Journal article
Time in 85-100% Heart Rate Zone Increases Lean Body Mass and V02MAX in NCAA Division I Soccer Players
Journal of Fitness Research, Vol.3(1), pp.12-18
2014
Abstract
Introduction: Due to the growth and interest of women's soccer in the past 20 years, multiple scientific studies have focused on how to enhance performance. Training status, defined as lean body mass and VO2max, is correlated to performance during games; specifically ground covered, number of sprints, and number of touches on the ball. Therefore, improving the training status of an athlete is a critical component of any soccer regimen. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate if a novel form of high intensity interval training (HIIT) could significantly improve training status during the 6-week offseason of an elite women's soccer team. We hypothesised that time spent in the 85-100% heart rate zone would correlate with improvements in training status; specifically lean body mass and VO2max. Methods: Eighteen NCAA Division I women soccer players replaced their 8 hours per week of traditional training with a unique 5 hour per week training intervention comprised of 2 hours of soccer specific training, 2 hours of strength training, and 1 hour of the LES MILLS GRITâ„¢ series, a HIIT protocol that involves explosive plyometric and dynamic strength exercises. At the beginning and end of the 6-week intervention, lean mass was evaluated with a Bod Podâ„¢ body composition test and VO2max was estimated from a 2.4 km run. Results: Both lean body mass (r = 0.63 and p = 0.01) and VO2max (r = 0.51 and p = 0.05) were positively correlated to time spent in the 85-100% heart rate zone. Conclusion: These data suggest that HIIT can be an effective protocol even in a well-trained college athlete cohort and may maximise competition performance and minimise training time.
Details
- Title
- Time in 85-100% Heart Rate Zone Increases Lean Body Mass and V02MAX in NCAA Division I Soccer Players
- Authors
- R Anne Cook (Author) - Pennsylvania State University, United StatesBryce Hastings (Author) - Les Mills International, Auckland, New ZealandJinger S Gottschall (Author) - Pennsylvania State University, United States
- Publication details
- Journal of Fitness Research, Vol.3(1), pp.12-18
- Publisher
- Australian Institute of Fitness
- Date published
- 2014
- ISSN
- 2201-5655
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2014 Australian Institute of Fitness. Reproduced with permission of the publisher.
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99449838902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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