The Copenhagen Soccer Test: physiological response and fatigue development

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Soccer Performance Analysis

Background:

• Assessing the physiological load of simulated soccer protocols is crucial for training and performance analysis.
• The Copenhagen Soccer Test (CST) is a multifaceted simulated soccer game protocol.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if the CST elicits similar physiological loading compared to a competitive game (CG).
• To determine muscle metabolites, blood variables, and sprint performance during various phases of the CST.

Main Methods:

• Twelve Danish Second- and Third-Division soccer players participated.
• Physiological measurements (HR, blood sampling, muscle biopsies) and performance tests were conducted during CST (60- and 90-min versions) and CG.

Main Results:

• CST demonstrated comparable average heart rate (HR) and plasma creatine kinase levels to CG.
• Significant muscle glycogen depletion and elevated muscle lactate were observed during CST, similar to CG.
• Sprint velocity decreased by 7% during the CST, indicating performance decrements.

Conclusions:

• The CST is a reproducible and valid tool for simulating the physiological response of high-level competitive soccer.
• The CST facilitates rapid muscle sampling and provides insights into creatine phosphate degradation and glycogen utilization patterns.