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Strength training effects on physical performance and serum hormones in young soccer players

European Journal of Applied Physiology volume 91, pages 698–707 (2004)Cite this article

An Erratum to this article was published on 17 November 2004

Abstract

To determine the effects of simultaneous explosive strength and soccer training in young men, 8 experimental (S) and 11 control (C) players, aged 17.2 (0.6) years, were tested before and after an 11-week training period with respect to the load-vertical jumping curve [loads of 0–70 kg (counter-movement jump CMJ0–70)], 5- and 15-m sprint performances, submaximal running endurance and basal serum concentrations of testosterone, free testosterone and cortisol. In the S group, the 11-week training resulted in significant increases in the low-force portion of the load-vertical jumping curve (5–14% in CMJ0–30, P<0.01) and in resting serum total testosterone concentrations (7.5%, P<0.05), whereas no changes were observed in sprint running performance, blood lactate during submaximal running, resting serum cortisol and resting serum free testosterone concentrations. In the C group, no changes were observed during the experimental period. In the S group, the changes in CMJ0 correlated (P<0.05–0.01) with the changes in the 5-m (r=0.86) and 15-m (r=0.92) sprints, whereas the changes in CMJ40 correlated negatively with the changes in the testosterone:cortisol ratio (r=−0.84, −0.92, respectively, P<0.05). These data indicate that young trained soccer players with low initial strength levels can increase explosive strength by adding low-frequency, low-intensity explosive-type strength training. The inverse correlations observed between changes in CMJ40 and changes in the testosterone:cortisol ratio suggest that a transient drop in this ratio below 45% cannot always be interpreted as a sign of overstrain or neuroendocrine dysfunction.

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Declaration

The experiments comply with the current laws of the country in which the experiments were performed

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigación y Medicina del Deporte de Navarra, Gobierno de Navarra, C/ Paulino Caballero 13, 31002, Pamplona, Spain

    E. M. Gorostiaga, M. Izquierdo, M. Ruesta & J. Ibáñez

  2. Club Atlético Osasuna, Pamplona, Spain

    J. Iribarren

  3. Centro Olímpico de Estudios Superiores, Comité Olímpico Español, Madrid, Spain

    J. J. González-Badillo

Authors
  1. E. M. Gorostiaga
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  2. M. Izquierdo
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  3. M. Ruesta
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  4. J. Iribarren
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  5. J. J. González-Badillo
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  6. J. Ibáñez
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to E. M. Gorostiaga.

Additional information

An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00421-004-1266-3

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Gorostiaga, E.M., Izquierdo, M., Ruesta, M. et al. Strength training effects on physical performance and serum hormones in young soccer players. Eur J Appl Physiol 91, 698–707 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-003-1032-y

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Keywords

  • Soccer
  • Strength training
  • Endurance
  • Vertical jump
  • Testosterone