Effect of body composition on the athletic performance of soccer referees.

Nutrition plays an important role in improving sports performance. The present study aimed at nutritional assessment and examined the relationship between athletic performance and body composition in soccer referees at different levels. The study participants were 120 male soccer referees. 5, 10 and 30 metres (m) sprint tests to measure speed and cooper test for physical fitness were applied in the referees. Participants were divided into two groups as city and class soccer referee. The anthropometric measurements, excluding fat mass (FM) (%), were higher in class referees. Fat mass (%) differences (14⋅1 ± 4⋅28 v. 12⋅3 ± 4⋅41) were statistically significant (P < 0⋅05). Daily energy and nutrient intakes were similar. The inadequacy percentages of energy, vitamin A and calcium were the highest (29⋅2, 30⋅0 and 34⋅2 %, respectively). It was found that a negative significant correlation between FM% and cooper test score (P < 0⋅01; r = -0⋅35), a positive significant correlation between FM% and 5, 10 and 30 m sprint test scores (P < 0⋅01, r = 0⋅38; P < 0⋅01, r = 0⋅38 and P < 0⋅01, r = 0⋅48, respectively). Similarly, there was a negative significant correlation between waist circumference (WC) and cooper test score (P < 0⋅01; r = -0⋅31), a positive significant correlation between WC and 5, 10 and 30 m sprint test scores (P < 0⋅01, r = 0⋅33; P < 0⋅01, r = 0⋅40; P < 0⋅01, r = 0⋅33, respectively). Nutritional recommendations for soccer referees should be made specific to the individual, considering body composition, training intensity and match frequency by a dietician.

Recovery time variation during sprint interval training impacts amateur soccer players adaptations - a pilot study.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the selected performance adaptations of amateur soccer players to 2 different running-based sprint interval training (SIT) protocols with different recovery intervals and work-rest ratios (1:5 & 1:1). Twenty-three subjects (age 21.4 ± 1.1 years; height 175.4 ± 4.7 cm; body mass 69 ± 6.4 kg) participated in the study. Before the 6-weeks training period, participants completed 3-weeks of low-intensity training preparation. Subsequently, the pre-tests (anthropometric measurements, repeated sprint test [12 × 20-m with 30-s recovery intervals], Yo-YoIRT1 & Yo-YoIRT2 and treadmill VO2max test) were conducted. Thereafter, participants were randomly divided into 3 sub-groups (1 - SIT with 150 s recovery intervals [SIT150, n = 8]; 2 - SIT with 30 s recovery intervals [SIT30, n = 7]; and 3 - control group [CG, n = 8]). SIT150 and SIT30 training groups completed sprint interval training (2-days/week; 30-s all-out running, 6-10 repetition with 150 s recovery intervals for SIT150 and 30 s for SIT30 groups, respectively), a soccer match (1-day) and routine soccer training (3-days) per week. The CG attended only routine training sessions and the soccer-match (4-days). The study experiments and the trainings were conducted during off-season. Yo-YoIRT1, Yo-YoIRT2, and VO2max were significantly improved both in SIT30 and SIT150 (p < 0.05) groups. Yo-YoIRT1 and VO2max were also significantly improved in CG (p < 0.05). Both the SIT150 and SIT30 training were shown to improve Yo-YoIRT1, Yo-YoIRT2 and VO2max performance compared to the control group, nevertheless, SIT150 was more efficient in improving the Yo-YoIRT1, Yo-YoIRT2 than SIT30. The authors of this study suggest using SIT150 to induce more effective performance outputs in amateur soccer players.

Examination of the effect of fascial therapy on some physical fitness parameters in taekwondo athletes.

One of the objectives of this study is to determine the effect of the eight-week fascial therapy program on flexibility, vertical jump, standing long jump, speed and anaerobic strength parameters in taekwondo athletes. Another aim of the research is to create a therapy protocol that can be used in athletes related to performance development through the relaxation of the fascial system, which is considered an indicator of physical fitness and has numerous functions in the body. This study included 32 taekwondo players who were licensed, actively attending taekwondo training. In the study, two groups were formed as fascial therapy group (FTG) (n â€‹= â€‹16) and control group (CG) (n â€‹= â€‹16). After the groups were randomized, fascial relaxation techniques were applied to the fascial therapy group for eight weeks, up to twice a week, and for 30 â€‹min. According to the findings obtained as a result of the research, FTG ([-0.36 â€‹± â€‹0.17] seconds [s]) for the 20 â€‹m (m) Sprint (T2-T1) had a lower mean time than CG (0.00 â€‹± â€‹0.07) s, FTG (0.06 â€‹± â€‹1.95) for the Flamingo Balance Test (T2-T1) had a lower mean fall than CG (1.25 â€‹± â€‹1.13), FTG ([3.56 â€‹± â€‹2.37] centimeters [cm]) for the Sit & Reach Test (T2-T1) had a lower mean fall than CG ([-0.19 â€‹± â€‹1.28] cm), FTG ([5.75 â€‹± â€‹2.54] cm) had a higher jump distance than CG ([1.88 â€‹± â€‹8.11] cm) according to the results of Vertical Jump Test (T2-T1) and finally FTG ([9.13 â€‹± â€‹5.56] cm) had a longer distance than CG ([-0.31 â€‹± â€‹1.85] cm) according to the results of Standing Long Jump Test (T2-T1). The result of our study has shown that fascial techniques can be used safely by experienced physiotherapists and can be included in the training program. It is recommended that coaches of sports disciplines work with experienced physiotherapists on this subject and include fascial methods in their training programs.

Effects of Passive and Active Rest on Physiological Responses and Time Motion Characteristics in Different Small Sided Soccer Games.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of resting regimes on physiological responses and time motion characteristics between bouts during small sided games (SSGs) in young soccer players. Sixteen players (average age 16.87 ± 0.34 years; body height 176.69 ± 3.21 cm; body mass 62.40 ± 2.59 kg; training experience 3.75 ± 0.44 years) performed four bouts 2-a-side, 3-a-side and 4-a-side games with three minutes active (SSGar: Running at 70% of HRmax) and passive (SSGpr) rest between bouts at two-day intervals. The heart rate (HR) along with total distance covered in different speed zones - walking (W, 0-6.9 km·h-1), low-intensity running (LIR, 7.0-12.9 km·h-1), moderate-intensity running (MIR, 13.0-17.9 km·h-1) and high-intensity running (HIR, >18km·h-1), were monitored during all SSGs, whereas the rating of perceived exertion (RPE, CR-20) and venous blood lactate (La-) were determined at the end of the last bout of each SSG. The results demonstrated that all SSGpr elicited significantly higher physiological responses compared to SSGar in terms of the RPE and La- (p < 0.05). In addition, 2-a-side SSGpr induced significantly lower %HRmax responses and total distance covered than 2-a-side SSGar (p < 0.05). Moreover, the distance covered at HIR was significantly higher in 4-a-side SSGar than 4-side SSGpr. The results of this study indicate that both SSGs with passive and active rest can be used for soccer specific aerobic endurance training. Furthermore, all SSGs with active recovery should be performed in order to increase players and teams' performance capacity for subsequent bouts.