Repeated change-of-direction test for collegiate male soccer players

Aim. The aim of the study was to investigate the applicability of a repeated change-of-direction (RCoD) test for NCAA Division-I male soccer players. Methods. The RCoD test consisted of 5 diagonal direction changes per repetition with a soccer ball to be struck at the end. Each player performed 15 repetitions with approximately 10 seconds to jog back between repetitions. Data were collected in two sessions. In the first session, 13 players were examined for heart rate responses and blood lactate concentrations. In the second session, 22 players were examined for the test's ability to discriminate the primary from secondary players (78.0 +/- 16.1 and 10.4 +/- 13.3 minutes per match, respectively). Results. Heart rate data were available only from 9 players due to artifacts. The peak heart rate (200.2 +/- 6.6 beats.min(-1): 99.9 +/- 3.0% maximum) and blood lactate concentration (14.8 +/- 2.4 mmol.L-1 immediately after) resulted in approximately 3.5 and 6.4-fold increases from the resting values, respectively. These values appear comparable to those during intense periods of soccer matches. In addition, the average repetition time of the test was found to discriminate the primary (4.85 +/- 0.23 s) from the secondary players (5.10 +/- 0.24 s) (P=0.02). Conclusion. The RCoD test appears to induce physiological responses similar to intense periods of soccer matches with respect to heart rate and blood lactate concentration. Players with better average repetition times tend to be those who play major minutes.