Influence of the Mechanical Properties of Third-Generation Artificial Turf Systems on Soccer Players’ Physiological and Physical Performance and Their Perceptions

Background: Excessive repetitive loads are widely believed to be the cause of overload or overuse injuries. On third-generation artificial turf, impacts have been found to vary with surface and shoe properties. Mechanical devices are considered not representative for measuring impact absorption during athletic movements, and pressure insoles have been shown as inaccurate with regard to magnitude of force. Purpose: To compare impact properties between different third-generation artificial turf systems in combination with various cleat configurations in vivo using force plate technology. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Twenty-two male soccer players (mean ± SD: age, 23.1 ± 2.8 y; height, 1.81 ± 0.1 m; body mass, 77.5 ± 6.0 kg) performed 10 short sprints, 5 straight with a sudden stop and 5 with a 90° cut, over a force plate covered with artificial turf for each combination of 3 turf systems and 3 cleat configurations. Results: During stop sprints, peak impact was significantly higher on a recreational-level turf system than professional-level turf systems with and without an underlying shock pad (3.12 body weight [ W] vs 3.01 W and 3.02 W, respectively). During cut sprints, peak impact was significantly higher with traditional round cleats than with turf cleats and bladed cleats (2.99 W vs 2.84 W and 2.87 W, respectively). Conclusion: The results indicate that both an increase in assumed impact-absorbing surface properties and a larger distribution of shorter cleats produced lower impacts during standardized athletic movements. Regardless, none of the shoe-surface combinations yielded peak impacts of an assumed hazardous magnitude. Clinical Relevance: The study provides information on the extent to which various third-generation artificial turf systems and cleat configurations affect impact force, widely believed to be a causative factor for overload and overuse injuries.

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Safety of third-generation artificial turf in male elite professional soccer players in Italian major league

Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports ◽

10.1111/sms.12654 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 435-439 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

R. M. Lanzetti ◽

A. Ciompi ◽

D. Lupariello ◽

M. Guzzini ◽

A. De Carli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soccer Players ◽

Third Generation ◽

Artificial Turf ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Major League

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Validity and reliability of a 6-a-side small-sided game as an indicator of match-related physical performance in elite youth Brazilian soccer players

Journal of Sports Sciences ◽

10.1080/02640414.2019.1608895 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 37 (23) ◽

pp. 2639-2644 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rodrigo Aquino ◽

Bruno Melli-Neto ◽

João Victor S. Ferrari ◽

Bruno L. S. Bedo ◽

Luiz H. Palucci Vieira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Performance ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Validity And Reliability

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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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The effect of a weekly flywheel resistance training session on elite U-16 soccer players’ physical performance during the competitive season. A randomized controlled trial

Research in Sports Medicine ◽

10.1080/15438627.2020.1870978 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-15

Author(s):

Javier Raya-González ◽

Daniel Castillo ◽

Kevin L. de Keijzer ◽

Marco Beato

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Resistance Training ◽

Physical Performance ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Training Session ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Competitive Season

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Effects of Short-Term Plyometric Training on Agility, Jump and Repeated Sprint Performance in Female Soccer Players

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18052274 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 2274

Author(s):

Marcin Maciejczyk ◽

Renata Błyszczuk ◽

Aleksander Drwal ◽

Beata Nowak ◽

Marek Strzała

Keyword(s):

Physical Performance ◽

Sprint Performance ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Plyometric Training ◽

Countermovement Jump ◽

Short Term ◽

Jump Performance ◽

Squat Jump ◽

Repeated Sprint ◽

Before And After

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of short-term (4 weeks, twice a week: 8 sessions) plyometric training on agility, jump, and repeated sprint performance in female soccer players. The study comprised 17 females performing this sports discipline. The players were randomly divided into two groups: with plyometric training (PLY) and the control (CON). All players followed the same training program, but the PLY group also performed plyometric exercises. Tests used to evaluate physical performance were carried out immediately before and after PLY. After implementing the short PLY training, significant improvement in jump performance (squat jump: p = 0.04, ES = 0.48, countermovement jump: p = 0.009, ES = 0.42) and agility (p = 0.003, ES = 0.7) was noted in the PLY group. In the CON group, no significant (p > 0.05) changes in physical performance were observed. In contrast, PLY did not improve repeated sprint performance (p > 0.05) among female soccer players. In our research, it was shown that PLY can also be effective when performed for only 4 weeks instead of the 6–12 weeks typically applied.

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Short-term effects of on-field combined core strength and small-sided games training on physical performance in young soccer players

Biology of Sport ◽

10.5114/biolsport.2021.102865 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ersan Arslan ◽

Yusuf Soylu ◽

Filipe Clemente ◽

Tahir Hazir ◽

Ayse Kin Isler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Performance ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Short Term ◽

Core Strength ◽

Short Term Effects

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Composición corporal y rendimiento físico de jugadores de fútbol soccer universitario por posición de juego (Body composition and physical performance of college soccer by player´s position)

Retos ◽

10.47197/retos.v0i39.75075 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 52-57

Author(s):

Oswaldo Ceballos-Gurrola ◽

Fernando Bernal-Reyes ◽

Marquelia Jardón-Rosas ◽

María Cristina Enríquez-Reyna ◽

Jesús Durazo- Quiroz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

Physical Performance ◽

Body Mass ◽

Fat Mass ◽

Physical Characteristics ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Hip Circumference ◽

Soccer Teams ◽

Physical Abilities ◽

The Relationship

Se propuso determinar la relación que existe entre la composición corporal y el rendimiento físico de jugadores de fútbol soccer universitario. Participaron 26 jugadores de sexo masculino con edad promedio de 20.7 años (DT = 1.7), pertenecientes a los equipos representativos de fútbol soccer de dos universidades mexicanas. Se midieron características morfológicas, de composición corporal y físicas para las posiciones de defensa, mediocampo y delantero. Se determinó el nivel de asociación entre las variables. Los resultados muestran que los defensas presentan mayor masa corporal, diámetro de húmero y circunferencia de cadera que los delanteros (p < .05), no así respecto a los jugadores de mediocampo. No se presenta diferencia en la expresión de las capacidades físicas y del porcentaje de masa grasa de los jugadores por posición de juego (p > .05). La masa grasa se asoció de manera directa con la velocidad (.427*, p < .05). Se encontraron diferencias en la masa ósea y corporal por posición de juego entre defensas, mediocampistas y delanteros. Los hallazgos sugieren la influencia de la composición corporal en el rendimiento físico de los participantes. Abstract. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between body composition and physical performance in college soccer players. Twenty-six male players with an average age of 20.7 years (SD = 1.7), belonging to the representative soccer teams of two Mexican universities participated in the research. Morphological, body composition, and physical characteristics were measured for the defense, midfield, and forward positions. The level of association between variables was determined. The results show that defenders have greater body mass, humerus diameter, and hip circumference than forwards (p <. 05), whereas no differences were found in comparison to midfielders. There is no difference in players’ expression of physical abilities and percentage of fat mass by playing position (p > .05). Fat mass was directly associated with speed (.427 *, p < .05). Differences were found in bone and body mass by playing position between defenders, midfielders, and forwards. The findings hint at an influence of body composition on participants’ physical performance.

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