THE EFFECT OF ALTITIDUE ON MATCH DAY HIGH SPEED RUNNING (M/PM) DISTANCE

Casey Chapman A0095194

The report shows data from Philadelphia Union soccer team from match day data at different altitudes. The overall findings suggest that players maintained a high speed running distance no matter the altitude played at. However the breathing RPE and leg fatigue increased, especially at high altitude.

Implying that altitude was not affecting the running performance of the players but was infact having a greater effect on the difficulty of how the game felt on the breath and legs.

Altitude VS High Speed Running Distance:

Sea level has a higer variable of high speed running. At high altitude the variable is less then at sea level but more then at low altitude. Low altitude has the lowest high speed runnning distance.

Median high-speed running distance on match day:

sea level - 110 m/min low level - 108 m/min high level - 106 m/min

Breath RPE vs Altitude:

At sea level breathing was moderately hard for most people, but a few found it a lot easier. At low altitude the breathing difficulty was slightly higher on average but much more inconvenient. At high altitude a strong cluster of results suggest that everyone reported a high breathing difficulty.

RPE rose from 75 at sea level to 90 at high altitude.

Leg RPE compared to Breath RPE at different altitudes:

During each altitudes there isa strong psotivie correlation between breathing difficulty and leg fatigue. Breathing rate increases = leg fatige increases

Sea level - strong relationship betwwen but more scatter with lower RPE ratining. Low level - slightl more variation but simlier trend to sea level High level - scores cluster tighly, everyone was scoring both breathing and leg farige high but also hitting the same high speed running.

Summary & Evidence Based Recommendations:

When playing at a higher altitude the oxygen level in the air is reduced. Due to the reduced oxygen levels players will feel more breathless and muscle fatigue will happen faster due to the reduced oxygen supply. Overall this should not impact the high speend sprinting distracted dramatically but will impact accelerating and quick movements as legs will start to feel heavier.

When playing at altitude the players VO2 max will approximately decrease be 8-11% for every 1,000m above the 15000m attitude level. This reduced oxygen Availability has a name of Hypoxia. Using the data analysed for high spend running distance comparing sea level to high altitudes there was a total loss of 4 m/min. However this is also highlighted by how th players rated there RPE for breathlessness when playining at high altitude it was rated fomr 75 RPE to a high avarge of 90 RPE.

In addition to the breathlessness when players where scorning RPE for there leg fatigue they also rated this a lot higher when at high level =s of altitude. in past studies is been proven that due to the reduced oxygeb deliever to the muscles it leads to a faster accumulation of lactate and other metabolites. which will start the fatiguing processes faster but is also likly to level players with post match soreness.

The difference in high speed running at different altitudes is not wildly effected. Howevwer studied that been conducted at altitude support these findings. Overall research suggests that the effort of high speed running will not be significantly effected but movement such as rapid accelerations woulkd be due to muscle fatigue leading to less scoring importunes and defensive actions making the game overall harder.

Recommendation for playing at high altitudes;

Coach’s should consider different strategies when training there players at altitude or when match days fall at a higher altitude level.

The FIFA medical committee recommend a 10-day acclimatization period for matches that are played at 3000m above sea level, Therefor I would allow players have a few days pre match to train and settle in to the new environment adapting to oxygen levels.

Adapt new breathing techniques; Help players when resting during the game, having respiratory efficiency can help to reduce the feeling of breathlessness. A way to do this is by practicing slow, deep breathing focusing on nasal breathing and avoiding mouth breathing. This technique could be added in to warm ups by getting the plays to be at a state of breathlessness and making them hold there breath before breathing out and in though the nasle track.

Nutrition Intervention: Ensure that energy level are high and players are hydrated, this will also ensure that oxygen transport is been supported by extra factor the player can do. interventions for this can be recommended by the coach however using a nutritionist would be best. to help increase energy carbohydrates and iron intake is going to critical for this. 6-8g of crabs per kg of body weight per plauyer would be recommended .

Training adjustments - Changing the intensity and duration of training to support the higher levels of fatigue that that occurs at altitude. Also giving the players enough recovery time before match day. Ensuring they are ready for the game. Additionally to this monitoring the players to assess players fatigue and that they are adjusting to the training load and game level accordingly.