Normative cardiorespiratory values in Italian first-division male soccer players: effects of age, playing position and season phase

The study aimed to provide reference values of cardiorespiratory parameters and maximal exercise velocity (MEV) of first-division soccer players measured during a ramp exercise running test. A large (N = 741) database of cardiopulmonary exercise tests collected over a decade on Serie A teams in Italy was scrutinized. The reference values were stratified for age, playing position, and season phase. We found an average V̇ O2peak of 4.78 ± 0.56 l/min, a relative V̇ O2peak of 61.5 ± 5.96 ml/kg/min and an MEV of 19.0 ± 1.3 km/h. Relative V̇ O2peak was constant from 18 to 30 years of age and then decreased, while MEV decreased constantly with increasing age. While the absolute V̇ O2peak was similar for all playing roles (P = 0.782), the midfielders were the players with the highest relative V̇ O2peak (P = 0.020) and they had lower body mass than the others (P < 0.001). This study presents estimates of the influence of age, player position, and season phase on V̇ O2peak in men’s elite soccer. V̇ O2peak values ~62 ml/kg/min fulfil the demands for V̇ O2peak in men’s professional soccer. Midfielders showed larger relative, but not absolute, V̇ O2peak.