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WILL BODY-WEIGHT BE IMPACTED ACROSS A COMPETITIVE SOCCER SEASON?

Abstract

Collegiate athletes endure rigorous training schedules, coupled with practices and competitive season (in-season), due to these factors, one’s anthropometrics may be positively or negatively impacted. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess one’s mass, and to see if playing time can impacts one’s mass across a competitive season METHODS: The present study is part of a sample taken from a larger project that assessed a DII University women’s soccer program. The present study began with 19 total participants, however, due to injuries, and missed data collection points, the following study will only include twelve participants. These women were divided into three groups based upon in-game playing time (Starter, Some Playing Time, No Playing Time). Five starters (age= 20.60±1.67 years, height 163.22cm±4.68 cm, mass 58.86kg±4.05kg), four some playing time (age= 18.50±0.58 years, height 168.73cm±7.74 cm, mass 65.10kg±6.82kg) and three no playing time (age= 19.30±1.53 years, height 167.27cm±4.60 cm, mass 66.80kg±9.90kg) were assessed during four different time-points across a competitive soccer season. Body mass was measured using a calibrated standiometer/scale. A Friedman’s non-parametric was used to assess body mass differences between the groups, and across time. An alpha of 0.05 was used for level of significance. RESULTS: The present study observed no significant differences in mass within each group across the entire season (starter X2 (3) = .600, p = .896, some playing time X2 (3) = .538, p = .910, and no playing-time X2 (3) = 3.400, p = .334). CONCLUSION: Based upon this study, it is concluded that mass can vary throughout a season, mostly in small increments, however, the fluctuation in mass did not directly relate to playing time. These findings may be of importance, however, due to a small sample size per group for playing time, future studies may want to assess larger sample sizes. Interestingly, from the present study, starters showed the least difference in average body mass lost/gained across the season, while the minimal-no playing time categorized players having the most difference, gaining an average of 2.93 kg throughout the season. It is important to note, that aside from game minutes, all athletes performed the same amount of practices, and strength training sessions per week.

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