Effects of aerobic training on the exercise-induced decline in short-passing ability in junior soccer players

• Published in: Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism Vol. 33; no. 6; pp. 1192 - 1198
• Main Authors: Impellizzeri, Franco M, Rampinini, Ermanno, Maffiuletti, Nicola A, Castagna, Carlo, Bizzini, Mario, Wisløff, Ulrik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ottawa Presses scientifiques du CNRC 01.12.2008; NRC Research Press; Canadian Science Publishing NRC Research Press
• Subjects: activité intermittente; Adolescent; Athletic Performance - physiology; Athletic Performance - statistics & numerical data; Biological and medical sciences; Effects; entraînement par intervalle; essai aléatoire contrôlé; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; habiletés techniques; Health aspects; Heart Rate; Humans; intermittent activity; interval training; metabolism; Muscle Fatigue - physiology; Neural stimulation; nutrition; oxygen; oxygen consumption; Oxygen Consumption - physiology; Physical Exertion - physiology; Physical Fitness - physiology; Physiological aspects; randomized clinical trials; randomized controlled trial; Running - physiology; Running - statistics & numerical data; simulation; Soccer; Soccer - physiology; Soccer - statistics & numerical data; Soccer players; sports; Sports training; technical skills; Time Factors; Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports; Weight training; Switzerland; Ability; Physical exercise; Human; Sport; Physical training; Simulation; Soccer
• ISSN: 1715-5312; 1715-5320; 1715-5320
• DOI: 10.1139/H08-111

To examine the effects of aerobic interval training on the decline in short-passing ability caused by a short bout of high-intensity intermittent activities. For this randomized controlled trial, 26 junior soccer players (mean age, 17.8 ± 0.6 years; mean height, 178 ± 5 cm; mean body mass, 74.5 ± 6.9 kg) were recruited. After baseline measurements, subjects were randomly allocated to 1 of 2 groups: the control group (CG) or the aerobic interval training group (ITG). The ITG completed 4 weeks of high-intensity aerobic training, consisting of 4 bouts of running for 4 min at 90%-95% of maximal heart rate, with 3 min of active recovery between sets, in addition to normal training. Maximum oxygen uptake, Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test level 1 (YYIRT), and short-passing ability (measured using the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test (LSPT)) were measured before and after a 5 min high-intensity simulation (HIS), reproducing the most intense phase of a match. The ITG (n = 11), but not the CG (n = 10), showed a significant 12% and 4% increase in YYIRT and maximal oxygen consumption after training, respectively, and reduced the worsening in LSPT penalty time after the HIS (p < 0.05). The relative exercise intensity during HIS decreased in the ITG only (p < 0.01). Our results demonstrated that junior soccer players may benefit from aerobic training to attenuate the decline in short-passing ability caused by a short bout of intermittent activities completed at the same pretraining workload.