Post‐Match Recovery Responses in Italian Serie A Youth Soccer Players: Effects of Manipulating Training Load 48 h After Match Play

Franceschi, A ORCID: 0000-0002-9830-5640, Robinson, MA ORCID: 0000-0002-5627-492X, Owens, DJ ORCID: 0000-0002-1908-8677, Brownlee, T ORCID: 0000-0002-3355-1867, Connolly, DR ORCID: 0009-0006-8363-9820, Coutts, AJ ORCID: 0000-0002-1782-7691, Ferrari Bravo, D ORCID: 0009-0006-3941-4747 and Enright, K ORCID: 0000-0003-1775-6392 (2025) Post‐Match Recovery Responses in Italian Serie A Youth Soccer Players: Effects of Manipulating Training Load 48 h After Match Play. European Journal of Sport Science, 25 (5). pp. 1-13. ISSN 1746-1391

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Abstract

This study described the recovery responses following match play and examined the effects of manipulating training load 48 h post‐match in Italian Serie A youth soccer players. Forty‐eight players were assessed using the countermovement jump (CMJ), isometric posterior‐chain muscle test (IPC), muscle soreness and fatigue before (pre) and after (0.5 h post, 48 h post and 72 h post) a match. At 48 h post‐match, players were randomly assigned to a complete training (CT; n = 26) or a reduced training (RT; n = 22) group. Recovery differences were analysed between time points and training groups, with training loads quantified on match day (MD) and match day plus two (MD þ 2). Recovery measures were impaired immediately post‐match (p < 0.05). IPC and muscle soreness demonstrated incomplete recovery 48 h post‐match (p < 0.05), whereas CMJ and fatigue returned to baseline (p > 0.05). Training load on MD did not differ between groups (p > 0.05), whereas the CT group had higher load on MD þ 2 compared to RT (p < 0.05). A significant time x group interaction was observed for CMJ height and IPC measures (p < 0.05), with reductions in physical performance observed in the CT group from 48 to 72 h post‐match (p < 0.05). A youth soccer match acutely impaired physical performance and recovery status, with prolonged and incomplete recovery of hamstring force and elevated muscle soreness 48 h post‐match. A high‐volume and high‐intensity session administered 48 h post‐match negatively influenced physical performance compared to a moderate training session.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	0913 Mechanical Engineering; 1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences; Sport Sciences; 4207 Sports science and exercise; 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine
Divisions:	Sport and Exercise Sciences
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Date of acceptance:	31 March 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:	23 April 2025
Date Deposited:	23 Apr 2025 10:08
Last Modified:	03 Jul 2025 14:00
DOI or ID number:	10.1002/ejsc.12297
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/26226

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