BACKGROUND Fatigue seems to have a significant effect on soccer kick performance. However, the duration of these effects has not been previously investigated. OBJECTIVES The purpose of the present study was to investigate the duration of the acute effects of fatigue on soccer kick performance in males and females. PATIENTS AND METHODS Ten male (age: 26.3 ± 4.9 years, height: 178.1 ± 5.1 cm,...

AIM To study the effect of balance intervention program using the "FIFA 11+" program on static and dynamic balance and kicking accuracy of young soccer players. METHODS Twenty young soccer players were allocated to experimental (n = 10) or control (n = 10) groups. The experimental group performed the "FIFA 11+" program three times a week for six weeks. The control group performed their normal...

Strategies for a nutrition education as applied to individual soccer players provide a key to guiding them towards appropriate food selection. Scientific investigations have associated energy requirements, composition of the diet and carbohydrate intake with muscle glycogen storage, and adequacy of fluids with optimal athletic performance. In general, soccer players appear to consume adequate e...

PURPOSE Although the contribution of physique and body composition in soccer performance was recognized, these parameters of physical fitness were not well-studied in adolescent players. Aim of this study was to investigate physique and body composition across adolescence. METHODS Male adolescents (N=297 aged 12.01-20.98 y), classified into nine one-year age-groups, child (control group, N=16...

The purpose of the present study was to examine SIgA responses (concentration [SIgAabs] and a secretion rate [SIgArate]) to official and simulated competitive matches in young soccer players. The sample was composed of 26 male soccer players (age 15.6 ± 1.1 yrs, stature 177.0 ± 6.1 cm, body mass 70.5 ± 5.7 kg). Four soccer matches (two simulated matches [SM] and two official matches [OM]) were ...

The purpose of this study was to describe anthropometric characteristics and body composition of elite soccer and volleyball players as well as to make comparisons between them. Seventy-one males were enrolled in the study, divided into three groups: twenty-six soccer players, fourteen volleyball players and thirty-one healthy sedentary subjects. All subjects were assessed for the anthropometri...

PURPOSE To investigate the acute changes in leukocyte number and cortisol after a single bout of soccer training. METHODS Ten elite female national-team soccer players and 8 nonathletes participated in the study. The duration of the exercise was 2 h, and it was performed at an intensity of 75% of maximal heart rate (HRmax). Blood samples were taken before, immediately after, and 4 h after a s...

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a 12 week conditioning programme involving speed, agility and quickness (SAQ) training and its effect on agility performance in young soccer players. Soccer players were randomly assigned to two groups: experimental group (EG; n = 66, body mass: 71.3 ± 5.9 kg; body height: 1.77 ± 0.07 m) and control group (CG; n = 66, body mass: 70.6 ± 4...

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of Small-Sided Games (SSG) vs. Interval Training (IT) in soccer training on aerobic fitness and physical enjoyment in youth elite soccer players during the last 8 weeks of the season. Seventeen U-16 male soccer players (age = 15.5 ± 0.6 years, and 8.5 years of experience) of a Spanish First Division club academy were randomized to 2 different...

The purpose of this study was to describe anthropometric characteristics and body composition of elite soccer and basketball players as well as to make comparisons between them. Seventy-one males were enrolled in the study, divided into three groups: twenty-six soccer players, fourteen basketball players and thirty-one healthy sedentary subjects. All subjects were assessed for the anthropometri...