Effects of soccer training during preseason on physical and physiological variables in youth soccer players

Abstract Aim: This study aimed to explore the effects of a training program during the pre-season on aerobic and anaerobic performance, hemodynamics, autonomic variables, and sleep quality in youth soccer players. Methods: Nineteen athletes, with an average age of 17 ± 1 years, participated in the study. The multicomponent training protocol was divided into technical, tactical, and physical practice for four weeks. The cardiac autonomic modulation was obtained through an electrocardiogram and blood pressure values were measured by a sphygmomanometer. The athletes answered the Pittsburgh questionnaire that assessed sleep patterns and issues. The VO2max was analyzed using the Intermittent Recovery Test Yo-Yo level 1. The RAST test was used to assess anaerobic power. Results: There was improvement in Heart Rate Variability (HRV) indicated by the increase in indexes, mean square root of the differences between normal cycles (RMSSD), low frequency increase (LF) (p = 0.04; d = 0.70), high frequency decrease (HF) (p = 0.01; d = 1.02) and the LF / HF sympathovagal index (p = 0.03; d = 0.70), variables related to faster recovery. An improvement in the components of sleep duration (p = 0.03) and quality (p = 0.02) of baseline and post-intervention sleep was also observed. Conclusion: The four-week multicomponent protocol contributed to improving VO2max, improving fatigue rates, quality of sleep, and maximum power. Additionally, we observe that youth soccer athletes had physiological and hemodynamic adaptations that resulted in an improvement in cardiac autonomic modulation and sleep patterns after four weeks of training.