مجلة العلوم و التكنولوجية للنشاطات البدنية و الرياضية

Divergent Adaptations In Maximal Aerobic Speed And Time To Exhaustion Following An Individually Prescribed Preseason Conditioning Programme In Elite U20 Soccer Players

Auteurs : Metrag Sidahmed . Ghoual Adda . Mokkedes Moulay Idriss . Bengoua Ali .

Résumé

This study aimed to determine whether maximal aerobic speed (MAS) and time to exhaustion at MAS (Tlim) adapt concurrently across preseason in elite youth soccer. For this purpose, we used a single-arm, pre–post observational design on a sample composed of twenty-two elite male U20 players from an Algerian first-division club, chosen as a convenience sample. Players completed an 8-week individualized program in which interval intensity was fixed at 100% baseline MAS while interval duration was individualized as a percentage of each player’s baseline Tlim. For data collection, we used the VAM-EVAL incremental field test and a constant-speed run to exhaustion at the current maximum aerobic speed (MAS). After statistical treatment, MAS improved significantly (15.82±0.88 to 16.59±0.75 km·h⁻¹; d₂=1.53), whereas mean Tlim did not change significantly (309.0±56.3 to 326.3±77.5 s; d₂=0.23) and responded heterogeneously; ΔMAS and ΔTlim were weakly related (r=−0.32, p=0.144). On this basis, the study recommends monitoring Tlim alongside MAS, since MAS alone may overestimate aerobic adaptation.

Mots clés

: maximal aerobic speed; time to exhaustion; VAM-EVAL; preseason; elite youth soccer; individualized prescription