The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of varying friendly match-play exposure during the late pre-season on physiological, biochemical, and performance adaptations in soccer players. It is hypothesized that (i) significant changes will occur across the pre-season in both the extended- and limited-play groups when analysed independently; (ii) distinct group-specific adaptations will emerge by the end of the preparatory period; and (iii) match-play exposure, when analysed across all participants, will be significantly correlated with physiological and performance outcomes at pre-season completion. Players from a randomly selected team will be assessed at three time points: pre-season start, mid-pre-season (MPS), and pre-competition phase (PC). Assessments will include anthropometry, physical performance, and markers of muscle damage, inflammation, hormonal status, and haematology. Based on the total match-play time of 8 friendly games during the late pre-season, players will be retrospectively categorised into extended-play (EP) and limited-play (LP) cohorts.time of 8 friendly games during the late pre-season, players will be retrospectively categorised into extended-play (EP) and limited-play (LP) cohorts.
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AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Body Mass
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
Body Fat
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE)
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
Glucose
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
Cholesterol
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
Triglycerides
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
SGOT (AST)
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
SGPT (ALT)
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
Creatine Phosphokinase (CPK)
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
Myoglobin
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
Iron
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
Ferritin
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
High-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP)
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
Interleukin-6 (IL-6)
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α)
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
Testosterone
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
Cortisol
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
Testosterone-Cortisol Ratio
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
Red Blood Cells (RBC)
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
Hemoglobin
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
Hematocrit
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
White Blood Cells (WBC)
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
Platelets
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
Countermovement Jump Height
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
Knee Extensor Power, Dominant Leg
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
Knee Extensor Power, Non-Dominant Leg
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
Knee Flexor Power, Dominant Leg
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
Knee Flexor Power, Non-Dominant Leg
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
10-m Sprint Time
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).
T-Test Agility
Timeframe: Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).