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Sports Medicine

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01-04-2021 | Systematic Review

Detrimental Effects of the Off-Season in Soccer Players: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Authors: Filipe Manuel Clemente, Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo, Hugo Sarmento

Published in: Sports Medicine | Issue 4/2021

Abstract

Background

The off-season period in soccer leads necessarily to changes in fitness status. However, there is a lack of systematization that allows identifying the magnitude of these changes in groups participating in off-season training programs compared with those subjected to training cessation.

Objective

This systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effects of training cessation in off-season training programs on men soccer players’ body fat, maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max), yo–yo intermittent recovery test (YYIRT), vertical jump, sprinting time, and repeated-sprint ability.

Methods

To qualify for inclusion in the systematic review, studies must have included: (1) a detraining period of ≥ 2 weeks; (2) controlled trials or cohorts of healthy men soccer players with no restriction on age; and (3) a pre–post training cessation or off-season training programs measure of body fat (%), VO_2max (mL kg⁻¹ min⁻¹), YYIRT performance (meters), vertical jump (height), sprinting (time), and repeated-sprint ability (total time).

Results

The electronic search yielded 563 articles, and 12 were subsequently included. Significant (all p < 0.05) detrimental training cessation effects were noted for body fat (ES = 0.26), VO_2max (ES = − 1.48), YYIRT (ES = − 0.46), vertical jump (ES = − 0.81), and repeated-sprint ability (ES = 0.68). Similarly, significant (all p < 0.05) detrimental off-season training programs effects were noted for body fat (ES = 0.26), VO_2max (ES = − 0.48), vertical jump (ES = − 0.51), and sprinting time (ES = 0.86). When training cessation and off-season training programs effects were compared, greater detrimental effects were noted after training cessation for VO_2max (p = 0.002) and repeated-sprint ability (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Detrimental effects on body composition and physical fitness were observed after both training cessation and off-season training programs. However, off-season training programs seem to ameliorate such detrimental effects on VO_2max and repeated-sprint ability to some extent. The results presented here call for the implementation of more effective off-season training programs among male soccer players.

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Title: Detrimental Effects of the Off-Season in Soccer Players: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Filipe Manuel Clemente
Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo
Hugo Sarmento
Publication date: 01-04-2021
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Published in: Sports Medicine / Issue 4/2021
Print ISSN: 0112-1642
Electronic ISSN: 1179-2035
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-020-01407-4

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Springer Medicine

Detrimental Effects of the Off-Season in Soccer Players: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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