ABSTRACT
This chapter explains to monitor the aerobic capacity of a group of professional soccer players throughout two competitive seasons and to assess the effects of a close season training programme on pre-season levels of fitness. A total of twenty-four professional soccer players comprising the playing squad of a Scottish Premier Division soccer club were tested over two seasons. The chapter shows fitness levels of players may change significantly at various points of the season. It may be the case that players achieve peak aerobic fitness levels prior to the season, maintain this level during the first half of the season and although not found to be significant, may start to lose some of their aerobic fitness during the second half of the season. Differences in work intensity and resting heart rate were analysed for effects of time. This is due to the fluctuations in both volume and intensity of training with respect to the timetable of games to play.
