Results (continued)

Results

ANAEROBIC POWER AND AEROBIC FITNESS CHARACTERISTICS OF COLLEGE-AGED, RECREATIONAL, FEMALE SOCCER PLAYERS BASED ON THEIR FIELD POSITIONSAuthor: Nelson MartinezFaculty Sponsor: J.R. Wilson, Ph.D. B. Heddins, M.S. INTRODUCTION: Research has shown that more anaerobically fit soccer players make for better defenders, while the more aerobically fit players are better off being used on the offensive side of the pitch. The Wingate is an anaerobic test, most often performed on a cycle ergometer, which is used to measure peak anaerobic power, as well as anaerobic capacity. On the other hand, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) is the maximum capacity of the body to transport and utilize oxygen (aerobic) during incremental exercise. To obtain VO2max, the Bruce Protocol, which is a standardized multistage treadmill test for assessing cardiovascular health, was used. PURPOSE: The specific purpose of this research study is to see how aerobic fitness and anaerobic power in females are predecessors for both offensive and defensive soccer positions.

METHODS: Eight college-aged female, recreational soccer players (age 23.6 + 1.8 yrs.) from both on and off of the UTA campus, volunteered to participate in this research study. Two groups were tested, four offensive and four defensive players. The subjects came in for 2 study visits; the order in which they did the Wingate and VO2max Bruce Protocol was randomly selected. During the VO2max visit, each subject performed a graded exercise test on the treadmill with increasing speed and elevation until exhaustion. During the test heart rate (HR) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded along with the maximal values measured by the metabolic cart, relative maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) as well as time of work. During the Wingate visit, each subject warmed up on the resistance bike for one minute. At the end of that one minute, they were instructed to pedal as fast as they could to ensure maximum revolutions as the 30 second test began. At the very start of the test, there is no resistance, but a set amount is applied to the flywheel (torque of 0.7) within the first three seconds and continued to increase. The subjects pedaled as fast as they could throughout the 30 seconds with the increasing resistance. The computer then calculated Mean Power (W), Peak Power (W), Mean Power/Body Weight (W/kg), Peak Power/Body Weight (W/kg), and Total Work (Joules).

RESULTS: For both the VO2max Bruce Protocol and the Wingate Bike tests, the t-test revealed there were significant differences (p < 0.1) between the offensive and defensive groups of females, most notably in Mean Power (O: 269 + 0.07 W; D: 426 + 77.6 W) (p = 0.07) and Total Work (O: 8070 + 0.07 J; D: 12780 + 2328 J) (p = 0.07). Peak Power (O: 548.3 + 22.6 W; D: 854.5 + 185 W) (p = 0.11) approached significance. VO2max (O: 31.9 + 3.7 ml/kg/min; D: 38.8 + 4.4 ml/kg/min) (p = 0.2), Peak Power/Body Weight (O: 9.4 + 0.2 W/kg; D: 12.3 + 2.16 W/kg) (p = 0.19), Mean Power/Body Weight (O: 4.7 + 0.2 W/kg; D: 6.2 + 1.0 W/kg) (p = 0.16) were not significant. Also, there were low correlations between VO2max and Peak Power in both the offensive (r = 0.13) and defensive (r = -0.45) female groups.

CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that defensive female players are more aerobically fit and anaerobically powerful than offensive players.

Abstract

Methods

Methods (continued)

Purpose

Conclusions

Nelson R. Martinez. Faculty Sponsors: J.R. Wilson, Ph.D. B. Heddins, M.S. Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX. KINE 4400.

ANAEROBIC POWER AND AEROBIC FITNESS CHARACTERISTICS OF ANAEROBIC POWER AND AEROBIC FITNESS CHARACTERISTICS OF COLLEGE-AGED, RECREATIONAL, FEMALE SOCCER PLAYERS BASED ON COLLEGE-AGED, RECREATIONAL, FEMALE SOCCER PLAYERS BASED ON THEIR FIELD POSITIONSTHEIR FIELD POSITIONS

The specific purpose of this research study is to see how aerobic fitness and anaerobic power in females are predecessors for both offensive and defensive soccer positions.

The results of this study indicate that defensive female soccer players are more aerobically fit and anaerobically powerful than offensive players. Significant differences were noted in Mean Power and Total Work between both of the offensive and defensive groups. And there were little to no correlations between VO2max and the Anaerobic categories that were measured in both the offensive and defensive groups, respectably. For future studies, it is recommended that collegiate or professional subjects be used in the study instead of recreational subjects.

Eight college-aged female, recreational soccer players (age 23.6 + 1.8 yrs.) from both on and off of the UTA campus, volunteered to participate in this research study.

Two groups were tested, four offensive and four defensive players. The subjects came in for 2 study visits, where they performed either a Wingate Bike (anaerobic) or VO2max Bruce Protocol (aerobic) test; the order in which they did the tests was randomly selected.

During the VO2max visit, each subject performed a graded exercise test on the treadmill with increasing speed and elevation until exhaustion. During the test heart rate (HR) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded along with the maximal values measured by the metabolic cart, relative maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) as well as time of work.

During the Wingate visit, each subject warmed up on the resistance bike for one minute. At the end of that one minute, they were instructed to pedal as fast as they could to ensure maximum revolutions as the 30 second test began. At the very start of the test, there is no resistance, but a set amount is applied to the flywheel (torque of 0.7) within the first three seconds and continued to increase. The subjects pedaled as fast as they could throughout the 30 seconds with the increasing resistance. The computer program then calculated Mean Power (W), Peak Power (W), Mean Power/Body Weight (W/kg), Peak Power/Body Weight (W/kg), and Total Work (Joules).

For both the VO2max Bruce Protocol and the Wingate Bike, t-tests revealed there were significant differences (p < 0.1) between the offensive and defensive groups of females in Mean Power and Total Work. Peak Power approached significance. VO2max, max HR, RPE, Time of Work, Peak Power/Body Weight, and Mean Power/Body Weight, were not significant. Also, there were low correlations between VO2max and Peak Power in both the offensive (r = 0.13) and defensive (r = -0.45) female groups.

  Offensive Group Defensive GroupVO2max (ml/kg/min) 31.9 + 3.7 38.8 + 4.4Max HR 191.75 + 8.6 184 + 6.8RPE 17.5 + 1.2 16.5 + 1.0Time of Work 8:34 9:54Peak Power (W) 548.3 + 22.6 854.5 + 185Peak Power/Body Weight (W/kg)

9.4 + 0.7 12.3 + 2.2

Mean Power (W) 269 + 25.6 426 + 77.6Mean Power/Body Weight (W/kg)

4.7 + 0.6 6.2 + 1.0

Total Work (J) 8070 + 768 12780 + 2328

Table 1. Mean Results of Offensive and Defensive Groups