Performance and perceptual responses of collegiate female soccer players to a practical external and internal cooling protocol

Authors

Rachel L. Holm, University of North AlabamaFollow
Veronika Pribyslavska, University of North AlabamaFollow
Samantha L. Johnson, University of North AlabamaFollow
Jordan B. Lowe, University of North AlabamaFollow
Mary C. Stevenson-Wilcoxson, University of North AlabamaFollow
Eric M. Scudamore, University of North AlabamaFollow
James M. Green, University of North AlabamaFollow
Charlie P. Katica, Pacific Lutheran UniversityFollow
Eric K. O'Neal, University of North AlabamaFollow

Abstract

International Journal of Exercise Science 8(4): 331-340, 2015. This study examined practical pre- and mid practice cooling interventions on running performance, perceived exertion (RPE), and thermal sensation (TS) during soccer. During two formal pre-season practices female, NCAA Division II soccer players participated in three, 15 min scrimmage bouts followed by a 4^th 10 min bout. Following the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd bouts, 8 field position players completed competitive sets of two, 30 yard sprints against other team members with time recorded between 5 and 30 yards. After the 4^th bout, players completed an indoor shuttle running beep test (BT). In the treatment group (COOL) ice towels (IT) were applied to the head and neck regions and draped across both legs for 10 min following a standardized warm-up and for 10 min during a 15 min break between the 2^nd and 3^rd scrimmage sessions. Sport beverage slurries (350 mL; -0.3 °C, ~6% carbohydrate) were also served during IT cooling for COOL; while the control (CON) received no IT and drank the same ,uncooled sport beverage. No main effect was found for sprint performance (COOL = 3.55 ± 0.16 s; CON = 3.51 ± 0.07 s; P = 0.51) or numbers of reps completed in the BT (COOL = 17.6 ± 5.6; CON = 17.3 ± 6.0; P = 0.88). RPE did not differ following any performance test, but TS was lower following the 3^rd sprint bout (P = 0.04) and the BT (P = 0.005) for COOL. COOL promoted lower TS, but had no effect on performance.

Recommended Citation

Holm, Rachel L.; Pribyslavska, Veronika; Johnson, Samantha L.; Lowe, Jordan B.; Stevenson-Wilcoxson, Mary C.; Scudamore, Eric M.; Green, James M.; Katica, Charlie P.; and O'Neal, Eric K. (2015) "Performance and perceptual responses of collegiate female soccer players to a practical external and internal cooling protocol," International Journal of Exercise Science: Vol. 8 : Iss. 4, Pages 331 - 340.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70252/RQCQ8069
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijes/vol8/iss4/3