Quantifying energy expenditure of dribbling a soccer ball in a field test

• Published in: Journal of sports science & medicine Vol. 6
• Main Authors: Rupf, R, Thomas, S, Wells, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2007
• ISSN: 1303-2968; 1303-2968

OBJECTIVE The Hoff test has been used both as an aerobic training intervention program and a method for determin-ing VO sub(2) max (Hoff et al., 2002)However, the extra energy cost associated with the soccer specific nature of the Hoff test has never been quantified. The study aimed at determining the extra energy cost associated with dribbling a soccer ball during a modified version of the Hoff Test, by examining various movements. METHODS Skilled male players completed six trials of a modified Hoff Test. Each trial lasted eight minutes at 3 tar-get speeds. Trials at each TS consisted of movement without a ball (NB) and with a ball (WB). The portable Cosmed K4b2 was used to measure the O2 uptake and heart rate (HR) after 2 minutes of continuous work. Running speeds were verified from Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) data. RESULTS Multivariate analysis identified a significant difference in oxygen consumption of NB and WB movements across all TS (p<0.001). Oxygen consumption during running at 2.0mos-1 averaged 43.8 and 36.6 mLokg-1omin-1 WB and NB respectively. Linear regression illustrates that the difference between NB and WB movements increases with speed of execution. CONCLUSION Oxygen consumption increases rapidly with running pace in the Hoff Test. Dribbling a soccer ball significantly increases the energy that players expend and more so at higher speeds. This may be due to changes in gait characteristics, at high speed running. This study also demonstrates that running with the ball in the Hoff Test raises O2 consumption providing an effective training stimulus.