In this section we will give updates on the latest manuscripts published in PubMed concerning football on a regular base.
We also need to add that the electronic publication of the articles presented is ahead of the printed version. As a result, most of the time only the abstract is available.
#1. Caffeine Decreases Systemic Urea in Elite Soccer Players during Intermittent Exercise
Authors: Bassini A, Magalhães-Neto AM, Sweet E, Bottino A, Veiga C, Tozzi MB, Pickard MB, Cameron LC.
Journal: Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2012 Nov 6.
Summary: The purpose was to investigate the effects of caffeine on the ammonia and amino acid metabolism of elite soccer players. Players received caffeine or lactose and performed 45 min of intermittent exercise followed by an intermittent recovery test (Yo-Yo IR2) until exhaustion. The authors concluded that caffeine might decrease systemic urea by decreasing the glutamine serum concentration, which decreases the transportation of ammonia to the liver and thus urea synthesis
#2. The effects of a Special Olympics Unified Sports Soccer training program on anthropometry, physical fitness and skilled performance in Special Olympics soccer athletes and
non-disabled partners.
Authors: Baran F, Aktop A, Ozer D, Nalbant S, Ağlamış E, Barak S, Hutzler Y.
Journal: Res Dev Disabil. 2012 Nov 3;34(1):695-709.
Summary: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of a Special Olympics Unified Sport soccer program on anthropometry, physical fitness and soccer skills of male youth athletes aged 12 to 15 with and without intellectual disabilities. The training was successful in increasing fitness and soccer skill performance in all participants.
#3. Longitudinal predictors of aerobic performance in adolescent soccer players.
Authors: Valente-Dos-Santos J, Coelho-E-Silva MJ, Duarte J, Figueiredo AJ, Liparotti JR, Sherar LB, Elferink-Gemser MT, Malina RM.
Journal: Medicina (Kaunas). 2012;48(8):410-6.
Summary: The purpose was to evaluate the contributions of chronological age, skeletal age, body size, and training to the longitudinal development of aerobic performance in youth male soccer players (10 to 18 years of age). The players were followed for 5 years with measurement taken annually. The authors conclusion was that not only chonological age, but also biological development, and volume of training had a significant effect the development of aerobic performance in youth soccer players.
#4. Physical performance and subjective ratings after a soccer-specific exercise simulation: Comparison of natural grass versus artificial turf
Authors: Nédélec M, McCall A, Carling C, Le Gall F, Berthoin S, Dupont G.
Journal: J Sports Sci. 2012 Nov 5.
Summary: The purpose of the study to compare the recovery of physical performance and subjective ratings in response to a soccer-specific exercise simulation on natural grass and artificial turf. Professional soccer players were tested before, immediately after, 24 h and 48 h after the test. The results suggested that These results suggest that a one-off exercise on artificial turf does not induce greater fatigue. In addition it does not delay the recovery process when compared to natural grass among regular artificial turf players.