| Registry | NCT07170930 |
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| Status | Enrolling by invitation |
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| Study type | Observational |
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| Enrollment | 24 (Estimated) |
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| Sponsor | Emmanouil D. Zacharakis (Other) |
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| Conditions | Athletic Performance, Soccer, Muscle Damage, Inflammation, Exercise Test, Pre-season Training, Exercise Physiology, Physical Fitness, Exercise-induced Inflammation |
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| Interventions | Friendly Match-Play Exposure: extended vs. limited (Other) |
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| Dates | start 2025-07-01, primary completion 2025-09-15 (estimated), completion 2025-09-15 (estimated), first posted 2025-09-12, last updated 2025-09-19 |
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| Locations | 1 site in Greece |
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Related Papers Related Patents Related Grants Related Experts
All trials for Athletic Performance All trials for Soccer All trials of Friendly Match-Play Exposure: extended vs. limited
-Summary
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.
Expand all sections · Collapse all
+Arms and interventions
| Arm | Type | Interventions | Description |
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| Extended-Play | | Other: Friendly Match-Play Exposure: extended vs. limited | Participants with higher cumulative friendly match-play exposure during the late pre-season phase. |
| Limited-Play | | Other: Friendly Match-Play Exposure: extended vs. limited | Participants with lower cumulative friendly match-play exposure during the late pre-season phase. |
- Friendly Match-Play Exposure: extended vs. limited (Other): This research explores the multidimensional physiological and biochemical responses to differing volumes of friendly match-play (i.e., extended vs. limited) during the late pre-season phase in soccer players.
+Outcome measures
Primary outcomes
- Body Mass [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: Body mass measured at standard anatomical sites using a calibrated scale to track longitudinal changes over the pre-season.
Unit of Measure: kg
- Body Fat [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: Body fat percentage measured using skinfold calipers at standard sites to monitor longitudinal changes.
Unit of Measure: %
- Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: Participants rate exertion during standardized training sessions using the Borg Scale (6 = no exertion, 20 = maximal exertion).
Unit of Measure: Borg 6-20 scale
- Glucose [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: Fasting blood glucose measured to track metabolic changes over pre-season.
Unit of Measure: mg/dL
- Cholesterol [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: Total serum cholesterol measured to assess lipid profile adaptations.
Unit of Measure: mg/dL
- Triglycerides [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: Serum triglycerides measured to monitor metabolic response to training.
Unit of Measure: mg/dL
- SGOT (AST) [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase measured to assess liver/muscle stress.
Unit of Measure: U/L
- SGPT (ALT) [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: Serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase measured to monitor liver/muscle stress.
Unit of Measure: U/L
- Creatine Phosphokinase (CPK) [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: CPK measured to detect skeletal muscle damage.
Unit of Measure: U/L
- Myoglobin [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: Myoglobin measured as a marker of muscle damage.
Unit of Measure: ng/mL
- Iron [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: Serum iron measured to assess iron status.
Unit of Measure: µg/dL
- Ferritin [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: Serum ferritin measured to monitor iron storage.
Unit of Measure: ng/mL
- C-Reactive Protein (CRP) [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: CRP measured as a marker of systemic inflammation.
Unit of Measure: mg/L
- High-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: hs-CRP measured to detect low-grade inflammation.
Unit of Measure: mg/L
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: IL-6 measured from serum to assess inflammatory response.
Unit of Measure: pg/mL
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: TNF-α measured as a marker of systemic inflammation.
Unit of Measure: pg/mL
- Testosterone [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: Serum testosterone measured to assess hormonal adaptations.
Unit of Measure: ng/dL
- Cortisol [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: Serum cortisol measured to monitor stress response.
Unit of Measure: µg/dL
- Testosterone-Cortisol Ratio [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: Calculated ratio to estimate anabolic-catabolic balance.
Unit of Measure: Ratio
- Red Blood Cells (RBC) [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: RBC count measured from blood to assess oxygen transport capacity.
Unit of Measure: million cells/µL
- Hemoglobin [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: Hemoglobin measured to evaluate oxygen-carrying capacity.
Unit of Measure: g/dL
- Hematocrit [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: Hematocrit measured as percentage of RBC in blood.
Unit of Measure: %
- White Blood Cells (WBC) [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: WBC count measured to monitor immune function.
Unit of Measure: cells/µL
- Platelets [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: Platelet count measured to assess hematological health.
Unit of Measure: cells/µL
- Countermovement Jump Height [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: Jump height measured (cm) to assess lower-limb explosive power.
Unit of Measure: cm
- Knee Extensor Power, Dominant Leg [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: Measured using isokinetic dynamometer.
Unit of Measure: Watts
- Knee Extensor Power, Non-Dominant Leg [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: Measured using isokinetic dynamometer.
Unit of Measure: Watts
- Knee Flexor Power, Dominant Leg [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: Measured using isokinetic dynamometer.
Unit of Measure: Watts
- Knee Flexor Power, Non-Dominant Leg [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: Measured using isokinetic dynamometer.
Unit of Measure: Watts
- 10-m Sprint Time [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: Sprint time measured using photocell gates; lower times indicate better performance.
Unit of Measure: seconds
- T-Test Agility [Each measure assessed at Baseline (pre-season start), 4 weeks (mid-pre-season), and 8 weeks (pre-competition phase).]: Description: Participants perform T-test agility course; lower times indicate better agility.
Unit of Measure: seconds
+Eligibility
Sex: Male, ages: 18 Years to 35 Years, accepts healthy volunteers
Inclusion Criteria:
* Male participants
* Aged 18 years or older
* Non-smokers
* Injury-free for the past 6 months
* Medication-free for the past 6 months
* Abstinent from alcohol
* Living at an altitude below 1500 meters
* Committed exclusively to soccer (no participation in other sports)
Exclusion Criteria:
* History of serious injuries (e.g., fractures, ligament tears) within the past 6 months
* Chronic medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or respiratory disorders
* Current use of performance-enhancing drugs or supplements
* Participation in non-soccer-related sports or activities during the study period
+Locations (1)
| Facility | City | Country | Status |
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| School of Physical Education and Sports Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens | Athens, Daphni | Greece | |