engleski

Which differences are to be expected in laboratory running tests between soccer players and sprinters?

Training principles and aerobic requirements of sprinters and soccer players - forwards differ substantially. Nonetheless, due to characteristics of the football game, forwards must have a high ability to perform short sprints and are often exposed to demands characteristic for a sprint race. The aim of the study was to determine if there were significant differences in functional capacity parameters between forwards and sprinters. Sample consisted of 15 Croatian top-level soccer forwards (mean age ± ; ; SD 23.67 ± ; ; 3.81 years) and 10 sprinters (100m and 200m) (mean age ± ; ; SD 20.53 ± ; ; 3.01 years). Groups did not significantly differ in weight (forwards 79.57 ± ; ; 7.72 kg ; sprinters 76.11 ± ; ; 4.31 kg) and height (forwards 179.92 ± ; ; 6.11 cm ; sprinters 184.86 ± ; ; 5.12 cm). In spirometry testing no significant differences in forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) were found between the groups (FVC - forwards 6.53 ± ; ; 0.95 L ; sprinters 6.16 ± ; ; 0.65 L ; FEV1 - forwards 5.31 ± ; ; 0.56 L ; sprinters 5.25 ± ; ; 0.55 L). Both groups performed an incremental treadmill test to exhaustion. Following variables were observed: heart rate at ventilatory threshold (VT), speed at VT, maximum speed attained, absolute and relative maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), absolute and relative oxygen uptake at VT, percentage of VO2max at VT (%VO2VT) ; maximum heart rate, maximum ventilation, respiratory frequency and tidal volume at maximum speed, ventilatory equivalent for oxygen at maximum. T-test was used to determine differences in observed variables between the groups. Statistically significant differences between the groups were found in three variables. Forwards reached a higher maximum speed than sprinters (19.13 ± ; ; 1.68 km/h vs 17.15 ± ; ; 1.38 km/h, respectively ; t = 3.09, p = 0.01), had a higher speed at ventilatory threshold (13.53 ± ; ; 1.03 km/h vs 12.40 ± ; ; 0.99 km/h, respectively ; t = 2.74, p = 0.01) and a lower heart rate at ventilatory threshold than sprinters (170.07 ± ; ; 10.15 bpm vs 177.80 ± ; ; 6.49 bpm, respectively ; t = -2.13, p = 0.04). No statistically significant differences in aerobic capacities were found - VO2max (absolute - forwards 4.52 ± ; ; 0.42 L/min ; sprinters 4.36 ± ; ; 0.27 L/min ; relative - forwards 56.92 ± ; ; 3.02 ml/kg/min ; sprinters 56.22 ± ; ; 3.39 ml/kg/min) ; %VO2VT (forwards 85.69 ± ; ; 3.64 % ; sprinters 83.77 ± ; ; 4.84 %). Despite the markedly different aerobic demands of respective sports and training principles, athletes showed no statistically significant differences in aerobic capacities. Results confirm findings of previous studies (Ruzic, 2005), which pointed to the needful caution in interpreting functional testing results in athletes of different energetic groups of sports. Namely, even not having preferable aerobic capacities, some athletes develop compensatory mechanisms that enable top-level performance. Ruzic, L., & Heimer, S. (2005). Proceedings of the 4th International Scientific Conference on Kinesiology, Opatija, 2005 (pp.501-503).

laboratory running tests; soccer players; sprinters

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