LAB-CONTROLLED SOCCER: A REVIEW OF SOCCER MATCH-PLAY SIMULATIONS

Abstract

Soccer is the most popular sport that has attracted not only participants and spectators, but also numerous researchers into studying a myriad of disciplines relating to the sport. The demands of the sport have been observed, studied, and replicated to be reproduced in a more controlled, laboratory setting in forms of various exercise protocols designed to mimic actual soccer match-play. However, the development and selection of a simulation has varied across studies. This review aims to compile and align various protocols in simulating soccer match-play to identify and evaluate the feasibility of incorporating different simulations into various studies in the sport. Overground and treadmill simulations may offer cost efficient reproduction of soccer match-play demands, with arguably the best control for uniform exertion to reduce injuries during simulations. This paper is the first narrative review to discuss numerous protocols used in research towards reproducing soccer match-play demands in a lab-controlled environment.