Physiology of Soccer

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Physiology of Soccer

• Valerie Driscoll
• ESS 110

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Table 1 Estimated Energy and Muscular Fitness
Demands for Soccer (Martens 2004).
Energy Fitness Energy Fitness Muscular Fitness Muscular Fitness Muscular Fitness Muscular Fitness Muscular Fitness
Sport Aerobic Anaerobic Flexibility Strength Endurance Speed Power
Soccer H H M M M-H H M-H
Table 2 Estimated Energy and Muscular Fitness
Demands for Soccer (Driscoll, 2009).
Energy Fitness Energy Fitness Muscular Fitness Muscular Fitness Muscular Fitness Muscular Fitness Muscular Fitness
Sport Aerobic Anaerobic Flexibility Strength Endurance Speed Power
Soccer H H M M H H M
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Energy Fitness Anaerobic
Table 1. Overview of the sprinting work carried
out by professional soccer players over various
distances
1-5 yds 5-10 yds 10-20 yds 20-30 yds 30-40 yds 40 yds Total of sprints
Defenders 83 47 18 8 4 2 162
Midfielders 70 31 11 6 6 3 127
Attackers 76 59 28 14 4 2 183
The highest number of sprints occur within 10
yds, meaning the majority of sprinting in Soccer
is dependent on the anaerobic system.
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Energy Fitness Aerobic
Table 4. Heart rate at the end of the recovery
period of the endurance test of soccer players,
classified according to their playing position
Forwards Midfielders Defenders Goalkeepers
Recovery 1 111 116 117 125
Recovery 2 119 124 122 131
Recovery 3 124 130 128 136
Recovery 4 130 135 136 144
Recovery 5 137 143 139 152
Recovery 6 148 150 151 160
Endurance The maximal oxygen uptake of elite
soccer player ranges between 55-70 ml kg-1min-1,
a value which is higher than that of general
population, but lower than that of elite
endurance runners.
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Muscular Fitness

• Flexibility in soccer players may not make a huge
  difference in field performance however it will
  directly affect their chance of injury.
• 90 of the players received a muscle strain
  injury during the competitive season. Most
  occurring in knee and hip flexors. There was a
  very strong relationship found between preseason
  ROM and incidence of muscle strain injury.
• Players who had injuries during the season had a
  preseason ROM approximately 3 degrees less than
  that of uninjured players.

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References
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