Biology of Sport

Abstract

3/2022 vol. 39
Original article

Practices of strength and conditioning coaches in Brazilian elite soccer

  1. NAR – Nucleus of High Performance in Sport, São Paulo, Brazil
  2. Department of Human Movement Science, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
  3. University of South Wales, Pontypridd, Wales, United Kingdom
  4. UCAM Research Center for High Performance Sport – Catholic University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
  5. Faculty of Sport Sciences – Catholic University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
  6. Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
  7. AFE – Associação Ferroviária de Esportes, Ferroviária, Brazil
  8. Human Performance Laboratory – The Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi), Hong Kong
Biol Sport. 2022;39(3):779–791.
Online publish date: 2021/10/06
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Brazil is the leading global exporter of soccer players, with approximately 2,000 international transfers to different clubs per year. Although Brazilian players compete in the most prestigious soccer leagues worldwide, the habitual training methods, strategies, and routines of Brazilian soccer strength and conditioning coaches (SCCs) are undocumented. This study used a standard online survey to collect and characterize the strength and conditioning practices of Brazilian soccer SCCs. Forty-nine SCCs (age: 40.4 ± 7.5 years; professional experience: 15.3 ± 7.5 years) working in Brazilian professional soccer teams participated in this study. The survey consisted of eight sections: 1) background information; 2) muscular strength-power development; 3) speed training; 4) plyometrics; 5) flexibility training; 6) physical testing; 7) technology use; and 8) programing. Results indicated that training and testing practices of Brazilian SCCs are strongly affected by the congested fixture schedules, extensive traveling distances, and socio-economic disparities between different regions of the country. We describe all these different strategies and methods in detail, providing a comprehensive view and a critical examination of Brazilian soccer strength and conditioning practices. Brazilian SCCs and professional soccer organizations can use the findings from this study to develop training strategies and customize education programs. Practitioners from other countries can use this information to design training programs closely tailored to the background of Brazilian athletes, which may support their adaptation to different competitive scenarios and game demands, such as those found in the most important soccer leagues worldwide.
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