Responses of soccer players performing repeated maximal efforts in simulated conditions of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: A holistic approach

Paweł Chmura; Hongyou Liu; Marcin Andrzejewski; Antonio Tessitore; Jerzy Sadowski; Jan Chmura; Andrzej Rokita; Wojciech Tański; Leszek Cicirko; Marek Konefał

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0276314

Responses of soccer players performing repeated maximal efforts in simulated conditions of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: A holistic approach

PLoS One. 2022 Dec 9;17(12):e0276314. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276314. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Team Games, Wrocław University of Health and Sport Sciences, Wrocław, Poland.
² School of Physical Education & Sports Science, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.
³ Department of Methodology of Recreation, Poznań University of Physical Education, Poznań, Poland.
⁴ Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy.
⁵ Department of Sport Science, Faculty of Physical Education and Health, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
⁶ Department of Human Motor Skills, Wrocław University of Health and Sport Sciences, Wrocław, Poland.
⁷ 4th Military Teaching Hospital with Clinic, Independent Public Health Care Centre in Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland.
⁸ Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Physical Education and Health in Biała Podlaska, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the capacity for repeated maximal effort (RME) of soccer players in the thermo-natural conditions (NC) and in simulated conditions for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar (QSC). Twenty-four semi-professional soccer players participated in the study. The exercise test consisted of ten 6-second maximal efforts on a cycloergometer. A 90-second passive rest interval was used. The test was performed in a Weiss Technik WK-26 climate test chamber in two different conditions: 1) thermo-neutral conditions (NC-20.5°C; 58.7% humidity); and 2) simulated conditions for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar (QSC-28.5 ± 1.92°C; 58.7 ± 8.64% humidity). Power-related, physiological, psychomotor, blood, and electrolyte variables were recorded. Results showed that (1) players achieved higher peak power (max 1607,46 ± 192,70 [W] - 3rd rep), needed less time to peak power (min 0,95 ± 0,27 [s] - 3rd rep), and had a higher fatigue slope (max 218,67 ± 59,64 [W/sek] - 7th rep) in QSC than in NC (in each repetition of study protocol); (2) between the 1st repetition and subsequent repetitions a number of significants in among physiological, blood-related, and electrolyte variables were noted, but their direction was similar in both simulated conditions (e.g. V'O2/kg 37,59 ± 3,96 vs 37,95 ± 3,17 [ml/min/kg] - 3rd rep, LAC 13,16 ± 2,61 vs 14,18 ± 3,13 [mg/dl] - 10th rep or K 4,54 ± 0,29 vs 4,79 ± 0,36 [mmol/l] - 2nd rep when compare QCS and NC respectively); (3) an 8°C of temperature difference between the climatic conditions did not significantly affect the soccer players' physical and physiological responses in RME. The study results can be used in the design of training programs aimed to increase players' physiological adaptations by simulating soccer-specific conditions of play in terms of anaerobic capacity, in particular, repetitive maximal efforts. These findings will be useful during the upcoming 2022 World Cup in Qatar and in locations where high ambient temperatures are customary.

Copyright: © 2022 Chmura et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Athletic Performance* / physiology
Exercise Test
Fatigue
Humans
Humidity
Rest
Soccer* / physiology

Grants and funding

This research project was funded by National Science Centre, grant number 379167. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.