In the world of soccer, the connection between science and the sport we love wasn’t always clear. But thanks to pioneers like Tom Reilly from Liverpool John Moores University, we started to unravel the science behind soccer performance.
Back in 1976, Reilly and his team conducted some of the earliest studies in soccer. They discovered that during a match, players went through about 100 different playing activities, each lasting around 5-6 seconds. Additionally, they estimated that the intensity of a soccer match was approximately 75% of a player’s maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max). In simpler terms, soccer was proven to be a high-intensity sport that demanded a lot from players’ bodies.
Fast forward to the 1960s, and scientists found a crucial link between muscle glycogen (a form of stored energy) and fatigue. They realized that when players consumed more carbohydrates (like pasta and bread), their muscle glycogen increased, and their endurance improved. During a soccer match, muscle glycogen levels dropped significantly. At halftime, they were down to about one-third of their original levels, and by the end of the match, they were at just 9%. Some players even started with low muscle glycogen levels and had almost none left by halftime. These players covered less distance and spent less time in high-intensity runs, which are crucial for scoring and defending.
Understanding Muscle Glycogen and Performance
In 1982, Ira Jacobs and his team studied 15 Malmo players. They took muscle samples before, immediately after, 24 hours after, and 48 hours after a real match. What they discovered was eye-opening. Even 48 hours later, muscle glycogen levels hadn’t fully recovered, despite players eating plenty of carbohydrates. This finding raised questions about players’ ability to perform at their best during a busy schedule with multiple matches in a week.
But here’s where nutrition comes into play. When players drank a carbohydrate-rich solution, they ran about 40% farther during the second half of the game compared to when they consumed a placebo. This clearly shows that proper nutrition, including carbohydrates, plays a vital role in maintaining energy levels and improving soccer performance.
So, in simple terms, what does all this science mean for soccer players? It tells us that soccer is a demanding sport that relies heavily on stored energy. Eating the right foods, especially carbohydrates, can help players maintain their energy levels, cover more ground on the field, and be ready for the next match, even in a packed schedule. Science has become an invaluable tool in understanding how to fuel soccer players for success on the pitch.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00430219
https://www.efdeportes.com/efd175/play-in-football-physiological-demands.htm