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Change-of direction deficit in elite young soccer players

The limited relationship between conventional speed and power measures and change-of-direction performance

Richtungswechseldefizit bei jungen Spitzenfußballern

Die begrenzte Beziehung zwischen gängigen Geschwindigkeits- und Leistungsmaßen und der Ausführung von Richtungswechseln

German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research volume 48, pages 228–234 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

Change-of-direction (COD) ability is an essential physical component for soccer. This study examined the relationships between conventional speed–power assessments and COD performance in elite young soccer players. Twenty-five under-20 male players from the same club (age: 17.6 ± 0.8 years, height: 178.1 ± 6.7 cm, body mass [BM]: 72.2 ± 7.9 kg) performed sprint speed tests, vertical jumps, loaded jump squats, half squats, and Zigzag COD assessments. Moreover, the COD deficit was calculated as the difference between 20-m sprint velocity and Zigzag COD test velocity. A Pearson correlation analysis was used to determine the correlations between Zigzag COD performance and COD deficit with speed and power outputs. Although no significant relationships between speed–power variables and COD ability were present, there were still strong positive correlations between traditional neuromechanical measures and COD deficit. Briefly, it seems that higher performances in speed and power tests are not necessarily related to better performances in specific COD maneuvers. Therefore, it is recommended that coaches and technical staff include specific COD drills in soccer player routines to optimize the transference from speed and power capacities to specific COD performance.

Zusammenfassung

Die Fähigkeit des Richtungswechsels („change of direction“ [COD]) ist eine wesentliche körperliche Komponente im Fußball. In dieser Studie wurden die Beziehungen zwischen gängigen Geschwindigkeits-Leistungs-Tests und der COD-Ausführung bei jungen Spitzenfußballern untersucht. Insgesamt 25 unter 20-jährige männliche Spieler desselben Vereins (Alter: 17,6 ± 0,8 Jahre, Körpergröße: 178,1 ± 6,7 cm, Körpergewicht [KG]: 72,2 ± 7,9 kg) absolvierten Sprintgeschwindigkeitstests, vertikale Sprünge, Jump Squats unter Last, Half Squats und Zickzack-COD-Tests. Darüber hinaus wurde das COD-Defizit als Differenz zwischen 20-m-Sprintgeschwindigkeit und Zickzack-COD-Test-Geschwindigkeit berechnet. Mit einer Korrelationsanalyse nach Pearson wurden die Korrelationen der Zickzack-COD-Ausführung und des COD-Defizits mit den Geschwindigkeits- und Leistungsergebnissen bestimmt. Auch wenn keine signifikanten Beziehungen zwischen Geschwindigkeits-Leistungs-Variablen und der COD-Fähigkeit bestanden, gab es doch starke positive Korrelationen zwischen traditionellen neuromechanischen Maßen und dem COD-Defizit. Kurzum scheinen höhere Werte in Geschwindigkeits- und Leistungstests nicht zwangsläufig mit besseren Leistungen bei bestimmten COD-Bewegungsabläufen verbunden zu sein. Daher empfiehlt es sich für Trainer und Funktionsteams, spezifische COD-Übungen in das Trainingsprogramm von Fußballern einzubeziehen, um die Übertragung von Geschwindigkeits- und Leistungskapazitäten auf bestimmte COD-Ausführungen zu optimieren.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NAR—Nucleus of High Performance in Sport, Av. Padre José Maria, 555—Santo Amaro, 04753-060, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Irineu Loturco, Ronaldo Kobal & Lucas A. Pereira

  2. Centre for Exercise and Sports Science, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia

    Sophia Nimphius

  3. São Paulo Football Club, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Altamiro Bottino

  4. Red Bull Brazil Football, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Vinicius Zanetti

  5. University of South Wales, Pontypridd, Wales, UK

    Ian Jeffreys

Authors
  1. Irineu Loturco
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  2. Sophia Nimphius
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  3. Ronaldo Kobal
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  4. Altamiro Bottino
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  5. Vinicius Zanetti
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  6. Lucas A. Pereira
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  7. Ian Jeffreys
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Correspondence to Irineu Loturco.

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Conflict of interest

I. Loturco, S. Nimphius, R. Kobal, A. Bottino, V. Zanetti, L.A. Pereira and I. Jeffreys declare that they have no competing interests.

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The investigation was approved by the Local Ethics Committee and all participants and their legal guardians signed an informed consent forms prior to participation in the current study.

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Loturco, I., Nimphius, S., Kobal, R. et al. Change-of direction deficit in elite young soccer players. Ger J Exerc Sport Res 48, 228–234 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12662-018-0502-7

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Keywords

  • Football
  • Elite athletes
  • Team sports
  • Agility
  • Velocity

Schlüsselwörter

  • Fußball
  • Spitzensportler
  • Mannschaftssport
  • Beweglichkeit
  • Geschwindigkeit