The influence of playing surface on external demands and physiological responses during a soccer match simulation

ABSTRACT

We investigated the effects of playing surfaces with different impact absorption characteristics on external demand and physiological responses. Fifteen participants completed a soccer match simulation on natural grass, synthetic turf and concrete surfaces. Accelerometry-derived PlayerLoad^TM per minute (PL·min⁻¹) and average net force (AvF_Net) were used to quantify external demands at the centre of mass (CoM), upper-back, mid-back and hip. Heart rate, oxygen uptake, energy expenditure and RPE quantified physiological responses. The concrete surface exhibited the least impact absorption, with peak decelerations ~3.5x synthetic turf and ~10x natural grass (p < 0.001). Despite this, there was no differences in external demand between surfaces (surface: p ≥ 0.194; η²_p≤0.092). Both AvF_Net and PL·min⁻¹ (location: p < 0.001; η²_p≥0.859) were higher at the hip (613(91)N; 12.5(1.2)arb.u), reduced at the mid-back (521(67)N; 8.8(0.7)arb.u) and upper-back (502(60)N; 8.8(0.7)arb.u) when compared to CoM (576(78)N; 10.7(1.0)arb.u). Although playing surface did not influence the external demands, heart rate or oxygen uptake (p > 0.05), energy expenditure was highest on natural grass compared to synthetic turf (P = 0.034) and RPE was highest on synthetic turf compared to concrete (p = 0.026). Different playing surfaces can alter physiological responses to soccer-specific activity even when the external demands are similar.

KEYWORDS:

• Accelerometer
• football
• impact absorption
• physiological
• sports surfaces

Acknowledgments

The authors extend their gratitude to the participants for their contribution to this research and would like to thank Miss Chloe Northrope and Miss Courtney Van Diesen for their help with data extraction and analysis and Professor Grant Abt for feedback on the article. The authors would also like to acknowledge the Bendigo Tertiary Education Anniversary Foundation and Holsworth Research Initiative’s support of Dr Wundersitz and Professor Kingsley’s research. No external funding was provided for this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).