The Effects of Concurrent Training on Female Soccer Players.
Due to the high metabolic and physical demands in soccer, an optimal strength and conditioning program is essential. Soccer, a popular youth sport around the world, involves immense athleticism and physical fitness. Soccer demands high levels of aerobic capacity, which can average 70-80% of maximal oxygen uptake. Performance also depends on the athlete’s ability to execute and quickly recover from multiple bouts of high-intensity exercise near anaerobic threshold, as well as the power, and strength involved in kicking, jumping, and tackling.
Due to the high metabolic and physical demands of soccer, an optimal strength and conditioning program for female soccer players is essential. Training methods for soccer typically include
long bouts of aerobic endurance activities, as high-levels of aerobic capacity are fundamental to optimizing performance.1,3 However, there are multiple fitness components that need to be addressed as part of the training program and coaches are seeking alternative strength and conditioning methods, such as concurrent training, to enhance strength, power, and anaerobic capacity. The purpose of concurrent training is to reap the benefits of both increased force
development and improved aerobic adaptations, but contradicting research exists regarding the effectiveness of this training method. Some studies suggest that concurrent strength and aerobic training elicits conflicting metabolic adaptations while others report beneficial increases in power and performance.
The independent benefits of single-mode resistance training programs and high-intensity conditioning methods in young athletes have been well documented. Resistance training programs,
when properly designed and supervised, have been shown to safely and effectively increase muscular strength and power in young athletes.
Sport Exerc Med Open J. 2018; 4(1): 16-23. doi: 10.17140/SEMOJ-4-156
