The Football Scientist - 19th April 2024
Football Fitness Mentorship Community
The mentorship community hosted Tottenham Hotspur U21s fitness coach, Josh Rice, to provide an overview of his approach to developing talent in an elite football academy.
In the video below, Josh discusses how he sets up his warm up drills to align with the theme for a given day.
Community Wins
Congrats to mentorship community members Angelos Barbas and Ryan MacDonald, who achieved their UEFA C coaching license and ISAK level 1 accreditations, respectively. Both were key targets as part of their long term career mentorship plan. Well done lads!
We currently have one space left to join the mentorship community this month
If you would like to find out more about the community, check out the link here.
Research Weekly Summary
External load and recovery following small sided games
Modena, R., & Schena, F. (2024). External training load and performance recovery after small-sided games in soccer: Insights for return-to-play management. AIMS Public Health, 11(1), 315.
Research Background:
The return-to-play process following injury varies across different sports and injuries, typically involving phased progression with increasing physiological and mechanical load. In team sports, contact drills, such as small-sided games (SSGs), play a crucial role in the final phases of this process, necessitating optimal planning to manage mechanical load effectively.
Purpose:
This study aimed to investigate the external load and kinetic recovery in U19 soccer players during 6vs6 and 3vs3 SSGs. The research focused on understanding how different SSG formats affect external load metrics, perceived exertion, total quality of recovery (TQR), delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), sprinting performance, and vertical jump height (CMJ), both immediately after and 24 hours post-SSGs.
Methods:
Using a global positioning system (GPS), external load metrics were measured during SSGs, and the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was recorded post-SSGs. TQR was assessed before and after the training session and at 24 hours. DOMS of the legs, sprinting time, and CMJ height were measured before and after SSGs and at 24 hours post-SSGs.
Key Findings:
1. 6vs6 SSGs resulted in higher total distance and distance covered at various speed thresholds compared to 3vs3 SSGs. However, 3vs3 SSGs led to a higher number of sprints and acceleration and deceleration events at different intensities.
2. There was no significant difference in RPE between the two SSG formats.
3. Sprint performance was more affected after 6vs6 SSGs, with impairments persisting at 24 hours.
4. CMJ height decreased after 6vs6 SSGs and remained reduced at 24 hours post-SSGs, whereas no significant change was observed after 3vs3 SSGs.
5. DOMS values increased after both SSG formats and persisted at 24 hours, while TQR decreased at 24 hours for both conditions.
Conclusion:
The study suggests that 6vs6 SSGs, characterized by greater high-speed running distance, may impose a training load requiring more extended recovery time. This finding holds significance, particularly in the context of the return-to-play process, especially for injuries involving hamstring muscles. These insights could inform the planning and management of training loads during the return-to-play process in soccer players, particularly when considering different SSG formats.
Check out the article here.
Vertical vs horizontal plyometric training for sprint force-velocity profile development
Norgeot, F., & Fouré, A. (2024). Effects of vertical and horizontal plyometric training on jump performances and sprint force–velocity profile in young elite soccer players. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 1-11.
Research Background:
The study aimed to explore how different orientations of plyometric training—vertical and horizontal—affect explosiveness performances and sprint force-velocity profiles in young soccer players. While plyometric training is known to enhance sprint force and velocity qualities, the orientation of exercises can significantly influence functional performance.
Purpose:
The purpose was to compare the effects of vertical and horizontal plyometric training orientations on explosiveness performances and sprint force-velocity profiles among young soccer players. By conducting tests before and after an 8-week training period, the study aimed to elucidate whether one orientation of plyometric training yielded superior results in enhancing both vertical and horizontal performance aspects.
Methods:
Twenty-eight soccer players were divided into two groups: vertical (VG, n=14) and horizontal (HG, n=14). Various tests, including jumps and sprint performances, were conducted before and after the 8-week training period. Additionally, sprint force-velocity profiles (FVP) were assessed during a 30-meter sprint test.
Key Findings:
1. Both the vertical and horizontal plyometric training groups demonstrated significant improvements in jump performances, sprint times, and FVP parameters.
2. The horizontal group exhibited higher relative changes compared to the vertical group in 5-meter and 15-meter sprint times, horizontal jump lengths, and FVP parameters, particularly in maximal power and the rate of decrease in horizontal force orientation with increasing speed during the 30-meter sprint.
Conclusions:
The study concludes that both vertical and horizontal plyometric training can effectively enhance vertical and horizontal performances in jumps and sprints among young soccer players. However, horizontal plyometric training may result in greater improvements in horizontal ballistic actions while similarly developing vertical jump qualities compared to vertical plyometric training. These findings provide valuable insights for designing plyometric training programs tailored to enhance specific performance aspects in young soccer players.
Check out the article here.
Podcast Episode of the Week
Good Work with Barrett Brooks
On the episode, Barrett Brooks interviews James Clear, the author of one of my favourite books 'Atomic Habits’. This is an interesting episode where not only James talks about his expertise (i.e. habit creation) but also an insight into how he grew his business through online blogging.
Post of the Week
Jonas Tawiah Dodoo
Are we guilty of chasing a metric instead of proficient movement? Thought provoking post here from Jonas discussing RSI metrics…
Thank you for reading, see you next week.
James
p.s. Whenever you are ready, check out how I can help you further:
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