Acute effect of induced fatigue on passing ability in elite U-19 soccer players

Abstract

Increased fatigue may be observed during a soccer match, with a reduction of the high intensity activities owing to physical demands. These actions lead to a decline in players’ performance. The aim of the study was to analyze the acute effects of induced fatigue on passing ability in elite U-19 soccer players. Twenty-three elite U-19 soccer players (17.9 ± 0.7 years; weight 69.7 ± 8.1 kg; height 177.2 ± 7.6 cm) performed the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test (LSPT) to evaluate passing ability: control, dribbling, accuracy and decision making. Repeated sprint ability (RSA) was used to induce fatigue, 12 x 30 m sprints followed by 30 s recovery time. Heart rate (HR), Borg’s rating of perceived exertion (RPE), time in 5 m and 30 m, sprint decrement (Sdec) and the fatigue index (FI) was collected. Student's t test was applied to compare the difference between pre-test and post-test. Differences were interpreted using Cohen’s d effect size. Fatigue led to a significant increase in the number of penalties in the LSPT (p < 0.001; d = 0.54) and in total time to perform the test (p = 0.001; d = 0.37). Of the different types of error, passing accuracy was the ability that declined most (p = 0.010 d = 0.72). Ball control was also affected, but to a lesser extent (p = 0.030; d = 0.39). The results shown that passing ability was affected by fatigue in elite U-19 soccer players. This study provides detailed information for football coaches and physical trainers on the effects of fatigue on passing ability, describing the decline in performance of this specific ability in soccer.