Browsing by Person "Clancy, Colin"

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Match-play, training workloads and sensorimotor and neuromuscular performance of elite young soccer players
(Asociación Española de Análisis del Rendimiento Deportivo, 2023-12-12) Clancy, Colin; Gleeson, Nigel; Mercer, Tom
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess sensorimotor and neuromuscular performance capabilities over an in-season microcycle in early-career professional soccer players and to examine the relationship with training and match-play workload. Methods: Sensorimotor and neuromuscular performance capabilities (isometric knee extensor: force replication error, peak force, electromechanical delay, rate of force development) of 12 professional soccer players were assessed over a 7-day period. Training and match-play workload was also recorded over the same period for each player (high-intensity running distance). Fluctuations in sensorimotor and neuromuscular performance and workload variables were analysed. Results: There was evidence of fluctuations in sensorimotor and neuromuscular performance capability over the microcycle that reached statistical (p < .005) and practical (18.1% [baseline-to-peak]) significance alongside heterogeneity in training and match workload (264% [coefficient of variation], p < .0005). Some temporal congruence among fluctuating patterns of intra-microcycle training and match-play load and concomitant electromechanical delay performance was noted (p < .005). Asynchronous responses were observed for peak force, but rate of force development and force replication error capabilities were unchanged during the microcycle. Conclusion: While some neuromuscular performance capabilities fluctuate over an in-season microcycle and are influenced partially by high-intensity running workload, sensorimotor performance capabilities were unchanged during the microcycle.
Neuromuscular performance and training workload over an in-season mesocycle in elite young soccer players
(Human Kinetics Journals, 2021-08-17) Clancy, Colin; Gleeson, Nigel; Mercer, Tom
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess neuromuscular performance capabilities over an in-season mesocycle in early-career professional soccer players and examine the relationship with training workload. Methods: Neuromuscular performance capabilities (isometric knee extensor: peak force, rate of force development, and peak twitch force) of 12 professional soccer players were assessed weekly over a 6-week period. Training and match workload were also recorded over the same period for each player (high-intensity running distance). Changes in neuromuscular performance and workload variables were analyzed. Results: There was evidence of fluctuations in neuromuscular performance capability over the mesocycle that reached statistical (P < .05) and practical (13.3% [peak-to-peak]) significance alongside interweek heterogeneity in training and match workload (∼17.5% [coefficient of variation], P < .05). Congruence among fluctuating patterns of intramesocycle training load and concomitant neuromuscular performance responses was noted over time for acute training load and acute:chronic workload ratio with peak force and rate of force development. Conclusion: Neuromuscular performance capabilities fluctuate over an in-season mesocycle and are influenced by high-intensity running workload, emphasizing the need for acute monitoring in elite soccer players.
Sensorimotor and neuromuscular performance capabilities in elite young soccer players
(2021) Clancy, Colin
Following a review of the literature and using a prospective observational design delivered in an ecologically valid setting, this thesis enhances knowledge of sensorimotor (SM) and neuromuscular (NM) performance capabilities in elite young soccer players, culminating with a controlled cohort study to further investigate the influence of high intensity exercise stress on performance capabilities. Alterations in player perceived capabilities using the Borg Category-Ratio Scale (CR-10) and Perceived percentage of completed task duration (PTD), were also investigated. Impaired NM performance as a symptom of fatigue has previously been demonstrated in elite soccer players. However, the results from outcome measures offering such detailed and granular biological insights have not been documented previously. In addition, this research project aimed to observe (Chapter 6) and then provoke (Chapter 7) turbulence, physiologically, to examine whether the SM system is similarly affected, thereby verifying this mechanism as operational for soccer players. To objectify the conditioning dosage to which elite young soccer players are typically exposed to, Chapter 3 offered a season-long patterning of training and match-workload. To further contextualise the backdrop of this research project, NM performance capabilities were benchmarked by comparison with senior professional players in Chapter 4. Performance capabilities of sixteen elite male soccer players (age: 19.2 ± 1.1 years; height: 183.3 ± 6.1 cm; body mass: 76.1 ± 7.8 kg) were evaluated at weekly intervals over a 6-week in-season mesocycle (Chapter 5), and daily during a weekly competitive microcycle (Chapter 6). Assessments of peak twitch force (PTFe) and electromechanical delay (EMD) demonstrated significant changes in NM performance capability (p < 0.05; 13.6% and 15.1% impairments, respectively) whereas SM performance capability was preserved (p > 0.05). Congruence amongst fluctuating patterns of intra-mesocycle training workloads and concomitant neuromuscular performance responses was noted over time for Acute Training Load (ATL) with PF (r = -0.59; p < 0.05) (Chapter 5). Corresponding analysis of training workloads and conditioning status as influencers of post-match strength resilience and recovery identified potential for aspects of NM performance to be altered by careful manipulation of antecedent training workloads (r = 0.59-0.62; p < 0.05) (Chapter 6). Within routine aspects of the competitive season, greatest deficits in NM performance were observed immediately following match-play (p < 0.05; Cohen’s d: 0.32 [PF] and 0.89 [EMD]). Subsequently, using a potent, controlled exposure to exercise stress, an intermittent isometric fatigue trial (IIFT) was deployed to examine concurrent SM and NM performance responses while exploring alterations in player perceived capabilities. Declines in PF, rate of force development (RFD) and EMD performance following the IIFT reached statistical significance with effect magnitudes larger than observed within the ecologically relevant settings (p < 0.001; Cohen’s d: 0.58 [PF], 0.52 [RFD] and 2.34 [EMD]). Interestingly, SM performance capabilities remained intact following the IIFT (p > 0.05). Additionally, although both CR-10 and PTD ultimately demonstrated efficacy in predicting exercise cessation, a significant interaction effect (p < 0.01) was observed indicating a divergence between candidate explanatory paradigms of self-perception of capabilities for players within the task. This thesis has increased current knowledge and understanding by providing a novel exploratory evaluation of sensorimotor and neuromuscular performance capabilities in early career professional soccer players. The findings presented in this thesis will better inform future studies on conditioning soccer players and allow more targeted prophylactic strategies to be implemented by performance support staff. Key words: Sensorimotor, neuromuscular, soccer