Backround: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of soccer training on maximal oxygen uptake and anthropometric characteristics in different ages of soccer players and untrained adolescents of the same biological age.
Methods: A total of one hundred and twenty-six (N.=126) young soccer players and untrained boys throughout the developmental ages of 12 (soccer players N.=22; untrained boys = 22) 14 (soccer players N.=20; untrained boys = 18) and 16 (soccer players N.=22; untrained boys = 22) volunteered to participate in the study. Sexual maturation was classified according to Tanner's stages. Soccer players participated both in their school's physical education program and in a soccer training program, while the untrained participated only in their school's physical education program. All participants underwent anthropometric measurements and performed a maximal exercise test on a motor driven treadmill to determine maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2<inf>max</inf>) and cardiorespiratory indices. Blood lactate (BL) concentration was determined in the 5th minute of recovery using a lactate photometer.
Results: The trained group showed significantly higher V̇O2<inf>max</inf>, in absolute and relative values (P<0.001), BL<inf>max</inf> (P<0.05) and maximal respiratory exchange ratio (RER<inf>max</inf>) (P<0.05) compared to the untrained group. Resting heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure were significantly lower (P<0.05) for the trained compared to untrained.
Conclusions: The results of this study showed that systematic soccer training has a positive effect in the central cardiovascular system expressed as V̇O2<inf>max</inf>, HR and blood pressure.