Daily energy requirements of male academy soccer players are greater than age-matched non-academy soccer players: A doubly labelled water investigation.

This study aimed to test the hypothesis that the total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) of male academy soccer players is greater than players not enrolled on a formalised academy programme. English Premier League academy (ACAD: n = 8, 13 years, 50 ± 6 kg, 88 ± 3% predicted adult stature, PAS) and non-academy players (NON-ACAD: n = 6, 13 years, 53 ± 12 kg, 89 ± 3% PAS) were assessed for TDEE (via doubly labelled water) during a 14-day in-season period. External loading was evaluated during training (ACAD: 8 sessions, NON-ACAD: 2 sessions) and games (2 games for both ACAD and NON-ACAD) via GPS, and daily physical activity was evaluated using triaxial accelerometry. Accumulative duration of soccer activity (ACAD: 975 ± 23 min, NON-ACAD: 397 ± 2 min; p < 0.01), distance covered (ACAD: 54.2 ± 8.3 km, NON-ACAD: 21.6 ± 4.7 km; p < 0.05) and time engaged in daily moderate-to-vigorous (ACAD: 124 ± 17 min, NON-ACAD: 79 ± 18 min; p < 0.01) activity was greater in academy players. Academy players displayed greater absolute (ACAD: 3380 ± 517 kcal · d-1, NON-ACAD: 2641 ± 308 kcal · d-1; p < 0.05) and relative TDEE (ACAD: 66 ± 6 kcal · kg · d-1, NON-ACAD: 52 ± 10 kcal · kg · d-1; p < 0.05) versus non-academy players. Given the injury risk associated with high training volumes during growth and maturation, data demonstrate the requirement for academy players to consume sufficient energy (and carbohydrate) intake to support the enhanced energy cost of academy programmes.

Acute fuelling and recovery practices of academy soccer players: implications for growth, maturation, and physical performance.

Academy soccer players frequently train in the evening (i.e. 1700-2000 h), hence limited time to nutritionally prepare and recover due to schooling, travel and sleep schedules. Accordingly, we assessed timing and quantity of energy intake in the pre-training and post-training period. Over a 3-day in-season training period, male players (n=48; n=8 from under (U) 12, 13, 14, 15/16, 18 and 23 players) from an English Premier League academy self-reported dietary intake and physical activity levels (via the remote food photography method and activity diary, respectively) in the four hours pre- and post-training. Timing of pre-training energy intake ranged from 40 ± 28 mins (U15/U16 players) to 114 ± 71 mins (U18) before training and mean carbohydrate (CHO) intake ranged from 0.8±0.4 g.kg-1 (U23) to 1.5±0.9 g.kg-1 (U12). Timing of post-training energy intake ranged from 39 ± 27 mins (U14) to 70 ± 84 mins (U23) and mean CHO intake ranged from 1.6±0.8 g.kg-1 (U12) to 0.9±0.5 g.kg-1 (U14). In contrast to CHO, all age groups consumed sufficient protein intake in the post-training period (i.e. > 0.3 g.kg-1). We conclude academy soccer players habitually practice sub-optimal fuelling and recovery strategies, the consequence of which could impair growth, maturation and physical performance.