Characteristics Of Exercise Stress Differ Between Practice And Competition Settings In Collegiate Soccer

Document Type

Conference Presentation

Department

Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences Department

Conference Title

American College of Sports Medicine - Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise conference

Organization

American College of Sports Medicine

Location

San Diego, CA

Date of Presentation

6-3-2022

Journal Publication

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

ISSN

0195-9131

DOI

10.1249/01.mss.0000882008.35223.12

Volume

54

Issue

9S

First Page

551

Abstract

Practice structures that closely resemble the characteristics of competition are likely to elicit better sport preparation. PURPOSE: To compare the exercise profiles experienced by collegiate soccer players during practice and game settings. METHODS: We evaluated cardiovascular and movement parameters of 30 D1 female soccer players during 6 twice-daily practices (12 sessions), 14 once-daily practices, and 7 games. Polar Team Pro devices (Polar Electro, Inc.) captured exercise duration, distance traveled, number of sprints, average and maximum running speed, average and maximum heart rate (HR), and Polar-generated metrics for cardio load and training load. Means for each of these variables were calculated for every player across the 4 exercise conditions: first twice-daily practice (P1), second twice-daily practice (P2), single practice session (P3), and game. Differences in workload parameters between these settings were assessed with repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: Exercise duration was longer in games (116.3 ± 21.0 min) than all practice types (p < 0.001 for each comparison). Players covered more distance in games (4,462.3 ± 2,555.7 m) than practices (p < 0.005). Average running speed was higher in practice than games, but the largest difference was a trend (p = 0.064). Maximum speed achieved was highest in games (24.4 ± 4.9 kph); only the comparisons with P1 (p < 0.001) and P3 (p = 0.001) were significant. Athletes recorded more sprints in games (14.1 ± 9.8) than all practice types (p < 0.001). The lowest mean HR (128.8 ± 19.8 bpm) and percentage of HR max (64.4 ± 10.2%) occurred in games; both comparisons with P2 reached significance (p < 0.005). Maximum HR was highest in games (188.5 ± 19.8 bpm); only the comparison with P1 reached significance (p = 0.001). The largest cardio load (143.9 ± 66.7) and training load (126.5 ± 71.4) were achieved in games; comparisons with P1, P2, and P3 were significant (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Practices and games exhibited differences in exercise stress. Practices were shorter and had higher mean values for HR and running speed. In games, players performed more sprints, achieved higher speeds, and recorded higher maximum HR values. Coaching staff may consider incorporating additional anaerobic activity in soccer training to better simulate competition settings.

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