The relationship between individualised speed thresholds and changes in aerobic fitness in elite professional youth soccer players. A case study

Authors

Ronan Kavanagh, Performance and Analytics Department, Parma, ItalyFollow
Kevin McDaid, Applied Data Analytics Research Group, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Louth, Ireland
David Rhodes, Football Performance Hub, Institute of Coaching and Performance, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK
Jill Alexander, Football Performance Hub, Institute of Coaching and Performance, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UKFollow
Damian Harper, Football Performance Hub, Institute of Coaching and Performance, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK
Rafael Oliveira, Research Center in Sport Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), Santarém Polytechnic University, Portugal
Kieran Berry, Football Performance Hub, Institute of Coaching and Performance, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK
Mark Connor, Natural Computing Research and Applications Group, School of Business, University College Dublin, Dub-lin, Ireland
Piotr Zmijewski, Faculty of Physical Education, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, Gdansk, PolandFollow
Ryland Morgans, School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UKFollow

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to examine the dose-response relationship between training load and aspects of physical fitness in English Premier League (EPL) U23 soccer players. Materials and Methods: Seven male EPL U23 outfield soccer players (age 20.1±1.1 years) participated in this study and performed the Bronco test on five occasions within one season. Individualised running thresholds were employed using maximal aerobic speed (MAS), anaerobic speed reserve (ASR) and maximal sprint speed (MSS) values utilising a GPS system. Results: No significant differences in the Bronco performance between the tests (p > 0.05, ES = 0.101) were observed. Distance covered above 30% ASR (r = -0.51) and time spent above 30% ASR (r = -0.54) over a 2-week period displayed a moderate negative linear relationship with Bronco performance. Conclusions: ASR-based training load variables displayed the highest correlations with Bronco results. These findings support practitioners to individualise high-speed running thresholds.

Recommended Citation

Kavanagh R, McDaid K, Rhodes D, Alexander J, Harper D, Oliveira R, Berry K, Connor M, Zmijewski P, Morgans R. The relationship between individualised speed thresholds and changes in aerobic fitness in elite professional youth soccer players. A case study. Balt J Health Phys Act. 2025;17(1):Article1. DOI: 10.29359/BJHPA.17.1.01

Author ORCID Identifier

Ronan KAVANAGH; ORCID 0009-0004-9695-4147

Kevin McDAID; ORCID 0000-0002-0695-9082

David RHODES; ORCID 0000-0002-4224-1959

Jill ALEXANDER; ORCID 0000-0002-6492-1621

Damian HARPER; ORCID 0000-0002-5430-1541

Rafael OLIVEIRA; ORCID 0000-0001-6671-6229

Kieran BERRY; ORCID 0000-0003-4673-6999

Mark CONNOR; ORCID 0000-0001-9316-2567

Piotr ZMIJEWSKI; ORCID 0000-0002-5570-9573

Ryland MORGANS; ORCID 0000-0003-2007-4827

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.