Effects of soccer match-play on unilateral jumping and Inter-limb asymmetry: a repeated measures design

The aims of the present study were twofold: 1) determine the effects of repeated soccer match-play on unilateral jump performance and inter-limb asymmetries and, 2) examine associations between asymmetry and commonly reported external load variables collected during competition. Single leg countermovement jumps (SLCMJ) and drop jumps (SLDJ) were collected pre and immediately post five soccer matches in elite academy soccer players. GPS data was also collected each match as part of the routine match-day procedures. SLCMJ height and concentric impulse showed significant reductions post-matches (p < 0.01; ES: -0.67 to -0.69), but peak force did not (p > 0.05; ES: -0.05 to -0.13). SLDJ height and reactive strength also showed significant reductions post-matches (p < 0.01; ES: -0.39 to -0.58). No meaningful reductions in asymmetry were present at the group level, but individual responses were highly variable. Significant associations between post-match reactive strength asymmetry and explosive distance (r = 0.29; p < 0.05), relative explosive distance (r = 0.34; p < 0.05), high speed running (r = 0.35; p < 0.05) and relative high speed running (r = 0.44; p < 0.01). These findings show that unilateral jump tests are more appropriate than asymmetry to detect real change post soccer competition and practitioners should be cautious about using asymmetry to inform decision-making during the temporal recovery period.

This is a non-final version of an article published in final form in: Bishop, C. et al., 2020. Effects of Soccer match-play on unilateral jumping and Inter-limb asymmetry: a repeated measures design. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research: January 2022 - Volume 36 - Issue 1 - p 193-200. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000003389.