Information about project titled 'Physical performance of soccer players, injuries and team success in Icelandic soccer'
Physical performance of soccer players, injuries and team success in Icelandic soccer
| Details about the project - category | Details about the project - value |
|---|---|
| Project status: | Published |
| Supervisor(s): | Stefan B. Sigurdsson, Roald Bahr, Ingar Holme |
| Coworker(s): | Arni Gudmundsson, Lars Engebretsen |
Description
Few studies are found which compare physical performance of the soccer players and team success or final league standing. These studies most often contain few teams. Some studies also compare physical performance of the soccer players in different player position. The aim of this study is to investigate possible correlation between physical performance of the soccer players, injuries and team success. Participants in the study are male soccer players from 17 of 20 soccer teams in the Icelandic elite soccer league (9 teams) and the 1st division (8 teams), totally more than 300 players.
Method: Before the 1999 soccer season started the players from these 17 teams were tested with regard to physical performance. The tests performed were:
a) VO2max test performed on treadmill.
b) Percentage of fat measured with skin fold measurements.
c) Flexibility tests for hip flexors, hip adductors, hamstring and quadriceps, measured with MIE tension meter, JVC digital camera and KINE view movement-analyze system.
d) Jump height (counter movement jump and standing jump) measured on contact mat.
e) Maximal average power in squat, measured with MuscleLab.
f) Functional and mechanical stability of ankles and knees, tested by one experienced physical therapist.
All acute and overuse injuries, which caused time loss from training or matches were prospectively registered by each team physical therapist on a special registration form. For each injury the following factors were registered: Date of injury, activity (match, training match, training), when in match or training the injury occurred, player position when the injury occurred, type and location of injuries, injury mechanism (tackling, kicking, heading, other contact, running, passing, shooting, other), severity and exact diagnosis. The coaches registered player exposure (training and match program). Team success and final league standing were also registered.