Reduced high-intensity-running rate in collegiate women's soccer when games are separated by 42 hours

• Published in: International journal of sports physiology and performance 2015-05, Vol.10 (4), p.436-439
• Main Authors: McCormack, William P, Hoffman, Jay R, Pruna, Gabriel J, Scanlon, Tyler C, Bohner, Jonathan D, Townsend, Jeremy R, Jajtner, Adam R, Stout, Jeffrey R, Fragala, Maren S, Fukuda, David H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Athletic Performance; Female; Humans; Physical Endurance - physiology; Running - physiology; Soccer - physiology; Task Performance and Analysis; Time Factors; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1555-0265
• DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2014-0336

During the competitive soccer season, women's intercollegiate matches are typically played on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons. The efficacy of a 42-h recovery period is not well understood. This investigation was conducted to determine performance differences between Friday and Sunday matches during a competitive season. Ten NCAA Division I female soccer players (20.5±1.0 y, 166.6±5.1 cm, 61.1±5.8 kg) were monitored with 10-Hz GPS devices across 8 weekends with matches played on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons. The players were outside backs, midfielders, and forwards. All players had to participate in a minimum of 45 min/match to be included in the study. Average minutes played, total distance covered, total distance of high-intensity running (HIR) (defined as running at a velocity equal to or exceeding 3.61 m/s for longer than 1 s), the number of HIR efforts, and the number of sprints were calculated for each match. Data for Friday vs Sunday matches were averaged and then compared using dependent t tests. No differences were seen in minutes played, distance rate, or number of sprints between Friday and Sunday matches. A significant (P=.017) decrease in rate of HIR between Friday (25.37±7.22 m/min) and Sunday matches (22.90±5.70 m/min) was seen. In addition, there was a trend toward a difference (P=.073) in the number of efforts of HIR between Friday (138.41±36.43) and Sunday (126.92±31.31). NCAA Division I female soccer players cover less distance of HIR in games played less than 48 h after another game. This could be due to various factors such as dehydration, glycogen depletion, or muscle damage.