extensors, and conventional (H/QCONV) and functional (H/QFUNC) hamstring to quadriceps strength ratios in highly trained adolescent soccer players. The players (n=11; age 17.8±0.3) were measured at the end of the competitive season (autumn), at the beginning and the end of pre-season (winter) and during the sixth week of a new competitive season. Isokinetic peak torque (concentric and eccentric) was measured at 60°•s-1 in a sitting position with the hip flexed at 100°. The testing range of motion was set from 10 - 90° of knee flexion. The players performed a set of five maximum repetitions for both the dominant and non-dominant leg. Statistically significant differences (p<0.001) between the four seasonal measurements were noted for peak torque of the dominant leg knee flexors in concentric muscle action only. A post hoc analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in peak torque from the 1st to the 4th measurement (p<0.001; d=0.692) and from the 2nd to the 4th (p<0.01; d=0.564). The differences in the changes of peak torque of the knee flexors and extensors depending on type of muscle action and tendencies found in the H/Q ratios throughout the annual training cycle indicate that strength assessment of the knee flexors and extensors and their balance throughout the annual training cycle could be beneficial for elite male adolescent soccer players both in terms of performance and risk of injury.

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Reduced High-Intensity-Running Rate in College Women’s Soccer When Games Are Separated by 42 Hours

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.2014-0336 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 436-439 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

William P. McCormack ◽

Jay R. Hoffman ◽

Gabriel J. Pruna ◽

Tyler C. Scanlon ◽

Jonathan D. Bohner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Muscle Damage ◽

Ncaa Division I ◽

High Intensity ◽

Recovery Period ◽

Division I ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Glycogen Depletion ◽

Total Distance ◽

Competitive Season ◽

Gps Devices

Purpose:During the competitive soccer season, women’s intercollegiate matches are typically played on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons. The efficacy of a 42-h recovery period is not well understood. This investigation was conducted to determine performance differences between Friday and Sunday matches during a competitive season.Methods:Ten NCAA Division I female soccer players (20.5 ± 1.0 y, 166.6 ± 5.1 cm, 61.1 ± 5.8 kg) were monitored with 10-Hz GPS devices across 8 weekends with matches played on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons. The players were outside backs, midfielders, and forwards. All players had to participate in a minimum of 45 min/match to be included in the study. Average minutes played, total distance covered, total distance of high-intensity running (HIR) (defined as running at a velocity equal to or exceeding 3.61 m/s for longer than 1 s), the number of HIR efforts, and the number of sprints were calculated for each match. Data for Friday vs Sunday matches were averaged and then compared using dependent t tests.Results:No differences were seen in minutes played, distance rate, or number of sprints between Friday and Sunday matches. A significant (P = .017) decrease in rate of HIR between Friday (25.37 ± 7.22 m/min) and Sunday matches (22.90 ± 5.70 m/min) was seen. In addition, there was a trend toward a difference (P = .073) in the number of efforts of HIR between Friday (138.41 ± 36.43) and Sunday (126.92 ± 31.31).Conclusions:NCAA Division I female soccer players cover less distance of HIR in games played less than 48 h after another game. This could be due to various factors such as dehydration, glycogen depletion, or muscle damage.

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