The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the speed, agility, quickness (SAQ) training method on power performance in soccer players. Soccer players were assigned randomly to 2 groups: experimental group (EG; n = 50) and control group (n = 50). Power performance was assessed by a test of quickness--the 5-m sprint, a test of acceleration--the 10-m sprint, tests of maximal speed--t...

Body composition is an important aspect of soccer fitness. There is a dearth of longitudinal data on the intraseasonal variation in the body composition parameters of youth professional soccer players especially of Asian origin. This study assessed the body composition profile of the Asian youth professional soccer players (n=20; Mean ± SD, age 17.5 ± 0.3 years, stature 1.73 ± 0.04 m, body mass...

The capacity to recover from intense training, competition and matches is considered an important determinant in soccer performance. At present, there is no consensus on the effect of post-training recovery interventions on subsequent training session. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of active (12 min submaximal running and 8 min of static stretching) and passive recove...

BACKGROUND Despite the reduction in glycemic derangement in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) through dietary and therapeutic adjustments implemented before, during and after continuous exercise, evidence for its effectiveness with intermittent forms of exercise, such as soccer, is still lacking. METHODS/DESIGN We designed a study protocol for a randomized, crossover, double-blinde...

the purpose of this study was the comparison of neural and performance adaptations to plyometric training versus combined training. 22 young soccer players (age 14.28±0.82 years, weight 41.18±7.5 kg, height 154.5±9.36, body fat 7.43±2.68%) were randomly assigned to plyometric group (plyometric and soccer skills training, pl) (n=8), combined group (combined plyometric and sprint and soccer skill...

Soccer players are required to anticipate and react continuously in a changing, relatively unpredictable situation in the field. Cognitive functions might be important to be successful in soccer. The current study investigated the relationship between cognitive functions and performance level in elite and sub-elite youth soccer players aged 13-17 years. A total of 47 elite youth soccer players ...

This study evaluated the effects of hypnosis on self-efficacy and soccer performance. Fifty-nine collegiate soccer players were randomly allocated to either a hypnosis (n = 30) or video attention-control group (n = 29). A pretest-posttest design with an additional 4-week follow-up was used. Self-efficacy was measured via a task-specific questionnaire comprising 10 items relating to good perform...

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a soccer (strength and technique) training program on kinematics and electromyographic (EMG) muscle activity during a instep kick. Ten amateur soccer players (aged 19.9+/-0.4 years, body mass 74.8+/-9.1 kg, height 177.4+/-6.7 cm) constituted the experimental group (EG) whereas 10 players (age 21.6+/-1.3 years, weight 71.5+/-6.7 kg, height 175.2...

Evidence supporting performance enhancing effects of kinesiotape in sports is missing. The aims of this study were to evaluate effects of kinesiotape applications with regard to shooting and throwing performance in 26 amateur soccer and 32 handball players, and to further investigate if these effects were influenced by the players' level of performance. Ball speed as the primary outcome and acc...

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a six-week combined jump and sprint training program on strength-speed abilities in a large sample of youth competitive soccer players. It was hypothesized that the experimental training group would enhance their jumping and sprinting abilities. Enhancement of kicking performance was also hypothesized due to an expected increase in explosive st...