Effects of a Caffeine-Containing Energy Drink on Simulated Soccer Performance

Abstract

BackgroundTo investigate the effects of a caffeine-containing energy drink on soccer performance during a simulated game. A second purpose was to assess the post-exercise urine caffeine concentration derived from the energy drink intake.Methodology/Principal FindingsNineteen semiprofessional soccer players ingested 630±52 mL of a commercially available energy drink (sugar-free Red Bull®) to provide 3 mg of caffeine per kg of body mass, or a decaffeinated control drink (0 mg/kg). After sixty minutes they performed a 15-s maximal jump test, a repeated sprint test (7×30 m; 30 s of active recovery) and played a simulated soccer game. Individual running distance and speed during the game were measured using global positioning satellite (GPS) devices. In comparison to the control drink, the ingestion of the energy drink increased mean jump height in the jump test (34.7±4.7 v 35.8±5.5 cm; P<0.05), mean running speed during the sprint test (25.6±2.1 v 26.3±1.8 km · h−1; P<0.05) and total distance covered at a speed higher than 13 km · h−1 during the game (1205±289 v 1436±326 m; P<0.05). In addition, the energy drink increased the number of sprints during the whole game (30±10 v 24±8; P<0.05). Post-exercise urine caffeine concentration was higher after the energy drink than after the control drink (4.1±1.0 v 0.1±0.1 µg · mL−1; P<0.05).Conclusions/significanceA caffeine-containing energy drink in a dose equivalent to 3 mg/kg increased the ability to repeatedly sprint and the distance covered at high intensity during a simulated soccer game. In addition, the caffeinated energy drink increased jump height which may represent a meaningful improvement for headers or when players are competing for a ball.

Dose response effects of a caffeine-containing energy drink on muscle performance: a repeated measures design

“…Since then, a small number of studies have been geared to examining the effects of caffeine-containing-energy drinks on physical performance or sports tasks, mainly because of the relative novelty of these beverages [19-25,34]. Most of them have used the most popular energy drink, Red Bull®, which contains 80 mg of caffeine per 250 mL of product (one serving).…”

Nutrition and Gaelic Football: Review, Recommendations, and Future Considerations

“…Foskett, Ali, and Gant (2009) demonstrated greater passing accuracy and VJ performance after consuming 6mg/kg BM of caffeine in a soccer simulation running and passing skill test compared with placebo. Del Coso et al (2012) demonstrated that consumption of a commercially available caffeinated sugar-free energy drink (3mg/kg BM) allowed better performance in a jump test, greater mean running speed during a RST (7 × 30m with 30sec recovery); more distance covered at a speed greater than 13km/h and a greater number of sprints during a simulated soccer game compared with placebo (p < .05). Consumption of caffeine in conjunction with carbohydrate has also been demonstrated to improve performance in physical and soccer-specific tests to a greater extent than carbohydrate alone (Gant, Ali, & Foskett, 2010;Ranchordas & Pattison, 2011).…”

Rapid Directional Change Degrades GPS Distance Measurement Validity during Intermittent Intensity Running

“…A novel device comprising a 5 Hz GPS microcontroller and an interpolation algorithm that outputs positional data at a 15 Hz frequency was recently utilised to investigate the movement demands of soccer, rugby union and rugby sevens [13]–[15]; however, the distance measurement validity of this device has yet to be evaluated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to systematically assess the effect of rapid directional change on the distance measurement validity of a previously untested GPS device.…”