european college of sport science

Thursday, June 25th, 2009
Method: Male soccer players (N=11) and runners (N=9) were tested. Jumping performance was determined by means of a drop jump test
(30 cm platform) and calculated based on the contact time and the following jump. The subjects tried to minimize duration of ground
contact and maximize the height of the vertical jump (support of arm action).
In order to analyse running economy, subjects performed an incremental exercise test on a motor-driven treadmill. Oxygen uptake (VO2)
was measured continuously and blood lactate concentration (La) was measured at rest and after every load step (increments were 0.5
km/h every minute). Running economy was defined as the oxygen consumption at 11.7 and 14.9 km/h, which represents the mean running
speed at the first (vLTP1) and the second (vLTP2) lactate turn point of both groups.
Results: Mean VO2max was 55.3±3.5 ml/kg/min in runners and 54.4±3.5 ml/kg/min in soccer players with no significant differences
between them (p>0.05). The mean running speed of soccer players and runners at LTP1 was 11.3±0.5 km/h and 12.3±0.7 km/h respectively,
while at vLTP2 it was 14.3±0.7 and 15.6±0.6 km/h respectively. Significant differences were found between groups both at vLTP1
and vLTP2 (p0.05). Jumping performance was significantly related to oxygen consumption in runners at 11.7 km/h
(r2=0.648; p