Aerobic Fitness of 17-Year-Old Soccer Players Throughout the Annual Training Cycle According to Their Playing Position

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the level of aerobic fitness in U17 Slovak elite soccer players throughout the annual training cycle according to their playing position. The participants were 14 soccer players who played for the 1st league U17 soccer team. To assess their levels of aerobic fitness, players performed the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test Level 1 (Yo-Yo IRTL1) during four different phases of the annual training cycle. The results showed that the greatest distance covered by a player was 2,476 m during the final testing session after the regular season. Therefore, we may conclude that according to the total distance covered in Yo-Yo IRTL1 players showed test results at the level of international players.