Fitness aerobic and repeated sprint ability in soccer: comparison between positions

Training and assessment of physical fitness of soccer players are fundamental to performance improvement. The purpose of this study was to compare values of maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2)max), anaerobic threshold (AT), intensity associated with VO(2)max (IVO(2)max), peak velocity (PV), heart rate deflection point (HRDP) and repeated-sprint ability (RSA) in players of different positions. Twenty eight soccer players (17.9 +/- 1.0 years, 178.7 +/- 5.2 cm, 73.6 +/- 6.7 kg, 11.1 +/- 1.3% F) were divided into five positions: defenders, sideways, central midfielders, midfielders, and forwards. An incremental treadmill test was performed to determine the AT, VO(2)max, and IVO(2)max. In addition, TCAR was employed to obtain the PV and HRDP, and Bangsbo's test to evaluate the RSA (Mean Time, Fastest Time, Sprint decrement). ANOVA was used to compare the indices between the positions. No significant differences were found for any of the variables (VO(2)max, IVO(2)max, AT, PV, HRDP, MT, FT, S-dec) regarding the five different positions. This can be attributed to the fact that the athletes were evaluated at the beginning of the season and belong to youth categories.