Javier Yanci

Short-Term Training Effects of Vertically and Horizontally Oriented Exercises on Neuromuscular Performance in Professional Soccer Players

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to compare the effects of 2 strength and conditioning programs involving either purely vertically oriented or combining vertically and horizontally oriented exercises on soccer-relevant performance variables (ie, acceleration, jumping ability, peak power, and endurance). METHODS Twenty-two professional male soccer players were randomly assigned to 2 training groups: vertical strength (VS, n = 11) and vertical and horizontal strength (VHS, n = 11). Players trained 2 times per week during all the preseason (5 wk) and 3 weeks of the competitive season. The effect of the training protocols was assessed using double-and single-leg vertical countermovement jumps (CMJ), half-squat peak power (PP), sprint performance over 5 and 15 m, and blood lactate concentration at selected running speeds. RESULTS Both groups obtained significant improvements in PP (P < .05; ES = 0.87 and 0.80 for VS and VHS, respectively) and small practical improvements in 5-m- (P < .05; ES = 0.27 and 0.25 for VS and VHS, respectively) and 15-m-sprint time (P < .05; ES = 0.19 and 0.24 for VS and VHS, respectively). The CMJ performance showed a small improvement (P < .05, ES = 0.34) only in the VHS group. Submaximal aerobic-fitness changes were similar in both groups (P < .05; ES = 1.89 and 0 .71 for VS and VHS, respectively). CONCLUSION This study provided a small amount of practical evidence for the consideration of preseason training protocols that combine exercises for vertical- and horizontal-axis strength development in professional male soccer players. Further studies using more aggressive training protocols involving horizontally oriented conditioning exercises are warranted.

Rating of muscular and respiratory perceived exertion in professional soccer players.

Abstract Los Arcos, A, Yanci, J, Mendiguchia, J, and Gorostiaga, EM. Rating of muscular and respiratory perceived exertion in professional soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 28(11): 3285–3293, 2014—This study investigated, in male professional players: (a) fluctuations in rating of local-muscular (sRPEmus) and central-respiratory (sRPEres) perceived exertion measured after the completion of each training and competitive session, over a 9-week competitive period and (b) the influence of quantitative assessment of different training and competition modes on changes in physical performance. sRPEres, sRPEmus, and heart rate were measured in 21 players in 847 individual training and competitive sessions. Training load was calculated by multiplying sRPEmus or sRPEres by the duration of the training or competition sessions. A test battery (vertical jump, sprint, and endurance running) was performed before and after the studied period. At the end of official matches, average sRPEmus was higher (7.4 ± 0.6; p ⩽ 0.05) than sRPEres (6.4 ± 1.3). Significant negative correlations were observed between the values of total training and competition time (r = −0.62; p < 0.01) or total added sRPEmus (r = −0.59; p ⩽ 0.05), and vertical jump or sprint running velocity changes, respectively. This suggests that sRPEmus should be considered the main fatigue rating during a soccer match. Training and competition volume may have negative effects on the muscle power performance gains of the legs.

Sprint, agility, strength and endurance capacity in wheelchair basketball players.

The aims of the present study were, firstly, to determine the reliability and reproducibility of an agility T-test and Yo-Yo 10 m recovery test; and secondly, to analyse the physical characteristics measured by sprint, agility, strength and endurance field tests in wheelchair basketball (WB) players. 16 WB players (33.06 ± 7.36 years, 71.89 ± 21.71 kg and sitting body height 86.07 ± 6.82 cm) belonging to the national WB league participated in this study. Wheelchair sprint (5 and 20 m without ball, and 5 and 20 m with ball) agility (T-test and pick-up test) strength (handgrip and maximal pass) and endurance (Yo-Yo 10 m recovery test) were performed. T-test and Yo-Yo 10 m recovery test showed good reproducibility values (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC = 0.74-0.94). The WB players’ results in 5 and 20 m sprints without a ball were 1.87 ± 0.21 s and 5.70 ± 0.43 s and with a ball 2.10 ± 0.30 s and 6.59 ± 0.61 s, being better than those reported in the literature. Regarding the pick-up test results (16.05 ± 0.52 s) and maximal pass (8.39 ± 1.77 m), players showed worse values than those obtained in elite players. The main contribution of the present study is the characterization of the physical performance profile of WB players using a field test battery. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the agility T-test and the aerobic Yo-Yo 10 m recovery test are reliable; consequently they may be appropriate instruments for measuring physical fitness in WB.

Anthropometry and Performance in Wheelchair Basketball

Abstract Granados, C, Yanci, J, Badiola, A, Iturricastillo, A, Otero, M, Olasagasti, J, Bidaurrazaga-Letona, I, and Gil, SM. Anthropometry and performance in wheelchair basketball. J Strength Cond Res 29(7): 1812–1820, 2015—This study investigated whether anthropometric characteristics, generic and specific sprinting, agility, strength, and endurance capacity could differentiate between First-Division and Third-Division wheelchair basketball (WB) players. A First-Division WB team (n = 8; age = 36.05 ± 8.25 years, sitting body height = 91.38 ± 4.24 cm, body mass = 79.80 ± 12.63 kg) and a Third-Division WB team (n = 11; age = 31.10 ± 6.37 years, sitting body height = 85.56 ± 6.48 cm, body mass = 71.18 ± 17.63 kg) participated in the study. Wheelchair sprint, agility, strength, and endurance tests were performed. The First-Division team was faster (8.7%) in 20 m without the ball, more agile (13–22%), stronger (18–33%), covered more distance (20%) in the endurance test, and presented higher values of rate of perceived exertion for the exercise load (48%) than the Third-Division team. Moreover, the individual 20-m sprint time values correlated inversely with the individual strength/power values (from r = −0.54 to −0.77, p ⩽ 0.05, n = 19). Wheelchair basketball coaches should structure strength and conditioning training to improve sprint and agility and evaluate players accordingly, so that they can receive appropriate training stimuli to match the physiological demands of their competitive level.

The influence of soccer match play on physiological and physical performance measures in soccer referees and assistant referees

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to quantify the acute impact of soccer match officiating on selected physiological and physical performance measures. Twenty-four officials from the Spanish National 3rd Division participated in this study. External global positioning system and internal (heart rate) load data were collected for each match official during 8 official matches. Pre- and post-matches, the referees were assessed for tympanic temperature, blood lactate, 15- and 30-m sprint speeds and unilateral (dominant and non-dominant legs) and bilateral vertical jump performances. For referees, the acute physiological and physical performance effects of officiating (post-match value minus pre-match value) were large increases in blood lactate (1.7 mmol · l−1; ±90% confidence limit, 0.9 mmol · l−1; effect size, ES = 4.35), small increases in 15-m sprint (0.09; ±0.04 s; ES = 0.53) and 30-m sprint speeds (0.14; ±0.08 s; ES = 0.39) and a small increase in non-dominant leg jump performance (2.1; ±1.4 cm; ES = 0.31). For assistant referees, there was a small decrease in tympanic temperature (−0.3°C; ±0.2°C; ES = −0.65) and small increases in blood lactate (0.4; ±0.3 mmol · l−1; ES = 0.66), 15-m sprint speed (0.06; ±0.04 s; ES = 0.47), 30-m sprint speed (0.11; ±0.16 s; ES = 0.49) and bilateral countermovement jump height (3.4; ±1.5 cm; ES = 0.45). Taken together, these data demonstrate that the physical demands of soccer officiating are sufficient to elicit increases in blood lactate and small decrements in sprint performance and, thereby, provide some evidence for match-related fatigue.

Variability of Objective and Subjective Intensities During Ball Drills in Youth Soccer Players

Abstract Arcos, AL, Martínez-Santos, R, Yanci, J, Martín, J, and Castagna, C. Variability of objective and subjective intensities during ball drills in youth soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 28(3): 752–757, 2014—The aim of this study was to examine the intrasubject (intraclass coefficient correlation [ICC]) and intersubject variability (coefficient of variation [CV]) of soccer ball drills (BD) involving or not opposition in male youth soccer. For this purpose, a collective ball dribbling (DB) exercise and a 7-a-side ball game without coach encouragements were considered. Exercise intensity was assessed as heart rate (HR), training load (TL), and perceived exertion scales. Fourteen U-14 male soccer players (age, 14.79 ± 0.43 years and experience, 6.5 years) of a Spanish First Division club academy participated in the study. Ball drills were examined for variability over 5 successive training sessions in similar field conditions. Results showed that 7-a-side was significantly (p = 0.000) more demanding than DB. Indeed the TL, HRmax, HRmean, overall perceived exertion, and leg muscular perceived exertion (MPE) resulted 141, 8.7, 11, 56, and 72%, higher in 7-a-side than in DB, respectively. In the 7-a-side condition, good intersubject (CV < 10%) and low intrasubject (ICC < 0.7) variability were observed. In the DB condition, CVs were below 10% CV only for HR variables and the ICC values were higher than 0.7 only for MPE. Despite the moderate reproducibility of BD not considering opponents, this condition did not reveal to induce homogeneous physiological responses in young soccer players. Therefore, the use of this kind of drills may be questionable when considered as alternative of moderate intensity generic aerobic training. Despite the higher interaction between players variability in the opposition drills resulted lower, this suggests their use as a specific conditioning exercise.

Quantifying Wheelchair Basketball Match Load: A Comparison of Heart-Rate and Perceived-Exertion Methods.

PURPOSE To describe the objective and subjective match load (ML) of wheelchair basketball (WB) and determine the relationship between session heart-rate (HR) -based ML and rating-of-perceived-exertion (RPE) -based ML methods. METHODS HR-based measurements of ML included Edwards ML and Stagno training impulses (TRIMPMOD), while RPE-based ML measurements included respiratory (sRPEres) and muscular (sRPEmus). Data were collected from 10 WB players during a whole competitive season. RESULTS Edwards ML and TRIMPMOD averaged across 16 matches were 255.3 ± 66.3 and 167.9 ± 67.1 AU, respectively. In contrast, sRPEres ML and sRPEmus ML were found to be higher (521.9 ± 188.7 and 536.9 ± 185.8 AU, respectively). Moderate correlations (r = .629-.648, P < .001) between Edwards ML and RPE-based ML methods were found. Moreover, similar significant correlations were also shown between the TRIMPMOD and RPE-based ML methods (r = .627-.668, P < .001). That said, only ≥40% of variance in HR-based ML was explained by RPE-based ML, which could be explained by the heterogeneity of physical-impairment type. CONCLUSION RPE-based ML methods could be used as an indicator of global internal ML in highly trained WB players.

JUMP LANDING CHARACTERISTICS IN ELITE SOCCER PLAYERS WITH CEREBRAL PALSY

The aim of the present study was to analyse the parameters that characterize the vertical ground reaction force during the landing phase of a jump, and to determine the relationship among these parameters in elite soccer players with cerebral palsy (CP). Thirteen male members of the Spanish national soccer team for people with CP (mean age: 27.1 ± 4.7 years) volunteered for the study. Each participant performed three counter movement jumps. The characteristics of the first peak of the vertical ground reaction force during the landing phase of a jump, which corresponds to the forefoot contact with the ground, were similar to the results obtained in previous studies. However, a higher magnitude of rearfoot contact with the ground (F2) was observed in participants with CP than in participants without CP. Furthermore, a significant correlation between F2 magnitude and the elapsed time until its production (T2) was not observed (r = -0.474 for p = 0.102). This result implies that a landing technique based on a delay in the production of F2 might not be effective to reduce its magnitude, contrary to what has been observed in participants without CP. The absence of a significant correlation between these two parameters in the present study, and the high magnitude of F2, suggest that elite soccer players with CP should use footwear with proper cushioning characteristics.

The Functional Classification and Field Test Performance in Wheelchair Basketball Players

Abstract Wheelchair basketball players are classified in four classes based on the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) system of competition. Thus, the aim of the study was to ascertain if the IWBF classification, the type of injury and the wheelchair experience were related to different performance field-based tests. Thirteen basketball players undertook anthropometric measurements and performance tests (hand dynamometry, 5 m and 20 m sprints, 5 m and 20 m sprints with a ball, a T-test, a Pick-up test, a modified 10 m Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test, a maximal pass and a medicine ball throw). The IWBF class was correlated (p<0.05) to the hand dynamometry (r= 0.84), the maximal pass (r=0.67) and the medicine ball throw (r= 0.67). Whereas the years of dependence on the wheelchair were correlated to the velocity (p<0.01): 5 m (r= −0.80) and 20 m (r= −0.77) and agility tests (r= −0.77, p<0.01). Also, the 20 m sprint with a ball (r= 0.68) and the T-test (r= −0.57) correlated (p<0.05) with the experience in playing wheelchair basketball. Therefore, in this team the correlations of the performance variables differed when they were related to the disability class, the years of dependence on the wheelchair and the experience in playing wheelchair basketball. These results should be taken into account by the technical staff and coaches of the teams when assessing performance of wheelchair basketball players.

Effects of horizontal plyometric training volume on soccer players’ performance

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to examine the dose response effect of strength and conditioning programmes, involving horizontally oriented plyometric exercises, on relevant soccer performance variables. Sixteen soccer players were randomly allocated to two 6-week plyometric training groups (G1 and G2) differing by imposed (twice a week) training volume. Post-training G1 (4.13%; d = 0.43) and G2 (2.45%; d = 0.53) moderately improved their horizontal countermovement jump performance. Significant between-group differences (p < 0.01) in the vertical countermovement jump for force production time (T2) were detected post-training. No significant and practical (p > 0.05, d = trivial or small) post-training improvements in sprint, change of direction ability (CODA) and horizontal arm swing countermovement jump were reported in either group. Horizontal plyometric training was effective in promoting improvement in injury prevention variables. Doubling the volume of a horizontal plyometric training protocol was shown to have no additional effect over functional aspects of soccer players’ performance.