Change-of-Direction Performance in Elite Soccer Players: Preliminary Analysis According to Their Playing Positions

Dorsaf Sariati, Raouf Hammami, Mokhtar Chtara, Alessandro Zagatto, Daniel Boullosa, Cain C. T. Clark, Anthony C. Hackney, Urs Granacher, Nizar Souissi and Hassane Zouhal
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Dorsaf Sariati: Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Said, University of La Manouba, Manouba 2010, Tunisia
Raouf Hammami: Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Said, University of La Manouba, Manouba 2010, Tunisia
Mokhtar Chtara: Tunisian Research Laboratory, Sport Performance Optimization, National Center of Medicine and Science in Sports (CNMSS), Tunis 1003, Tunisia
Alessandro Zagatto: Faculty of Sciences, Department of Physical Education, UNESP-São Paulo State University, Bauru 01049-010, Brazil
Daniel Boullosa: INISA, Federal University of Mato Grosso Do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, Brazil
Cain C. T. Clark: Centre for Intelligent Healthcare, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK
Anthony C. Hackney: Department of Exercise & Sport Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
Urs Granacher: Division of Training and Movement Sciences, University of Potsdam, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
Nizar Souissi: Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Said, University of La Manouba, Manouba 2010, Tunisia
Hassane Zouhal: M2S (Laboratoire Mouvement, Sport, Santé)—EA 1274, University of Rennes, F-35000 Rennes, France

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 22, 1-13

Abstract: Our objective was to examine the relationship between change of direction (CoD) performance, with (CoDb), and without the ball (CoDwb), and selected measures of physical fitness (jump performance, speed, balance) in elite soccer players, according to players’ positions. Forty elite male soccer players performed the change-of-direction and acceleration test (CODAT) with (CODATb), and without the ball (CODATwb), 5- and 20-m sprint tests, the 5-jump test (5JT), and the Y-balance test (YBT). Analyses of the whole sample showed significant correlations between all CODAT measures (CODATwb and CODATb, respectively) and sprint 5-m (r = 0.72, p < 0.001; r = 0.52, p < 0.01), sprint 20-m (r = 0.54, p < 0.03; r = 0.45, p < 0.05), jump (r = −0.62, p < 0.01; r = −0.64, p < 0.01) and balance (r = −0.50, p < 0.01; r = −0.83, p < 0.001) performances. Correlations were significantly different between player positions (defender, midfielder and striker). When examining the entire sample, the single best predictor of CODATwb was performance in the 5-m test with an explained variance of 52% ( p < 0.001). For CODATb, the Y-balance performance explained 68% of the variance of performance ( p < 0.001). In conclusion, soccer coaches and fitness trainers are advised to improve players’ CoD using neuromuscular training that mimic crucial match actions. Meanwhile, CoD testing and training should be designed in line with the demands of playing position.

Keywords: CoD; players’ position; football; dynamic performances (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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