The aim of this study was to identify the morphological configuration of youth athletes from professional soccer clubs and to verify their differences according to the tactical position on the field. Overall, 67 male players aged 15 to 17 years were evaluated. The examined anthropometric measurements included body mass, body height, skinfolds (triceps, subscapular, supraspinal and medial calf), girths (flexed and tensed arm and calf) and breadths (humerus and femur). For statistical purposes, analysis of variance and post hoc Bonferroni and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used. We concluded that goalkeepers were heavier and taller than center backs (p = 0.015 and p = 0.001), midfielders (p = 0.005 and p <0.001) and center forward players (p = 0.024 and p <0.001). The average somatotype for defense, forward and goalkeeper positions was a balanced mesomorph. Midfield players showed ectomorphic-mesomorph characteristics. It was concluded that goalkeepers were characterized as being taller and heavier and that somatotype features of athletes were similar between positions, except for midfield players.

Purpose. the aim of the study was to examine the differences of the anaerobic speed reserve (ASr) in soccer players according to the playing positions (defenders, midfielders, and forwards). Methods. Overall, 120 elite-level national Brazilian soccer players (46 defenders, 45 midfielders, and 29 forwards) performed a field incremental test to estimate maximal aerobic speed (MAS) and a 30-m sprint to determine maximal sprinting speed (MSS). the difference between MAS and MSS was used to estimate ASr. Players were classified by position and by MAS and MSS performance. For each playing position, they were ranked and divided into higher and lower MSS (MSS-H and MSS-L, respectively) and MAS (MAS-H and MAS-L, respectively) groups. the players' ASr was compared among these groups. Results. the comparison of ASr within playing position showed no difference among defenders, midfielders, or forwards. In addition, a higher ASr was found for the fastest players (MSS-H) in all playing positions as compared with their MSS-L counterparts. When ASr was compared between MASH and MAS-L, a significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed. A high correlation was noted between ASr and MSS (r = 0.72; p < 0.001) and between ASr and MAS (r =-0.63; p < 0.001). Conclusions. MSS is the main index that determines the magnitude of ASr, which should be considered when characterizing the soccer players' running speed profile. However, no difference was found when the playing positions were compared, indicating similar characteristics of the running profile in a large sample of soccer players.

Aerobic energy transference is highly required and accounts for more than 90% of total energy consumption during a soccer match. In addition high aerobic fitness contributes to recovery from high-intensity intermittent exercise, specific to performance in soccer. The aim of the present study was to examine whether the peak velocity in the Carminatti’s test (PVT-CAR) for prescribing interval-training drills is effective in eliciting aerobic-fitness development intensities in male soccer-players. Fifteen Brazilian male elite soccer-players (U20) were tested for T-CAR and monitored for heart rate (HR) during PVT-CAR prescribed interval-training drills (i.e., 4x4min with 3min passive recovery). Drills were performed with a 1:1 work-to-rest ratio with either straight-line (6/6s) or 180° shuttle running (12/12s). The interval training performed at PVT-CAR elicited HR above 90% of HRmax and lactate above 4m.mol.l-1. In the shuttle-running drills, HR and lactate (93.3±2.1% HRmax; 7.7±1.4 m.mol.l-1) were significantly higher than in the straight line drills (vs 90.3±2.6 %HRmax; 4.5±0.9 m.mol.l-1). The coefficient of variations showed low inter-subject variability in HR (CV 2.3 and 3.0% for 12/12 and 6/6 respectively). The results of this study demonstrated that PVT-CAR can be successfully used to individualize high-intensity interval running training in players with different aerobic profiles, while shuttle-running drills presented higher values at intern load than straight line. The physiological and time-motion profiles resemble the most demanding phases of the match, especially for the fittest players.

Os objetivos deste estudo foram verificar o perfil fisiológico e o padrão de atividade de jogos reduzidos (7x7 e 8x8) e se os mesmos podem ser utilizados como atividade promotora da aptidão física em mulheres não treinadas. Vinte e três mulheres (28,