Effects on training status and health profile of prolonged participation in rec-reational football: Heart rate response to recreational football training and match-play

• Published in: Journal of sports science & medicine Vol. 6
• Main Authors: Krustrup, B R, Rollo, I, Nielsen, J J, Krustrup, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2007
• ISSN: 1303-2968; 1303-2968

OBJECTIVE Much knowledge exists about the physical demands of match-play and training for elite football players as well as physiological adaptations to elite football training, whereas little is known about recreational football. A recent study revealed that the aerobic loading was high during recreational 5v5 indoor training (Castagna et al. 2006) and suggested that regular participation would promote cardiovascular health. The present study examined the heart rate (HR) response to recreational outdoor soccer 7v7 training and 11v11 match-play performed at natural grass pitches. The effects of prolonged participation in recreational football on training status and selected health parameters were also investigated. 3 teams (n=12-14 per team) were studies for 3 months (T1+T2+T3), and one team over 2 years (T4, n=12). METHODS 52 untrained males (31 plus or minus 5 ( plus or minus SD) yrs, 181 plus or minus 6 cm and 83.3 plus or minus 9.7 kg) participated. T1+T4 trained 2x120-min per week, T2 trained 2x60-min and played one 2x45 min game per week. T3 played two weekly games. HR was re-corded during standard training sessions (T1+T2) and match-play (T3). Several anthropometric and physiological measurements were performed before and after the training period (Durnin & Womersley 1973; Eurofit 1988; Krustrup et al. 2004). RESULTS Mean HR during training was 139 plus or minus 4 (T1) and 159 plus or minus 4 (T2) b.p.m. and match-HR was 157 plus or minus 4 b.p.m. (T3), or 74 plus or minus 1, 83 plus or minus 1 and 84 plus or minus 1% of HRmax. HR was >90% of HRmax for 15 plus or minus 5, 15 plus or minus 3 and 18 plus or minus 4 min. After 3 months, fat% and blood pressure was lower (p<0.05). In addition, balance test and Yo-Yo IE2 performance (42%) was better (p<0.05). After 2 yrs, body mass, fat% and sprint times (8%) were lower (p<0.05). In addition, lean body mass was 3.6 kg higher (p<0.05) and Yo-Yo IE2 performance was 133% better (p<0.05). DISCUSSION The study provided evidence that regular participation in recreational football training and match-play had several beneficial effects on training status and health profile for untrained males. The study also revealed that match-play and training for recreational soccer players can be characterized as a combination of aerobic moderate and. aerobic high-intensity training (Bangsbo et al. 2006).