Physiological and perceptual responses of youth soccer players to an intensified period of competition

Abstract

Intensified periods of competition create large increase in physical workload and can expose soccer players to numerous playing styles. The purpose of the study was to investigate the response of youth soccer players to an intensified period of competition and assess whether initial fitness influenced outcomes. Elite males across two consecutive years (n1 = 18, n2 = 18) were assessed for lower body strength and high-intensity endurance. Objective and subjective measures of fatigue were collected throughout five-day international tournaments using countermovement jumps (CMJ), a perceptual wellness questionnaire and match GPS data. Mixed effects models quantified the effects of time and fitness on outcomes. In general, results were consistent across both years. No significant interaction effects were obtained between time and fitness variables for any outcome (X24 ≤ 6.5; p ≥.225). CMJ height and power remained consistent across both tournaments (X24 ≤ 5.3; p ≥.262). In contrast, significant (X24 ≥ 17.7; p