The Effects of Carbohydrate-Electrolyte Ingestion on Sprints and Soccer Skill Performances in Young Soccer Players

This study aims to examine the effects of carbohydrate-electrolyte (CHO-E) ingestion on sprints and soccer skills performances. Sixteen young male outfield soccer players (n = 16; 15.6 ± 0.4 yrs., 1.67 ± 0.4 m, 55.3 ± 8.4 kg) volunteered to participate in the study. Players were allocated to two trials (drink treatment x placebo) in a double-blind randomized cross-over design separated by 7 days. Players ingested 6% of CHO-E or placebo (PLA) during 80 min of U15 Soccer Simulation Protocol (SSP) (5 ml·kg−1 of body mass pre-SSP and 2 ml·kg−1 of body mass at every 20 min of exercise). Skills tests were performed pre and post-SSP. Blood samples (lactate concentration to measure exercise intensity and glucose concentration to measure glucose availability) were collected pre-SSP, 40 and 80 min of exercise. The ingestion of CHO-E has no significant influences on the perceptual scales; Rating Perceived Exertion (RPE), Feeling Scale (FS), Felt Arousal Scale (FAS), peaks sprint speed (20.3 ± 1.5; 20.5 ± 1.2 km.h−1, p > 0.05) and leg power performance (countermovement jump) (43.5 ± 2.6, 43.1 ± 2.3;p > 0.05). The change means that the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test (LSPT) and Loughborough Soccer Shooting Test (LSST) are not significantly different between CHO-E and PLA trials (p > 0.05). No differences in blood lactate and glucose concentration indicate no reliance on glycolysis in submaximal exercise and no changes to the amount of glucose even with the exogenous source of CHO. This study investigates young players in hot and humid environments (32.2 ± 2.1 °C and 61 ± 13.2%) by using a valid and reliable SSP for U15. The findings of this present study showed that the 6% CHO-E drinks did not significantly improve sprint and skills performance during a simulated soccer match for young soccer players.