Seasonal variation in physiological and body composition parameters in elite soccer players

 

Introduction

Comparatively limited data exists concerning evaluation of body composition and physiological parameters of elite European soccer players. The purpose of this study was to evaluate seasonal variation in elite Greek soccer players.

Methods

Sixteen male soccer players (First division of the Greek national soccer league) participated in this study. There were two evaluations. The first one took place at the beginning of the season (September). The second one took place two weeks prior the start of the second round of the championship (February). Maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max ) and anaerobic threshold were obtained with breath - by - breath analysis via the "Bruce treadmill graded exercise test protocol". Stature was measured using a portable stadiometer and weight via beam balance scale -seca-. Percentage of body fat was calculated according to the Yuhasz technique and calculations (6 skinfold sites). Vertical Jump was measured by a force platform ("Kistler"). The student t-test for paired data was used to detect possible significant differences between test and retest scores (p<.05).

Results

Statistical significant differences as season progressed (test and retest), were present for vertical jump (39.2 vs. 42.6 cm) and percentage of body fat (10.3% vs. 7.9 %).

Discussion / Conclusions

The results of this study - which differ partially from previous literature [1], [2]- suggest that only vertical jump and percentage of body fat were significantly improved throughout the season. On the other hand the rest of the criterion measures remain essentially stable during the season. Maybe the magnitude and frequency of the in-season training should be more focused on the player’s needs as individual athlete, in order the whole physical fitness profile to be improved. Nevertheless, further research is needed to elucidate the whole issue.

 

References

[1]. Casajus J.A. (2001). J. Sports Med. Phys. Fitness, 41 (4), 463 - 469.

[2]. Thomas V. and Reilly T. (1979). Br. J. Sports Med., 13 (3), 103 - 109.