Testing of power abilities in high level soccer players: Quantitive and qualitive assessment methods

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate power in high level soccer players by means of Wingate cycling test and performance analysis for vertical jumps. Thirty-two male professional soccer players (mean age 25.29±5.4 years, height 180.22±6.63 cm, weight 73.8±7.07 kg) underwent Wingate test and jump tests with the use of force plate with ongoing analysis of four types of jumps (countermovement jumps, squat jumps, single leg jumps on the right and left legs, CMJs with arms swing). We found: (i) high-level soccer players' norms are PP>13 W/kg, AP30/kg>11W/kg; (ii) 34.5% of studied athletes demonstrated high level of power; AP30/kg>11W/kg showed only 13.79%; 10.34% showed significant power decrement by 30th second of Wingate-test (∆Р15/kg-Р30/kg>4W/kg); (iii) countermovement jump height was 35.94±4.2 cm, height of the jump with additional arms swing was 44.72±5.04 cm; (iv) motor disbalance of antagonist muscle work of lower extremities; (v) parameter of average power in Wingate test correlated with height (r=.476, P<0.01), flying time (r=.463, P<0.01), maximum force for take-off (r=.393, P<0.05) in countermovement jump with arms swing. Anaerobic Wingate test and performance analysis for vertical jumps allow estimation of athletes' fitness weak aspects and undertaking appropriate timely amendments to trainings. Copyright © 2018 by SCITEPRESS - Science and Technology Publications, Lda. All rights reserved