Seasonal Variations in the Physical Fitness of South African Premier Soccer League Players over an Annual Training Macrocycle (Nine Months)
<b>Background</b>: Anecdotal data indicate that the physical fitness of soccer players fluctuates across the season. This is often a concern for coaches, since players are expected to be at optimal fitness during matches on weekly basis across the season. <b>Objectives</b>: T...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/1/38 |
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| Summary: | <b>Background</b>: Anecdotal data indicate that the physical fitness of soccer players fluctuates across the season. This is often a concern for coaches, since players are expected to be at optimal fitness during matches on weekly basis across the season. <b>Objectives</b>: To analyze the physical fitness variation in South African Premier Soccer League players over an annual training macrocycle. <b>Methods</b>: Twenty-four Premier Soccer League players belonging to the same team participated in the study. Players went through fitness assessments at three stages of the season: at the beginning of pre-season (T1); mid-first round in-season (T2); and mid-second round in-season (T3). The assessments included body fat percentage; sit and reach; vertical jump; 10 and 30 m sprints; and YoYo Intermittent Recovery Level 2 (YoYo IR2). <b>Results</b>: There was a significant increase in body fat percentage from T1 to T2 (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and a slight decline was evident at T3 (<i>p</i> = 0.04). Flexibility was significantly greater at T2 (<i>p</i> < 0.001) compared to T1 and T3. Vertical jump significantly improved at T3 (<i>p</i> = 0.004) compared to T1 and T2. A similar trend was evident in the YoYo IR2, where players reached the highest levels at T3 (<i>p</i> < 0.001). However, there were no significant changes in the 10 and 30 m sprints across the season. <b>Conclusions</b>: These results indicate that, indeed, some parameters, such as body fat percentage and flexibility, are likely to fluctuate as the season progresses. However, it is also evident that a gradual improvement can be achieved, as seen in vertical jump and YoYo IR2. |
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| ISSN: | 2411-5142 |