Ademir Felipe Schultz de Arruda

Effects of a Very Congested Match Schedule on Body-Load Impacts, Accelerations, and Running Measures in Youth Soccer Players

PURPOSE To analyze the effects of a very congested match schedule on the total distance (TD) covered, high-intensity-running (HIR) distance, and frequency of accelerations and body-load impacts (BLIs) performed in a team of under-15 soccer players (N=10; 15.1±0.2 y, 171.8±4.7 cm, 61±6.0 kg) during an international youth competition. METHODS Using global positioning systems, player performances were repeatedly monitored in 5 matches performed over 3 successive days. RESULTS Significant differences were observed between matches (P<.05) for the frequency of accelerations per minute, BLIs, and BLIs per minute. No differences were observed for the TD covered, TD run per minute, number of high-intensity runs, distance covered in HIR, per-minute peak running speed attained, or frequency of accelerations. The frequency of accelerations per minute decreased across the competition while BLIs were higher during the final than in all other matches. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that BLIs and acceleration might be used as an alternative means to represent the external load during congested match schedules rather than measures related to running speed or distance covered.

Influence of competition playing venue on the hormonal responses, state anxiety and perception of effort in elite basketball athletes

This study examined the influence of competition playing venue on the hormonal responses, state anxiety and perception of effort in elite basketball players. Eighteen males from two basketball teams were monitored during two competitive matches that were played against each other on a home and away basis. Salivary testosterone (T) and cortisol (C) concentrations were measured before and after each match. The Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) test was also administrated prior to each match and session ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were taken post-game. Playing at home was accompanied by elevated pre-match T concentration, as compared to playing away (p<0.05). The matches played at home were also won. Salivary T and C concentrations were similarly elevated across the matches (percent changes from pre to post) played either at home or away. No significant differences in state anxiety and perception of effort were identified between the playing venues. Pre-match T and C concentrations and the percent changes in these hormones were significantly related to somatic anxiety, especially when playing at home (p<0.05). In conclusion, the competition playing venue appeared to influence athlete salivary hormonal responses prior to elite basketball matches. These hormonal responses were associated with players anxiety state, which might contribute to performance and the eventual match outcomes.

Effect of a congested match schedule on immune-endocrine responses, technical performance and session-RPE in elite youth soccer players

ABSTRACT This study investigated the effects of a congested match schedule (7 matches played in 7 days) on steroid hormone concentrations, mucosal immunity, session rating of perceived exertion (S-RPE) and technical performance in 16 elite youth soccer players (14.8 ± 0.4 years; 170.6 ± 9.4 cm; 64.9 ± 7 kg). No change was observed for salivary cortisol concentration across match time points (P = 0.33; effect size [ES] = 0.13–0.48). In contrast, there was a decrease in salivary testosterone and salivary IgA (SIgA) concentrations from the 1st compared with the last time point (P = 0.01 and 0.001, ES = 0.42 and 0.67, respectively). The SIgA concentration varied across time points (P < 0.001) with the highest value observed at the 3rd time point (rest day) (3rd vs all time point; ES = 0.47–0.73). No changes were observed for S-RPE across time points (P > 0.05). A higher number of tackles and interceptions were observed during the 4th match vs 1st and 7th matches (P < 0.001; ES = 2.25 and 1.90, respectively). The present data demonstrate that accumulated fatigue related to participation in a congested match schedule might induce a decrease in testosterone concentration in youth players and negatively affect their mucosal immunity and capacity to perform certain technical actions.

Psychophysiological Responses to Overloading and Tapering Phases in Elite Young Soccer Players

This study investigated the effect of a 2-week overloading training phase followed by a 2-week tapering phase on internal training load (ITL), salivary cortisol, stress tolerance, and upper respiratory tract infections symptoms (URTI) in 11 male young soccer players (16.0 ± 0.5 yrs). Ratings of perceived exertion (session- RPE) were taken after each training session (N = 194) to determine ITL. Saliva sampling was conducted at the end of each week and cortisol concentration assessed by ELISA. DALDA and WURSS-21 questionnaires were administered every week to evaluate stress tolerance and severity of URTI respectively. The number of athletes reporting URTI symptoms was recorded. The overloading phase promoted greater ITL and a higher resting cortisol concentration than the tapering phase (P < .05). While no significant changes in stress tolerance or URTI severity were observed, the number of athletes reporting URTI symptoms was higher during the overloading phase. A significant correlation was observed between symptoms of stress and severity of URTI (rs=-.71; P = .01). The results indicate that an integrated approach using psychological measures (session-RPE and DALDA), self-reports of URTI symptoms, and endocrine responses (cortisol) to training are pertinent for monitoring young soccer players.

Salivary steroid response and competitive anxiety in elite basketball players: Effect of opponent level

This study examined the effect of playing matches against different opponent teams (hard match; HM, medium match; MM, and easy match; EM) on pre-match testosterone concentration (T), pre-to-post match cortisol (C) concentration, and pre-competitive anxiety (CSAI-2 questionnaire) in 20 elite male basketball players. One training session (TS) was also assessed (control condition). Saliva steroids were determined by ELISA. The pre-T concentration was significantly lower for the TS (163±54pmolL-1), compared to the three official matches (EM: 208±82pmolL-1, MM: 213±57pmolL-1, and HM: 218±37pmolL-1) (p<0.05). A significant change in C from pre-to-post was observed for all conditions (TS [5.8±3.7 vs 14.4±9.4ƞmolL-1], EM [10.1±4.9 vs 17.3±10.2ƞmolL-1], MM [13.0±7.4 vs 21.5±8.3ƞmolL-1], and HM [18.9±5.8 vs 31.4±5.3ƞmolL-1] (p<0.05). A higher PRE-C was observed for the HM, compared to TS and EM (p<0.05) and a higher POST-C concentration for the HM was detected, compared to the TS, EM, and MM (p<0.05). A lower anxiety level was observed for the EM (somatic: 15.0±3.7; cognitive: 15.8±4.5 arbitrary units [AU]) compared, to the MM (somatic: 16.4±3.5; cognitive: 17.7±4.0AU) and HM (somatic: 15.8±3.9; cognitive: 18.3±3.9AU) (p<0.05) and a higher self-confidence was observed for the TS (28.9±5.1AU), compared to the HM (26.7±3.0AU) (p<0.05). These results suggest that playing against a high-level opponent may cause a higher psychobiological stress, likely because opponent level may be perceived as threating to the social status in a given hierarchy.

Playing match venue does not affect resting salivary steroids in elite Futsal players

This study examined the influence of competition playing venue on the hormonal responses in elite Futsal players. Twenty-one males (age, 19.3 ± 0.7 years; height, 174.2 ± 4.1cm; body mass, 71.8 ± 7.9 kg) from two Futsal teams were monitored during two competitive matches that were played against each other on a home and away basis. Saliva sampling was conducted before (pre) and after (post) each match. The concentration of salivary steroids (testosterone [T] and cortisol [C]) was assessed by ELISA. Resting concentration of salivary steroid (T and C) hormones was not affected by playing venue (home and away). Both Futsal matches promoted a significant increase in T and C from pre--to post-matches (p<0.05), with a higher post-C concentration for playing at home (p<0.05). No effect of playing venue on T was observed. In conclusion, the findings of this study indicate that the playing venue did not elicit a significant change in resting concentration of salivary steroid hormones. However, playing home induced a greater post-match C response, suggesting that the pressure for positive results in front of supporters, families and friends may impose a higher level of stress on the players at their own facility.

Monitoring Salivary Immunoglobulin A Responses to Official and Simulated Matches In Elite Young Soccer Players

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to examine SIgA responses (concentration [SIgAabs] and a secretion rate [SIgArate]) to official and simulated competitive matches in young soccer players. The sample was composed of 26 male soccer players (age 15.6 ± 1.1 yrs, stature 177.0 ± 6.1 cm, body mass 70.5 ± 5.7 kg). Four soccer matches (two simulated matches [SM] and two official matches [OM]) were conducted. The matches consisted of two halves of 35 min with a 10 min rest interval. Each assessed player participated in only one SM and one OM. All matches were performed in the same week, during the competitive season, and at the same time of the day (9:00 am), separated by 48 h. Saliva samples were collected before and after every match. The session rating of perceived exertion was reported 30 min after each match in order to determine the internal training load (ITL). A significant decrease in SIgAabs and SIgArate after OM was observed when compared to the pre-match value. In addition, the SIgArate was higher at pre-OM when compared to pre-SM. A higher ITL for OM was observed compared to SM. The current findings indicate that OM may lead to a decrease in the main mucosal immunity function parameter of young soccer players that could increase the risk of URTI. Coaches should be aware of it in order to plan appropriate training loads and recovery procedures to avoid or minimize the likelihood of upper respiratory tract infection occurrences.

Temporal Changes in Technical and Physical Performances During a Small-Sided Game in Elite Youth Soccer Players.

Background There have been claims that small-sided games (SSG) may generate an appropriate environment to develop youth players’ technical performance associated to game-related problem solving. However, the temporal change in technical performance parameters of youth players during SSG is still unknown. Objectives The aim of this study was to examine temporal changes in technical and physical performances during a small-sided game (SSG) in elite soccer players. Methods Sixty elite youth players (age 14.8 ± 0.2 yr; stature 177 ± 5 cm; body mass 66.2 ± 4.7 kg) completed a 5 v 5 SSG using two repetitions of 8 minutes interspersed by 3 minutes of passive recovery. To evaluate temporal changes in performance, the data were analysed across 4 minutes quarters. Physical performance parameters included the total distance covered (TDC), the frequency of sprints (>18 km•h-1), accelerations and decelerations (> 2.0 m•s-2 and - 2.0 m•s-2), metabolic power (W•kg-1), training impulse (TRIMP), TDC: TRIMP, number of impacts, and body load. Technical performance parameters included goal attempts, total number of tackles, tackles and interceptions, total number of passes, and passes effectiveness. Results All physical performance parameters decreased from the first to the last quarter with notable declines in TDC, metabolic power and the frequency of sprints, accelerations and decelerations (P < 0.05; moderate to very large ES: 1.08 - 3.30). However, technical performance parameters did not vary across quarters (P > 0.05; trivial ES for 1st v 4th quarters: 0.15 - 0.33). Conclusions The data demonstrate that technical performance is maintained despite substantial declines in physical performance during a SSG in elite youth players. This finding may have implications for designing SSG’s for elite youth players to ensure physical, technical and tactical capabilities are optimized. Modifications in player number, pitch dimensions, rules, coach encouragement, for instance, should be included taking into account the main aim of a given session and then focused on overloading physical or technical elements.

Quais ações técnico-táticas realizadas durante as partidas de futsal podem discriminar o resultado de vitória ou derrota?

O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar se as acoes tecnico-taticas especificas do futsal sao capazes de discriminar o resultado de partidas de uma equipe de alto rendimento. Foram analisadas 40 partidas de uma equipe de futsal durante dois anos de disputa da Liga Nacional. Considerou-se os resultados de vitoria ou derrota. Durante cada partida, foram analisados o numero total das seguintes acoes tecnico-taticas: Desarmes Realizados, Desarmes Sofridos, Total de Finalizacoes Realizadas, Total de Finalizacoes Sofridas, Finalizacoes Certas Realizadas, Finalizacoes Certas Sofridas, Passes Incompletos Realizados e Passes Incompletos do Adversario; bem como os indices de coeficiente para cada acao tecnico-tatica, a partir da razao entre acao realizada e sofrida. Foi realizada uma Analise Discriminante a partir do metodo de estimacao simultânea. Apenas as variaveis Desarmes Realizados, Desarmes Sofridos e Coeficiente de Desarme apresentaram cargas discriminantes acima de 0,40, indicando que as mesmas poderiam discriminar o resultado de vitoria e derrota em partidas de futsal. Pode-se concluir que a eficiencia em relacao ao numero de Desarmes Realizados e de Desarmes Sofridos pode ser considerada um fator importante para alcancar o resultado de vitoria em partidas de futsal de alto rendimento. Este estudo apontou que o sistema defensivo da equipe de futsal analisada, tanto no que se refere a organizacao tatica quanto no tocante a tecnica adequada para realizacao do desarme se apresentou como um fator discriminante do resultado da partida. Alem disso, o sistema ofensivo tambem parece ser importante no sentido de prover uma melhor organizacao de ataque enquanto diminui a possibilidade de sofrer desarmes.

The effect of situational variables in free throw shooting effectiveness in small-sided games in basketball

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of situational variables on the shooting effectiveness of basketball players during small sided games (SSG). The sample consisted of 24 players from the U-15 and U-17 (15.6 ± 0.4 years and 82.1 ± 9.9 kg, 187.6 ± 8.0 cm) categories belonging to teams that participated in the Sao Paulo State Championship. Eight SSGs, composed of 4 periods of 4 minutes with 1 minute interval between periods (active recovery), played on an official court (28m x 15m), with 3 players on each team (3 vs. 3) were analyzed. The result of the chi-square test indicated that the shooting effectiveness was associated with the type of ball possession (p <0.001), with the condition of the shooter (with opposition vs. without opposition) (p <0.001) and the distance from the basket (p <0.001). Logistic regression showed that the probability of shooting effectiveness decreases more than 65% (p <0.001) when the shooter has opposition as compared with the without opposition situation. In addition, shoots performed closer to the basket have a greater chance of success in approximately 84% (vs middle shooting distance; p <0.001). The results indicate that shooting effectiveness is influenced by the position of shooter in relation to the opponent and the distance from the basket. Therefore, coaches could suggest players to identify spaces nearby the basket, without opposition, in order to increase the chance of shooting success.