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Dear Editor-in-Chief
During the last two decades, there has been significant accumulation
of scientific data regarding soccer physiology and medicine.
Previous investigations have evaluated ideal physiological and
anthropometric profile of successful soccer players mostly from
Western Europe and America (Rhodes et al., 1986; Mangine et al.,
1990; Davies et al., 1992), although there is a lack of descriptive
data concerning the characteristics of elite soccer players from
Eastern Europe, particularly Yugoslavia. The physique of soccer
players may be one of the key factors that contribute to the lack of
success of Yugoslav soccer teams in international competition.
Aspects such as experience, body composition, endurance, balance
between anaerobic power and aerobic power, among other factors, are
of primary importance in evaluation of elite soccer players (Reilly,
1996). Yet, it is difficult to find specific physiological and
anthropometric "correlates of success". The purpose of several
recent studies (Wislof et al., 1998; Reilly et al., 2000) was to
describe structural and functional characteristics of elite soccer
players, and make comparisons with non-elite counterparts to find a
relationship between results from the physiological tests and
competition level. Understanding the profile of successful players
could give coaches, trainers, and exercise scientists better working
knowledge of this particular group of athletes. To our knowledge,
study by Ostojic (2002) provided the most comprehensive comparison
between professional and amateur soccer teams in East European
soccer players up to date. Ostojic (2002) indicated that a strong
relationship exists between aerobic fitness, anaerobic power and
performance results in elite soccer. Ostojic (2002) found that elite
Yugoslav soccer players were older and had significantly higher
professional experience than their amateur counterparts. Nowadays
professional players do seem prepared to stay in the game for longer
than was traditional (Shephard, 1999). This is probably due to fact
that professional level of game-play requires competent and
well-versed players and commercial attractions of maintaining
players' career as long as possible. In addition, amateur leagues
are place for young talented players to improve their knowledge and
perfect abilities and skills. Yet, correlation between age and
learning effects, skills and abilities requires more investigation.
The aerobic system is the main source of energy provision during
soccer match-play and the average values of VO2 max for elite soccer
players tend to be high, supporting the above statement. While VO2
max values may be influenced by differences in standards of play,
training regimes and the phase of season, team with superior aerobic
fitness would have the advantage, being able to play the game at a
faster pace throughout (Bangsbo et al., 1991). Higher level of
endurance capacity will give elite players a better base for
on-field performance regarding intensity and demands of soccer
match-play. The estimated maximal oxygen uptake of the elite
Yugoslav players was 52.9 ± 9.1 ml•kg-1•min-1 (Ostojic, 2002) which
is in general agreement with previous data from other elite soccer
players. It appears that Yugoslav soccer players generally fall
towards the center of the continuum of maximal oxygen consumption of
elite soccer players from different countries. The vertical jump
height itself is a good measure of specific muscular performance
(anaerobic power). For vertical jump heights, Ostojic (2002) found
significantly higher results in elite group than in non-elite
subjects. Wisloff et al. (1998), proposed that a higher level of
anaerobic and strength parameters would be preferable and would
reduce the risk for injuries and allow for more powerful jumps,
kicks, tackles, and sprints among other factors. It would be
reasonable to expect that the elite soccer player have values higher
than 50 cm according to the recent findings. Performance of soccer
players in vertical jump test tends to show up influences of
positional role and training stage, which requires more
investigation (Reilly et al., 2000). Muscle performance
characteristics of soccer players in many respects are determined by
their distribution of different fibre types: fast twitch (FT) and
slow twitch (ST). Soccer players demand an ability to sustain
physical effort, mostly discontinuous, over 90 minutes, some of
which is at high intensity. As the activity profile is compatible
with both slow and fast twitch muscle fibre characteristics, a
combination of muscle fibre types (with predominance of fast twitch)
would be expected in elite players (Reilly, 1996). Ostojic (2002)
found a significantly higher percentage of estimated fast twitch
muscle fibres in elite players, which is in accordance with previous
investigations. However, any conclusions about fitness level, muscle
fibre type and elite soccer play could be incomplete. Method of
assessment, position role, nature and intensity of training are,
among others, factors that can influence measurement of fibre type
distribution and amount. Furthermore, Ostojic (2002) found that
height, weight and sum of seven skinfolds were not different between
groups of elite and non-elite players. Data on height, body mass and
body composition of soccer teams from other studies suggest that
players vary widely in body size (Parente et al., 1992). Thus, these
parameters are not essential factors for success in soccer;
moreover, they might determine the playing positional role. A
particular body size may be an advantage in certain match-play
situation while disadvantage in other. Values for Hb, Hct, FVC and
FEV1 in the study by Ostojic (2002) were within the normal range of
the male population and not significantly different between squads
neither from values reported from studies of soccer players by other
investigators (Biancotti et al., 1992). In conclusion, more research
work has to be done before definitive inference can be made;
however, the results of recent studies demonstrated strong
relationship between aerobic and anaerobic power and level of
performance in soccer. Such qualities are prerequisite and advantage
for playing soccer at the elite level. From a practical standpoint,
this information is important for coaches and trainers to adjust
training regimes and concentrate on the variables that are specific
to improve performance and achieve success in soccer.© Journal of
Sports Science and Medicine (2003) 2, 34 - 35
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