Seasonal Variations in the Physical Fitness of South African Premier Soccer League Players over an Annual Training Macrocycle (Nine Months)

Abstract

Background: 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. Objectives: To analyze the physical fitness variation in South African Premier Soccer League players over an annual training macrocycle. Methods: 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). Results: There was a significant increase in body fat percentage from T1 to T2 (p < 0.001), and a slight decline was evident at T3 (p = 0.04). Flexibility was significantly greater at T2 (p < 0.001) compared to T1 and T3. Vertical jump significantly improved at T3 (p = 0.004) compared to T1 and T2. A similar trend was evident in the YoYo IR2, where players reached the highest levels at T3 (p < 0.001). However, there were no significant changes in the 10 and 30 m sprints across the season. Conclusions: 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.