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EXAMINING SPRINT DEMANDS DURING THE COMPETITiVE SEASON IN COLLEGIATE MENS SOCCER PLAYERS

Abstract

Evan D. Kilby1, Dylan Wright1, Jacob Gdovin2, Charles C. Williams1. 1University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL. 2Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC.

BACKGROUND: Significant advancements have been made in the field of sport science technology, allowing for methods of tracking objective measures longitudinally across an entire team. The sport of soccer is characterized by short bouts of intense sprints and high-speed distance running. Sprint and workload demand of players such as total sprint volume (TSV) provide implications for athletic personnel to prescribe appropriate, individual-based training loads. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study examined TSV differences over a full competitive season (preseason vs in-season) in collegiate male soccer players. TSV was measured by collecting sprint metrics of distance traveled ≥5.14 m/s for all practices and matches. Sprint count (SPC) was defined by the Titan sensor algorithm as the occurrence of an athlete reaching a minimum speed threshold during a session (≥5.14m/s for ≥1.5 seconds). METHODS: Twenty-one (age:19.6 ± 1.2years, height:180.7 ± 8.3cm, mass:75.6 ± 7.4kg) Division I collegiate male soccer players were monitored using wearable Global Positioning Systems (GPS) using a 10Hz Titan +1sensor (Houston, Texas, United States). Devices were secured by jerseys and rested between the scapulae of each participant during every training session and match across the competitive season (preseason: 2 weeks, in-season: 10 weeks). Sensors were activated and distributed by the assistant coach fifteen minutes prior to players taking the field to allow for adequate synchronization. Sensors were collected and turned off immediately following completion of a session. To ensure adequate session monitoring over this period, participants were excluded from analysis if <75% of the total number of practice sessions or matches were not recorded (n=2). A series of Paired samples t-tests with an alpha level set at p<0.05 were used to compare differences in sprint outcomes between preseason and in-season time periods. RESULTS: Significant differences (p<.01) between preseason TSV (878.4±655.9m) and in-season TSV (1179.6 ± 737.3m) were present. Significant differences in total SPC were also observed between pre-season (41.9 ± 30.2) vs in season (54.9 ± 34.7) (p<.01). CONCLUSION: This study provides sport coaches and strength and conditioning staff with workload reports that can aid in the development of training programs based on varying demands including an athlete’s position and timeline of competitive seasons.

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