Physiology of Soccer

Valerie DriscollESS 110

Energy Fitness Muscular Fitness

Sport Aerobic Anaerobic Flexibility Strength Endurance Speed Power

Soccer H H M M M-H H M-H

Table 1: Estimated Energy and Muscular Fitness Demands for Soccer (Martens 2004).

Energy Fitness Muscular Fitness

Sport Aerobic Anaerobic Flexibility Strength Endurance Speed Power

Soccer H H M M H H M

Table 2: Estimated Energy and Muscular Fitness Demands for Soccer (Driscoll, 2009).

1-5 yds 5-10 yds 10-20 yds 20-30 yds 30-40 yds 40 + yds Total # of sprints

Defenders 83 47 18 8 4 2 162

Midfielders 70 31 11 6 6 3 127

Attackers 76 59 28 14 4 2 183

Table 1. Overview of the sprinting work carried out by professional soccer players over various distances:

The highest number of sprints occur within 10 yds, meaning the majority of sprinting inSoccer is dependent on the anaerobic system.

Energy Fitness: Anaerobic

Table 4. Heart rate at the end of the recovery period of the endurance test of soccer players, classified according to their playing position

Forwards Midfielders Defenders Goalkeepers

Recovery 1 111 116 117 125

Recovery 2 119 124 122 131

Recovery 3 124 130 128 136

Recovery 4 130 135 136 144

Recovery 5 137 143 139 152

Recovery 6 148 150 151 160

Endurance: The maximal oxygen uptake of elite soccer player ranges between 55-70 ml kg-1min-1, a value which is higher than that of general population, but lower than that of elite endurance runners.

Energy Fitness: Aerobic

•Flexibility in soccer players may not make a huge difference in field performance however; it will directly affect their chance of injury.

•90% of the players received a muscle strain injury during the competitive season. Most occurring in knee and hip flexors. There was a very strong relationship found between preseason ROM and incidence of muscle strain injury.

•Players who had injuries during the season had a preseason ROM approximately 3 degrees less than that of uninjured players.

Muscular Fitness

References

Bradley, P. S., Portas, M. D., (2007). The relationship between preseason range of motionand the muscle strain inury in elite soccer players. Journal of Strength andConditioning Research, 21 (4), 1155-1159.

Gil, S. M., Gil, J., Ruiz, F., Irazusta, A., Irazusta, J. (2007). Physiology andanthropometric characteristics of young soccer players according to their playingposition: Relevance for the selection process. Journal of Strength andConditioning Research, 21 (2), 438-445.

Hoff, J., Helgerud, J. (2004). Endurance and strength training for soccer players. SportsMedicine, 34 (3), 165-180.

Martens, R. (2004). Successful Coaching. Champaign, Il: Human Kinetics.

Silvestre, R., Kraemer, W. J., West, C., Judelson, D. A., Spiering, B. A., Vingren, J. L., etal. (2006). Body composition and physical performance during a nationalcollegiate athletic association division I men’s soccer season. Journal of Strengthand Conditioning Research, 20 (4), 962-970.

Stolen, T., Chamari, K., Castagna, C., Wisloff, U. (2005). Physiology of soccer anupdate. Sports Medicine, 35 (6), 501-536.

Vanderford, L. M., Meyers, M. C., Skelly, W. A., Stewart, C. C., Hamilton, K. L.,(2004), Physiological and sport-specific skill response of Olympic youth soccerathletes, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 18 (2), 334-342.