Changes in sprinting and landing mechanics across 120 minutes of soccer-specific exercise

Field, Adam ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2600-6182 (2025) Changes in sprinting and landing mechanics across 120 minutes of soccer-specific exercise. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. ISSN 1064-8011 (In Press)

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Abstract

The study aimed to examine the influence of 120-min of simulated soccer match-play on sprinting and landing mechanics. Twelve semi-professional soccer players completed bilateral vertical drop-jump, countermovement jump, and 30 m sprints at pre-match, half-time, full-time and post extra-time. Two-dimensional frontal plane footage was captured during jumps and frontal plane projection angle upon landing were measured. Sprint running mechanics was assessed using a novel qualitative screening tool. Drop-jump height reduced 12.5% from pre-match (0.32±0.02 m) to extra-time (0.28±0.02 m, p=0.002, d=0.2), 11.1% from full-time to pre-match (0.27±0.02 m; p=0.013, d=2.2) and 6.3% from full-time to half-time (0.30±0.02 m; p=0.001, d=3.0). Average landing force decreased 4.5% at extra-time (1022.7±38.3 N) versus pre-match (1068.7±38.5 N; p=0.003, d=1.2), and 5.5% at half-time (1078.7±38.3; p=0.001, d=0.8), and 3.8 % at full-time (1039.5±38.3) versus half-time (p=0.015, d=0.3). Time to stabilisation increased 14.3% at extra-time (663±34 ms) from 568 ± 34 ms at pre-match (p=0.009, d=0.3), 13.7% at half-time (572±34 ms; p=0.004, d=0.1) and 9.1% at full-time (663±34; p=0.011, d=0.2). Relative peak landing force was 6.9% higher at full-time (692.00±44.44%) versus half-time (644.79±44.44%; p=0.009, d=0.4), but 6.2% lower at half-time versus pre-match (684.50±44.28%; p=0.022, d=0.6). Sprint mechanics movement quality deteriorated by 29.5% at half-time (2.75±0.26) compared to pre-match (1.95±0.27; p =0.016, d=0.5), and by 33.4% at from pre-match to extra-time (2.93±0.27; p=0.013, d=0.6). Players may experience impaired neuromuscular performance, particularly during landing and sprinting, which may influence movement quality and could contribute to increased injury susceptibility, though this requires further investigation.