The Importance Of Interval Training In Soccer

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The significance of this topic is that it will identify how interval training (a form of exercise training, consisting of alternating work/rest intervals) can improve aerobic power also known as VO2 max (how much oxygen is consumed per minute), and anaerobic power (max power achieved during short high intensity) in a professional sporting team (Davis, Vodak & Wilmore et al. (1976. In addition to this, this paper will explain how an exercise physiologist can improve these two powers through interval training in sporting teams such as soccer and what will be required to achieve an improved aerobic and anaerobic power through interval training. An Exercise Physiologist is a person who has completed suitable curriculum within exercise science and places an emphasis on exercise physiology (Rosbergs & Roberts 1996). For soccer, an exercise physiologist would be looking at the elements of exercise performance, metabolic demands of differing exercise concentrations, location, and the type of training to complete performance (Rosbergs & Roberts 1996). Soccer is one of the most widely played sports in the world and players need to have tactical, technical and physical skills to thrive in this sport. Some of the skills that are needed to succeed in soccer may be things such as; coordination, ball control, speed, agility, focus, game planning and team work. Ideally, a soccer player should be able to maintain a high level of intensity for the entire game (Helgerud, Engen & Wisloff et al. 2001). Aerobic Power or commonly known as VO2 max, measures how much oxygen is consumed by a person in one minute. In soccer, high aerobic capacity is seen to aid recovery as it reduces fatigue through glycogen sparing and counteracting the decline of PH qu... ... middle of paper ... ...te in endurance and short exercise levels. It also needs the athletes to be able to have the ability to sprint and utilize the anaerobic system, and allow them to generate force through a high power output (Bangsbo, Mohr & Poulsen et al. 2006). Over an entire soccer game elite players run roughly 10km at average intensity and interval training help athletes perform better and increases their aerobic and anaerobic power within exercise (Stølen, Chamari & Castagna et al. 2005). High aerobic capacity is needed within soccer, as it is believed to aid recovery by reducing fatigue within athletes and by using interval training it improves both powers. This is due to it being able to enable them to perform better, last through a variety of intensities, durations and improve recovery for each athlete (Dellal, Chamari & Pintus et al. 2008).

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