The Efficacy of Re-Warm-Up Practices during Half-Time: A Systematic Review

Injury prevention in professional soccer players: can re-warmup training be organized in the post-warmup and half-time during a soccer game in a short time?

INTRODUCTION

Passive time, during the post-warmup and half-time, decreases athletes' performance and increases injury risk factors in the active phases of the soccer match. Objective. This narrative review aims to research and synthesize existing evidence to identify brief re-warmup strategies that may find applicability in the post-warmup and half-time of a soccer match.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

The analysis was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, PEDro, SPORTDiscus and Google Scholar. Due to the lack of evidence, no temporal time was established, preferring most up-to-date articles. The data were synthesized in relation to the objectives, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Our research yielded a total of 753 studies, 463 related to re-warmup, 136 articles on re-warmup in soccer, and 154 articles on re-warmup during half-time. Of these, 26 met the inclusion objectives and were included in this research. Our findings confirm that a re-warmup can mitigate the decremental effect of static rest on performance. From the studies considered, we have identified a work that emphasizes how a 1-minute warmup of high-intensity exercise at speed corresponding to 90% of VO2max can prevent decreases related to passive time, in sprint performance and muscle strength, as well as improve muscle temperature. These results could apply to both post-warmup and half-time scenarios of a soccer match.

CONCLUSIONS

From this narrative review, it has been possible to highlight a one-minute high-intensity re-warmup that improved sprint performance, increased core temperature, and enhanced muscle activation, not leading to additional physiological or psychological fatigue.

Do you even exercise, ref? Exploring habits of Spanish basketball referees during practice and matches

Background

Basketball referees are a vital part of the organised competition system, although they remain an "outgroup" in sport. While physical development and fitness programming are deemed necessary for basketball officiating excellence, there is a paucity of literature exploring strategies for physical fitness management in this population.

Methods

This research was a nationwide cross-sectional, self-administered online survey conducted in 2021. A sample of 628 (531 males, 97 females) referees from 18 regional referee organisations in Spain provided individual responses to gather information on demographic details, level of participation in refereeing, physical fitness practices, and match-day exercise-based regimens. The data were described using summary statistics, and the associations of the assessed variables were subsequently calculated using contingency tables.

Results

Our findings reveal that a large fraction of the Spanish basketball referee population focuses on aerobic (83%) and strength (73.6%) activities, while less attention is paid to speed (36.9%) and flexibility (23.2%), and agility, coordination, and balance tasks are somewhat overlooked. No significant differences were observed among the referee categories regarding weekly training days or session duration, with most training for 15-60 min per session. Elite referees were more likely to hire personal trainers and engage in strength and flexibility exercises. Sub-elite referees showed a higher tendency to perform stretching and joint mobility activities post-match, while regional referees did so less frequently. Approximately 30.7% of referees across all competitive levels engaged in re-warm-up (RW-U) activities, with stretching and joint mobility being the most prevalent.

Conclusions

Spanish basketball referees participate in routine physical exercise and fitness practices, irrespective of their competition level. While warm-up activities are prevalent, some sub-elite and regional referees do not consistently perform them, and re-warm-up routines are not extensively embraced.

Positional and between quarter differences in physical demands of elite female field hockey players during international matches

Objectives

The main aims of this study were to examine whether there are positional- and between-quarter differences in the physical load of elite female field hockey players during international matches.

Methods

Twenty-three international female field hockey players were equipped with Global Positioning Systems devices, while competing over nine international matches.

Results

Players covered a mean relative distance, relative player load, and distance covered in the form of low-, moderate-, and high intensity activities of 107.5 m/min, 10.3 AU/min, 41.6%, 47.9%, and 9.9%, respectively. Defenders achieved the lowest relative Player load (ES: 0.8-1.1) and greatest distance covered in the form of low intensity activities compared to Midfielders and Forwards (ES: 0.8-0.9). Forwards and Midfielders covered significantly greater distance in the form of high intensity activity compared to Defenders (ES: 1.6-2.2). Significant reductions in relative distance, relative Player load, and moderate intensity activity are observed for all positions between Quarters 1-4 despite the availability of unlimited substitutions. However, players were able to maintain their high intensity activity throughout the match with no significant differences between Quarters 1-4. The majority of variables were higher (ES > 0.2) during Quarter 2 compared to Quarter 3, especially for Midfielders and Defenders.

Conclusions

Current findings provide further evidence on the positional- and between-quarter external match load of international female field hockey players that coaches should consider when designing training programs and drills to better prepare players for match demands. The results also provide some insight into the fatigue experienced by players and the possible pacing strategies they employ during matches. These findings support the need for re-warm-ups and may further influence how coaches time their substitutions to enhance running performance in future.

A 3-min weighted vests re-warmups induce sprint performance enhancements at the start of the second half of a soccer match-play

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of re-warm-up (RWUP) activities consisting of three sets of 15-m sprints with weighted vests on 20-m sprint performance after the break. Methods: Using a randomized, and counterbalanced cross-over design, twenty U15 elite soccer players performed four RWUP trials which consisted of 15-min of passive rest (control: CONT), 3 × 15-m sprint (RW0%), sprinting with a vest-loaded at 5% of body-mass (BM) (RW5%), sprinting with a 10% BM vest (RW10%). The 3-min RWUP protocols started 10-min after the commencement of the 15-min between-halves break and concluded 2-min before its end. During each testing session, the participant's RPE scores, and 20-m sprint performance were registered before the first half, and at the end of the break of the simulated match-play. Results: Significant time effects [F (1.72) = 54.37, d = 1.88, p < 0.001; F (1.72) = 9.07, d = 0.77, p = 0.003], and condition effects [F (3.72) = 11.81, d = 1.53, p < 0.001; F (3.72) = 7.36, d = 1.21, p = 0.003] were observed for RPE scores and 20-m sprint performance, respectively. Significant condition-by-time interactions were found for RPE scores (p < 0.003, d = 0.54), and 20-m sprint performance (p < 0.002, d = 0.70). Contrast analysis showed significantly higher RPE scores (p < 0.001, d = 1.55), and improved 20-m sprint performance (p = 0.0004, d = 1.19) in the RW10% condition compared to all other conditions. Conclusion: Sprinting for 3-min with a 10% body-mass vest resulted in the highest RPE scores and the most substantial enhancements in 20-m sprint performance. Young elite soccer players should incorporate 10% body-mass weighted vests in their re-warm-ups to boost post-break sprint performance.

Effects of half-time re-warm-up implemented during a simulated match in U14 female basketball players

Re-warm-up activities are recommended in team sports due to loss of muscle temperature during half-time. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a half-time re-warm-up strategy on female basketball players. Ten players U14, separated into two teams of five players, performed either a passive rest condition or repeated sprints (5×14 m) plus 2 min of a shooting wheel (re-warm-up condition), during the half-time break (10 min) of a simulated basketball match, where only the first three quarters were played. The re-warm-up did not elicit significant effects on jump performance and locomotory responses during the match, except for the distance covered at a very light speed, which was significantly higher than in the passive rest condition (1767 ± 206 vs 1529 ± 142 m; p < 0.05). Mean heart rate (74 ± 4 vs 70 ± 5%) and rate of perceived exertion (4.5 ± 1.5 vs 3.1 ± 1.44 a.u.) were higher in the re-warm-up condition during half-time (p < 0.05). In conclusion, performing re-warm-up activities based on sprints could be a valuable strategy to avoid the reduction of sport performance during prolonged breaks, but given the limitations of the study, these relationships need to be further explored in official competitions.