(55) MITIGATING LOSS OF FITNESS DURING A COMPETITIVE NCAA DI MEN’S SOCCER SEASON: THE EFFECT OF HIGH-SPEED DISTANCE RUNNING

Purpose: Maintaining optimal physical fitness throughout a competitive NCAA Division I season presents a significant challenge. The dense fall competition calendar, exposing players to ~20 games in less than four months, leaves little room for training. Additionally, varying training loads experienced by starter (ST) and non-starter (NS) players can lead to inefficient stimuli on the players’ physical capacities, potentially impacting performance and injury risk. This study examines the differences in training load experienced by ST and NS players across multiple competitive seasons and identify the impact of the accrued training load on the player’s physical capacities. Methods: A retrospective study design was employed. Data for 26 NCAA division I men’s soccer players (age=20.6±1.6 years, height=1.79±0.07 m, body-mass=77.5±6.4 kg) was retrieved from the institution research repository for two competitive seasons. Players’ physical capacities were measured as part of an ongoing monitoring program at the beginning (PRE) and at the end (POST) of the season. To evaluate lower body power and strength, Countermovement Jumps (CMJ) and isometric mid-thigh pulls (iMTP) were performed on dual force plates (Rice Lake Weighing Systems). CMJ height (CMJh), CMJ peak power and iMTP peak force were computed. Soccer specific fitness was assessed through the total distance covered in the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Level 1 test (Yo-YoIR1d). Training load was monitored with a GPS system (Optimeye S5, Catapult Sports) using the following key performance indicators (KPI): duration, total distance (TD), player load (PL), High Speed Running Distance (HSRD), and Sprint Running Distance. To assess the effects of SEASON (#1, #2), USAGE (ST, NS) on training load, multiple two-way ANOVAs have been computed. Additionally, for the effects of SEASON and USAGE on the changes in physical capacities (PRE, POST), multiple mixed-model ANOVAs were conducted. The models were then enhanced by including the KPIs as covariates. If a covariate returned a significant effect, linear models were computed to predict the changes in physical capacity. Results: For CMJh, a significant TIME effect (p=0.022, 0.36±0.04 to 0.35±0.05 m), and a significant interaction TIME x SEASON x USAGE (p=0.010) were detected. For Yo-YoIR1d was detected a significant interaction TIME x SEASON (p< 0.001, #1 from 2.1±0.2 to 1.8±0.3 km, #2 from 1.7±0.3 to 2.2±0.4 km). For training load, a USAGE effect was present for duration (p< 0.001, ST 394±30, NS 324±38 min/week), TD (p< 0.001, ST 31.4±1.6, NS 22.6±3.6 km/week), PL (p=0.001, ST 3338±491, NS 2662±373 au/week). HSRD was a significant covariate for YoYoIRd in the ANCOVA mixed model (p=0.010). The linear model including HSDR was a significant predictor of Yo-YoIR1d change (p=0.049, HSDR=0.863, Intercept=-904.7). Conclusions: ANOVA results indicated a loss in CMJh during a competitive season. Across two competitive seasons, Yo-YoIR1d performances showed varying trends across seasons. Although ST were exposed to additional duration, TD, and PL, fitness loss was independent of player usage. Instead, changes in fitness are best explained by HSDR covered during the season. Practical Applications: coaching staff should ensure adequate exposure to HSDR for NCAA division I men’s soccer players to maintain physical fitness characteristics required by the game. Supplementation for non-starters in the form of small-sided games and conditioning activities is warranted. Acknowledgements: None.