TESTOSTERONE CONCENTRATION AND LOWER LIMB POWER OVER AN ENTIRE COMPETITIVE SEASON IN ELITE YOUNG SOCCER PLAYERS

Arruda, AFS, Aoki, MS, Freitas, CG, Spigolon, LMP, Franciscon, C, and Moreira, A. Testosterone concentration and lower limb power over an entire competitive season in elite young soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 29(12): 3380-3385, 2015The aim of this study was to investigate salivary T changes and its relationship with power performance over a 1-year competitive season in elite under 15 (U15) and under 17 (U17) soccer players. Soccer players were recruited from 1 soccer club that has been participated in the main state and national leagues for these age groups. The soccer players were divided into 2 age categories (U15, n = 16 and U17, n = 23). A resting saliva sample was taken to determine T level, and power was assessed using the countermovement jump test with a bar of 30% of body mass on the athletes' shoulders on 3 occasions (T1: beginning of the competitive season, T2: end of the regular season, and T3: end of the playoffs). There was a decrease in T concentration at the end of the competitive season (T3) as compared with the beginning of the season (T1) for both age categories (p 0.05). Conversely, power performance parameters were increased for both age groups (U15: mean power and relative mean power and U17: peak power, mean power, relative peak power, and relative mean power; p 0.05). No significant correlation was identified between the relative changes in T concentration and power performance in both groups. The findings of this study suggest that T changes and power changes are not related. (AU)