Argue the Case for Integration of Knowledge in Applied Practitioners in Soccer. Highlight the Extent to Which Integrated Sport Science Support Programmes Currently Operate in Soccer.

ssociation football, or soccer, is arguably the most popular sport in the world. The professional game has become one of the most competitive and lucrative industries not only within sport, but as a business in general. The First World Conference of Science and Football was held in 1987, it was this conference that represented a major step forward in effecting a link between theory and football practice (Reilly & Gilbourne, 2003). In the years since 1987 there has been a “systemization of sport science support” ( Reilly & Gilbourne, 2003 p.693) for football teams, especially at professional and elite levels. Areas focused on within the realm of applied sport science in soccer include biomechanics, nutrition, physiology, psychology and sociology. As football teams look for that competitive edge to push for success in soccer the need for applied practitioners is somewhat paramount for this advancement in performance. I shall present the argument for this integration of knowledge in applied practitioners by highlighting some examples of applied sport science support in soccer through some of the various disciplines, and how they contribute to the advancement of football practices.

Stolen et al. (2005) suggest that soccer performance depends on a myriad of factors such as technical/biomechanical, tactical, mental and physiological areas and that soccer in itself is not science, but that “science may help improve performance”(p.501). Efforts to improve football had often focused on technique and tactics, ignoring the importance of physical fitness. An example of how applied support has been used in support in a physiological context can be seen in Mohr et al.'s (2004) study of muscle temperature and sprint performance during soccer matches. They identified top class players perform less high intensity running in the initial phase of the second half compared to the first half. The investigation looked at whether this was tactical, caused by fatigue or lack of physical preparation. Players were undergoing 30-40 minutes of warm-up exercises before game and none during half time. Mohr et al. aimed to find out if the decrease in body temperature during half time lowered levels of activity in the initial stages of the second half. Several previous studies had shown a beneficial effect of heating muscles prior to high intensity exercise in humans, but it was unclear whether a re-warm-up at half time would affect the ability to perform repeated intense exercise in the second half. Mohr et al.'s investigations found muscle and core temperature decreased markedly during the half time period and lower body temperatures prior to the second half were associated with a significant impairment in performance. When players performed moderate intensity exercise prior to the second half, body temperature was maintained and sprint performance did not deteriorate. Mohr et al. stated that high muscle temperature is important in performing repeated sprints and a period of physical activities before the second half of a soccer game enable the players to utilise their physical capacity at the onset of the second half. Other studies that have examined a similar area are those conducted by De Bryan, Prevost and Lefebvre, who looked at enhancement of maximal peak power and time to exhaustion when preceded by low intensity active warm-up and Cromley et al. (1991) who used the Wingate anaerobic power test to evaluate the effect of muscle cooling and found that the decrement in performance to be in order of up to forty per cent per degree Celsius. Mohr et al. suggests a further benefit of the re-warm-up may also be a reduced probability of muscle injuries based on Safran et al.'s work (1988).

Previous studies have shown a difference in physical capacity and activity pattern during matches among different playing positions. A series of studies by Bangsbo (Bangsbo et al. 1991, Bangsbo 1994) suggest midfield players reach higher temperatures than defenders at the end of the first half, agreeing with studies that have demonstrated that midfield players cover larger differences in total and higher intensity running as body temperatures relate to loading during exercise (Mohr et al. 2004). It is therefore more important for midfielders to do a re-warm-up at half time as the body temperature needs to get higher to perform the higher intensity running.

It can be recommended that during the 15 minute half time break, 7 minutes should be spent on tactical information, passive recovery and rehydration. The next 7 to 8 minutes the players should perform activities at a moderate intensity, however players must be careful that the work is not overly intense so not to lower glycogen levels and increase lactate levels causing the onset of fatigue (Mohr et al. 2004). This allows the performers to perform better physically as well as increasing their degree of