The Three-Level Model of Factors Contributing to High-Intensity Intermittent Performance in Male Soccer Players

Juraj Pecho; Zuzana Kováčiková; Ľuboslav Šiška; Martin Mikulič; Marcel Čurgali; Lovro Štefan; Erika Zemková

doi:10.3390/ijerph192416402

The Three-Level Model of Factors Contributing to High-Intensity Intermittent Performance in Male Soccer Players

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Dec 7;19(24):16402. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192416402.

Authors

Juraj Pecho¹, Zuzana Kováčiková², Ľuboslav Šiška³, Martin Mikulič⁴, Marcel Čurgali², Lovro Štefan^{5

6

7}, Erika Zemková⁸

Affiliations

¹ JP Sports-Athletes Performance Assessment, 810 00 Bratislava, Slovakia.
² Institute of Physical Education and Sport, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University, 040 11 Košice, Slovakia.
³ Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Education, Catholic University, 034 01 Ružomberok, Slovakia.
⁴ Department of Sports Games, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Comenius University, 814 69 Bratislava, Slovakia.
⁵ Department of General and Applied Kinesiology, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
⁶ Department of Sport Motorics and Methodology in Kinathropology, Faculty of Sports Studies, Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
⁷ Department of Recruitment and Examination (RECETOX), Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
⁸ Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Comenius University, 814 69 Bratislava, Slovakia.

Abstract

High-intensity intermittent performance in soccer is widely assessed using the yo-yo intermittent recovery level 2 test (YYIR2). This test is usually associated with aerobic-anaerobic performance. However, less is known about the direct or indirect contributions of abilities, including the anaerobic component. This study aims to propose a three-level model of factors contributing to YYIR2 performance, based on the investigation of relationships with aerobic endurance, repeated-sprint ability (RSA), and the linear and change-of-direction speed and power variables. Eighteen soccer players performed the YYIR2, with a 20-m shuttle run test (20mSR), an RSA test with change-of-direction, 5-m and 20-m sprints, and a 505 test, countermovement jump, squat jump, and drop jump. The results showed a significant relationship between the YYIR2 distance and the 20mSR distance (r = 0.721, p = 0.001), as well as with the RSA test mean time (r = -0.594, p = 0.009). In the second level, the 20mSR distance performance was not associated with any of the speed and power variables. However, the RSA test mean time correlated with the 5-m sprint (r = 0.587, p = 0.010), 20-m sprint (r = 0.702, p = 0.001), and 505 test (r = 0.585 p = 0.011) performance. In the third level, the 20-m sprint time was related to the squat jump (r = -0.577 p = 0.012) and countermovement jump (r = -0.768 p < 0.001) heights. In addition to aerobic endurance, this study highlights the importance of the anaerobic component in YYIR2 performance. More specifically, aerobic endurance (52%) and RSA (36%) are the main determinants of YYIR2 performance. Subsequently, the RSA performance is determined by the linear (34-49%) and change-of-direction speed (35%), while the explosive power of lower limbs contributes to sprinting performance (33-59%). Coaches should focus on the development of these abilities to improve the high-intensity intermittent performance of soccer players.

Keywords: aerobic abilities; anaerobic abilities; field tests; yo-yo intermittent recovery level 2 test.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Athletic Performance*
Exercise Test / methods
Humans
Male
Posture
Running*
Soccer*

Grants and funding

This research was funded by Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic and the Slovak Academy of Sciences (No. 1/0089/20).