Influence of contextual factors on match running performance of starters and non-starters in elite youth male soccer players.

This study investigated the effects of match location, quality of opposition (classified into: strong [1st to 4th position]; intermediate [5th to 15th position]; weak [16th to 20th position]), and match outcome on the match running performance of starters and non-starters from a top elite Brazilian soccer team. Absolute measures were calculated using total distance, high-speed (19.8-25.2 km·h-1), sprinting (≥ 25.2 km·h-1), total distance high-acceleration (> 2m·s2), and deceleration (< -2m·s2) were recorded by GPS units from a sample of young soccer players (N = 25) in a total of 17 matches. Relative measures were calculated by dividing absolute measures by the total duration of the matches. Non-starters covered greater total distance (p = 0.02), sprinting (p = 0.02), high-acceleration and deceleration (p = 0.04), sprinting distance relative per minute played (p = 0.005), and high-acceleration and deceleration relative per minute played (p < 0.001) when the team plays at home, strong opponents, and wins the matches. Starters covered greater total distance in high-speed running (p = 0.04), high-acceleration and deceleration (p = 0.03), and high-speed running relative per minute played (p = 0.04) when the team plays strong opponents and wins the matches. These findings highlight the impact of contextual factors during matches on the locomotor performance of young soccer players.

Effects of peppermint oil inhalation on vertical jump performance in elite young professional soccer players: A double-blinded randomized crossover study.

Aims: To evaluate peppermint essential oil (PEO) inhalation's effect on young soccer athletes' motor performance. Methods: A randomized crossover design was used to test the effect of the PEO. Eleven U-17 soccer players were evaluated into two conditions (PEO and Placebo - PLA). The players were tested in squat jump and countermovement jump and inhaled PEO or PLA and 10 min later performed the physical tests again. A mixed ANOVA was performed to test the hypotheses. Results: Main effects were found for the time in jumping height in the CMJ (p = 0.037). No main and interaction effects were found in the SJ variables. Conclusion: From the results, decrease CMJ performance acutely, both conditions presented decrease in JH, but based in effect size, PLA decrease is higher (more sample size for corroborate this) possibly due to improvements in the eccentric yielding sub-phase, where mentioned phase could be reflecting neural changes (required experimental verification). The PEO could be the interest in trainers for use before of match or in the half-time for minimize the decreased of physical performance by the rest.