Analysis of the effects of the transitional period on performance parameters in young soccer players

Abstract

Purpose: The transition period has been shown to produce detraining effects in soccer players and could increase the risk of injury. The main purpose of this study was to analyse the effects of the transition period on lower body power levels through the vertical and horizontal jump in young players and compare them with the first part of the regular season, using the peak height velocity (PHV) as a covariate.

Methods: Eighteen elite youth players (15.73 ± 0.25 years), belonging to a professional soccer club that compete in national sub-16 categories, were evaluated before starting the transitional period (M1: end of season) and at the end of it (M2: start of the season), as well as in the middle of the regular season (M3).

Results: Improvements were observed in all the variables during the transitory period, they were also similar to those of the first part of the season. When analysing responders and non-responders to the PHV between M1, M2 and M3, all the vertical jump variables show significant differences, while no significant differences were found in the horizontal jump.

Conclusion: It is shown that the transitory period does not have detraining effects in young players because they are in a moment of muscular development. In addition, the responder players have higher values in power levels and have produced greater changes during study time compared to the non-responder players.