Research Article, J Athl Enhancement Vol: 2 Issue: 6
Are Aerobic Fitness and Repeated Sprint Ability Linked to Fatigue in Professional Soccer Match-Play? A Pilot Study
| Christopher Carling1,2*, Franck Le Gall1, Alan McCall1,3, Mathieu Nedelec1,3 and Gregory Dupont1,3 |
| 1LOSC Lille Métropole Football Club, Lille, France |
| 2Institute of Coaching and Performance, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom |
| 3University Lille Nord de France, UArtois, A4488, 59000 Lille, France |
| Corresponding author : Dr. Christopher Carling LOSC Lille Métropole Football Club, Domain de Luchin, Camphin-en-Pévèle, 59780, France Tel: + 33 6 0392 1863 E-mail: chris.carling@free.fr |
| Received: June 18, 2013 Accepted: November 22, 2013 Published: November 25, 2013 |
| Citation: Carling C, Le Gall F, McCall A, Nedelec M, Dupont G (2013) Are Aerobic Fitness and Repeated Sprint Ability Linked to Fatigue in Professional Soccer Match-Play? A Pilot Study. J Athl Enhancement 2:6. doi:10.4172/2324-9080.1000129 |
Abstract
Are Aerobic Fitness and Repeated Sprint Ability Linked to Fatigue in Professional Soccer Match-Play? A Pilot Study
In professional soccer, a strong relationship has been observed between measures of physical fitness derived from tests of repeated sprint ability, intermittent endurance and aerobic capacity and running performance in competition determined from time motion analyses data. Unfortunately, these studies have generally only examined associations with ‘overall’ time motion measures of running performance such as the total distance run or that covered in sprinting. The potential relationship between fitness scores and declines in competitive physical performance in professional soccer players has up to now not received any attention despite the comprehensive body of research from time motion analyses that has indirectly demonstrated the existence of fatigue during matchplay. To our knowledge, only two studies, both conducted in elite youth soccer players, have addressed this gap in the literature. In the former for example, despite a significant association between intermittent-endurance fitness (Yo-Yo IR1 test) and overall distance covered in high-intensity activity, no relationship was observed between fitness measures and first- vs. second-half decrements in running distance.
