Warm-up Stretching Exercises and Physical Performance of Youth Soccer Players PDF

TYPE Brief Research Report PUBLISHED 15 February 2023 D...

TYPE Brief Research Report PUBLISHED 15 February 2023 DOI 10.3389/fphys.2023.1127669 Warm-up stretching exercises and OPEN ACCESS physical performance of youth EDITED BY Henrique Pereira Neiva, University of Beira Interior, Portugal soccer players REVIEWED BY Luís Branquinho, Jordan Hernandez-Martinez 1,2,3, Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo 4, Higher Institute of Educational Sciences of the Douro, Portugal Tiago Vera-Assaoka 1,2,3, María Castillo-Cerda 2, Felipe J. Aidar, Bastian Carter-Thuillier 3,5,6, Tomás Herrera-Valenzuela 7, Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil Antonio López-Fuenzalida 8,9, Hadi Nobari 10,11 and *CORRESPONDENCE Pablo Valdés-Badilla, Pablo Valdés-Badilla 12,13* [email protected] 1 Universidad de Los Lagos, Osorno, Chile, 2Department of Physical Activity Sciences, Universidad de Los SPECIALTY SECTION Lagos, Osorno, Chile, 3Programa de Investigación en Deporte, Sociedad y Buen Vivir, Universidad de Los This article was submitted Lagos, Osorno, Chile, 4Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences Laboratory, School of Physiotherapy, Faculty of to Exercise Physiology, Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile, 5Department of Education, Universidad de a section of the journal Los Lagos, Osorno, Chile, 6Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco, Chile, 7School of Physical Activity, Frontiers in Physiology Sports and Health Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universidad de Santiago (USACH), Santiago, Chile, 8 Department of Rehabilitation, Intervention and Therapeutic Approach, School of Health Sciences, RECEIVED 19 December 2022 Universidad de Playa Ancha, Valparaíso, Chile, 9Universidad Andrés Bello, Viña del Mar, Chile, 10Faculty of ACCEPTED 31 January 2023 Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain, 11Department of Motor Performance, Faculty of PUBLISHED 15 February 2023 Physical Education and Mountain Sports, Transilvania University of Brașov, Brașov, Romania, 12Department of CITATION Physical Activity Sciences, Faculty of Education Sciences, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile, 13 Hernandez-Martinez J, Carrera de Entrenador Deportivo, Escuela de Educación, Universidad Viña del Mar, Viña del Mar, Chile Ramirez-Campillo R, Vera-Assaoka T, Castillo-Cerda M, Carter-Thuillier B, Herrera-Valenzuela T, López-Fuenzalida A, Nobari H and Valdés-Badilla P (2023), Warm-up This study aims to compare the effects of standard warm-up versus warm-up using stretching exercises and physical stretching exercises on the physical performance of male youth soccer players. performance of youth soccer players. Front. Physiol. 14:1127669. Eighty-five male soccer players (age: 10.3 ± 4.3 years; body mass index: 19.8 ± doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1127669 4.3 kg/m2) were assessed for countermovement jump height (CMJ, cm), 10 m, 20 m COPYRIGHT and 30 m running sprint speed (s) and ball kicking speed (km/h) for the dominant and © 2023 Hernandez-Martinez, Ramirez- non-dominant leg under five (randomized) warm-up conditions. Using 72 h of Campillo, Vera-Assaoka, Castillo-Cerda, recovery between conditions, the participants completed a control condition Carter-Thuillier, Herrera-Valenzuela, López-Fuenzalida, Nobari and Valdés- (CC) and four experimental conditions, including static stretching (SSC), dynamic Badilla. This is an open-access article stretching (DSC), ballistic stretching (BSC), and proprioceptive neuromuscular distributed under the terms of the Creative facilitation (PNFC) exercises. All warm-up conditions had a duration of Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in 10 minutes. The main results indicate that no significant differences (p > 0.05) other forums is permitted, provided the were found between warm-up conditions compared to CC in CMJ (CC = 28.1 ± original author(s) and the copyright 4.9; SSC = 28.4 ± 4.9; DSC = 30.9 ± 4.8; BSC = 30.9 ± 5.2; PNFC = 28.4 ± 5.0), 10 m owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in sprint (CC = 2.42 ± 0.4; SSC = 2.50 ± 0.4; DSC = 2.30 ± 0.3; BSC = 2.27 ± 0.3; PNFC = accordance with accepted academic 2.53 ± 0.4), 20 m sprint (CC = 5.42 ± 0.9; SSC = 5.59 ± 0.9; DSC = 5.37 ± 0.9; BSC = practice. No use, distribution or 5.40 ± 0.9; PNFC = 5.44 ± 0.9), 30 m sprint (CC = 8.05 ± 1.3; SSC = 8.27 ± 1.3; DSC = reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. 8.01 ± 1.3; BSC = 8.00 ± 1.3; PNFC = 8.12 ± 1.3), ball kicking speed for dominant (CC = 56.2 ± 4.9; SSC = 55.3 ± 5.2; DSC = 56.9 ± 5.8; BSC = 57.3 ± 5.8; PNFC = 55.7 ± 5.2) and non-dominant leg (CC = 52.8 ± 3.4; SSC = 51.8 ± 4.6; DSC = 53.5 ± 5.4; BSC = 53.6 ± 4.9; PNFC = 52.5 ± 4.0). In conclusion, compared to standard warm-up, stretching-based warm-up exerts no effect on male youth soccer players jump height, sprint speed and ball kicking speed. KEYWORDS plyometric exercise, muscle strength, team sport, muscle stretching exercises, adolescent development Frontiers in Physiology 01 frontiersin.org Hernandez-Martinez et al. 10.3389/fphys.2023.1127669 Introduction neuromuscular facilitation has decreased the risk of injury, increased range of motion and greater neuromuscular activation Soccer is a sport that requires intermittent high-intensity actions (Behm et al., 2016; Oliveira et al., 2018). (approximately 600 actions and about 40 high-intensity Considering the importance of performing an optimal warm-up to actions >21 km/h), such as running, jumping and ball striking improve performance on variables such as jump height, sprint speed, (Dolci et al., 2020), being determinants for success in this sport and ball kicking speed in soccer players, along with the discrepancies (Low et al., 2020). In official matches, male soccer players perform in the literature and the paucity of scientific literature addressing the between 150 and 250 intense actions interspersed with periods of low- implications of stretching during warm-up in youth soccer players, the intensity actions (Low et al., 2020). The actions aim to end with present study aims to compare the effects of standard warm-up versus scoring a goal whose average is 2.66. In European leagues, teams that warm-up with stretching exercises (e.g., static, dynamic, ballistic, and score the first goal have a higher percentage (65%–70%) probability of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation) on jump height, sprint winning the game (Martínez and García, 2019). For example, most speed, and ball kicking speed in male youth soccer players. Base on goals are preceded by linear speed (45%) and vertical jumps (16%) previous studies (Behm et al., 2016; Oliveira et al., 2018) we (Faude et al., 2012; Emmonds et al., 2019; González-Rodenas et al., hypothesized that warm-up by stretching has no significant effect 2020). The aforementioned actions are associated with high levels of on jump height, sprint speed and ball kicking speed in youth soccer strength, power and sprint speed, determinant factors for successful players. participation in youth and adult soccer players (Emmonds et al., 2019; González-Rodenas et al., 2020). Considering the importance of the explosive actions performed during the matches (Low et al., 2020), it is Materials and methods essential to execute actions that lead to maximize physical performance in soccer players such as warm-up (Hammami et al., Study design and participants 2018). Scientific evidence has reported the effectiveness of different types of warm-up on physical-specific conditions (van den Tillaar Randomized crossover trial, with proportional sampling (https:// et al., 2019; van den Tillaar and von Heimburg, 2016; Chaâri and www.randomizer.org) and homogeneous organized, in which a group Frikha, 2022), which necessarily implies defining correctly the pre- of youth male soccer players participated in five warm-up conditions, match warm-up according to the characteristics of the soccer players one control (CC) (traditional warm-up, i.e., without flexibility (e.g., age, level, experience, hours of training). These warm-up sessions exercises) and four experimental conditions using stretching include short-duration, high-intensity activities that aim to improve exercises [static (SSC), dynamic (DSC), ballistic (BSC) and physical fitness sat higher efforts by increasing intramuscular proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNFC)]. Participants temperature, nerve conductance rate, and metabolic reactions performed all the randomized warm-up conditions with a rest (Hammami et al., 2018). It is well documented that muscle between conditions of 72 h. After each warm-up condition, jump performance can improve by 3.46%–4.21% acutely after specific height, sprint speed, and ball kicking assessments were performed, warm-up in muscle strength, speed and jumping by 1%–20% in summarized in Figure 1. adult soccer players (Hammami et al., 2018; Isla et al., 2021a). The sample size calculation indicates that the ideal number of Including stretching exercises in the warm-up (static, dynamic or participants per condition is 12, according to a previous study ballistic) reduces the incidence of injury, accelerates recovery and (Oliveira et al., 2018). An alpha level of 0.05 was considered with a improves physique-specific performance (Hammami et al., 2018; Gil power of 88% with an effect size of strong (d = 0.77). The GPower et al., 2019). In a systematic review by Silva et al. (2018), it was software (version 3.1.9.6, Franz Faul, Universiät Kiel, Germany) was observed that warm-up by dynamic stretching leads to improvements used to calculate the statistical power. Eighty-five male soccer players in sprints of 7.6%, 6.6% in agility and, 8.6% in vertical jump height in (age: 13.3 ± 3.4 years, body mass: 40.1 ± 3.4 kg, bipedal height: 1.42 ± team sports. While in professional soccer players Vazini Taher and 2.8 m, body mass index (BMI): 19.8 ± 4.3 m/kg2) from four soccer Parnow (2017) observed that static stretching led to a 2.8% decrease in schools belonging to professional clubs in Chile participated. The jump height through countermovement jump (CMJ) compared to inclusion criteria were: i) to be free of injuries that would prevent them dynamic stretching in professional soccer players. Similarly, Vasileiou from performing the warm-up conditions and physical performance et al. (2013) observed that dynamic stretching led to a statistically assessments; ii) to have the appropriate sports clothing to carry out the significant (p < 0.05) improvement in 20 m maximal speed procedures; iii) not to be training in other soccer schools or teams performance by 0.02%–0.06% decrease by static stretching in attached to the existing one; iv) not to be in competitions on the same amateur soccer players. Similar results were presented by Gelen days as the warm-up conditions were carried out. The exclusion (2010), who showed that dynamic stretching led to a statistically criteria will be considered: i) those who presented cardiovascular or significant (p < 0.05) increase in ball striking speed of 3.3%, while static musculoskeletal pathologies that prevented them from carrying out stretching presented a decrease of 2.1% in professional soccer players. the flexibility sessions or physical assessments; ii) not participating in In contrast, Oliveira et al. (2018) reported decreases in CMJ by warm- all the warm-up sessions. There were no injuries or discomfort while ups with static stretching (2.3%), proprioceptive neuromuscular performing the warm-up sessions and the physical performance facilitation (2.8%), active stretching (0.4%) and ballistic stretching assessments. The recruitment process to obtain the final sample (0.7%) along with decreases in 10 m (0.01%, 0.04%, 0.01% and 0.02%) size is presented in Figure 2. All participants and their proxies or and 20 m (0.01%, 0.06%, 0.04% and 0.02%) running sprint speed in legal guardians had to accept the criteria for the use and handling of youth soccer players when compared to a control group that the data by signing an assent and informed consent, respectively, performed a traditional warm-up (without stretching exercises). authorizing the use of the information for scientific purposes. The Including stretching static, dynamic, ballistic and proprioceptive research protocol was reviewed and approved by the Bioethics Frontiers in Physiology 02 frontiersin.org Hernandez-Martinez et al. 10.3389/fphys.2023.1127669 FIGURE 1 Study design. CC: control condition, traditional exercises (movements in different directions with progressive increases in speed). SSC: static stretching condition, static stretching exercises (static stretching movements with progressive increases in amplitude). DSC: dynamic stretching condition, dynamic stretching exercises (oscillatory stretching movements with progressive increases in speed). BSC: ballistic stretching condition, ballistic stretching exercises (hold 5 s elongated position than 5 s of oscillatory movement with progressive increments completing 30 s). PNFC: proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation condition, neuromuscular facilitation exercises (passive stretching 10 s followed by 10 s of isometric contraction followed by 10 s of passive stretching with progressive increases in intensity). PE: perception of effort. Committee of the University of Playa Ancha, Chile (approval number: location, and players executed entire knee and ankle extensions 005/2016) and was developed following the guidelines of the Helsinki during the flight phase. The best of three jumps was recorded with declaration 2013 regarding research involving human subjects. a 1-min rest between each attempt. The test-retest was used to determine reliability. The data obtained for the vertical jump height by CMJ was determined at very high reliability of 0.99. Assessments Running sprint speed Anthropometric measurements Sprint time was assessed to the nearest 0.01 s using single-beam Bipedal height was measured using the Frankfort plane in a horizontal ® timing gates Brower Timing System, (Salt Lake City, Utah, position, with a tape measure (Bodymeter 206, SECA, Germany; accuracy United States). Participants started by placing behind the starting to 0.1 cm) attached to the wall. Body mass was measured using an line the preferred toe-off. The sprint began when the player initiated electronic scale (Omron HBF 514: accuracy to 0.1 kg Osaka, Prefectura de the test, automatically triggering the timing. Timing gates were placed Osaka, Japón), while BMI was calculated by dividing body mass by at the start (0.3 m in front of the athlete) and 10 m, 20 m, and 30 m. bipedal height squared (kg/m2). All measurements were performed They were placed ~0.7 m above the floor (approximately hip level). following the recommendations of the International Society for This system allows capturing trunk movement rather than a false Advances in Kinanthropometry (ISAK) (Marfell-Jones et al., 2012). trigger of a limb. Three sprints were performed, recording the best of the three with a 1-min rest between each attempt (Drozd et al., 2017). Jump height The data obtained for the maximum speed at 10 m, 20 m and 30 m was It was measured through the CMJ according to previous determined at high reliability of 0.98. recommendations (Bosco et al., 1983). For the CMJ, soccer players executed maximal effort jumps on a mobile contact platform Ball kicking speed ® Ergojump Globus, (ErgoTest, Codogne, Italy) with arms on the Participants performed a maximal instep ball strike with their iliac crests. Take-off and landing were standardized at the exact dominant and non-dominant legs after a two-stride run using a size Frontiers in Physiology 03 frontiersin.org Hernandez-Martinez et al. 10.3389/fphys.2023.1127669 FIGURE 2 Flow chart of the recruitment process. five soccer ball (Adidas Starlancer V , FIFA certified, ® The DSC consisted of a 10-min warm-up with dynamic stretching. Herzogenaurach, Baviera, Alemania). Maximum speed was Four stretching exercises were performed, one for each muscle group measured with a radar gun Speed Gun SR3600 (Sports Radar , ® of the lower body (Quadriceps, Gluteus, Hamstrings and Triceps Homosassa, Florida, United States). Three attempts were carried suralis) distributed in two series of 30 s each with a rest of 45 s per out, recording the best of the three with a 1-min rest between each exercise, dynamically executing oscillatory stretching movements with attempt (Ramírez-Campillo et al., 2015). The data obtained for ball progressive increases in speed. The intensity started between 3 and striking speed was determined to have high reliability of 0.94. 5 points, ending between 6 and 8 points of RPE. The BSC consisted of a warm-up with ballistic stretching for Intervention (warm-up conditions) 10 min. Four stretching exercises were performed, one for each muscle The CC had a traditional soccer warm-up for 10 min composed of group of the lower body (Quadriceps, Gluteus, Hamstrings and jogging for 4 min in different directions with moderate-to vigorous- Triceps suralis) distributed in two series of 30 s each with a rest of intensities measured with the ten-point rating of perceived exertion 45 s per exercise in which an elongated position was maintained for 5 s (RPE) (Borg, 1982) that started between 3 and 5 points and ended then 5 s of oscillation with progressive increments until completing between 6 and 8 points, followed by movements executed in matches the 30 s of each series. The intensity started between 3 and 5 points, (jumps, ball striking, change of direction movements) distributed in ending between 6 and 8 points of RPE. three sets of 60 s each with a 60 s rest between sets. This condition did The PNFC consisted of a warm-up through proprioceptive not consider flexibility exercises. neuromuscular facilitation for 10 minutes. Four stretching exercises The SSC consisted of a warm-up using static stretching for were performed, one for each muscle group of the lower body 10 minutes. Four stretching exercises were performed, one for each (Quadriceps, Gluteus, Hamstrings and Triceps suralis) distributed muscle group of the lower body (quadriceps, gluteus, hamstrings and in series of 30 s each with a rest of 45 s per exercise using the retention- triceps suralis) distributed in two series of 30 s each with a rest of 45 s relaxation technique (stretching), which consists of 10 s of passive per exercise, executing progressive increases in the amplitude of joint stretching followed by 10 s of isometric contraction of the stretched movement, intensity started between 3 and 5 points, ending between muscle, followed by 10 s of passive flexibility applied by a professional 6 and 8 points of RPE. in the area of physical activity sciences with progressive increases in Frontiers in Physiology 04 frontiersin.org Hernandez-Martinez et al. 10.3389/fphys.2023.1127669 TABLE 1 Physical-specific performance of youth’s male soccer players according to warm-up conditions. Soccer players (n = 85) CC (n = 85 SSC (n = 85) DSC (n = 85) BSC (n = 85) PNFC (n = 85) F value p-value CMJ (cm) 28.1 ± 4.9 28.4 ± 4.9 30.9 ± 4.8 30.9 ± 5.2 28.4 ± 5.0 0.86 0.64 Speed 10 (s) 2.43 ± 0.4 2.50 ± 0.4 2.30 ± 0.3 2.27 ± 0.3 2.53 ± 0.4 2.35 0.053 Speed 20 (s) 5.42 ± 0.9 5.59 ± 0.9 5.37 ± 0.9 5.40 ± 0.9 5.44 ± 0.9 0.24 0.90 Speed 30 (s) 8.05 ± 1.3 8.27 ± 1.3 8.01 ± 1.3 8.00 ± 1.3 8.12 ± 1.3 0.15 0.95 Ball kicking speed of the dominant foot (km/h) 56.2 ± 4.9 55.3 ± 5.2 56.9 ± 5.8 57.3 ± 5.8 55.7 ± 5.2 0.56 0.69 Ball kicking speed of the non-dominant foot (km/h) 52.8 ± 3.4 51.8 ± 4.6 53.5 ± 5.4 53.6 ± 4.9 52.5 ± 4.0 0.66 0.62 CC, control condition; SSC, static stretching condition; DSC, dynamic stretching condition; BSC, ballistic stretching condition; PNFC, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation condition. intensity starting between 3 and 5 points and ending between 6 and in SSC (d = 0.17), DSC (d = 0.13) and PNFC (d = 0.09) with respect to 8 points of RPE. CC, with a magnitude of change located between 0.8% and 1.9%. Ball kicking speed with the non-dominant foot presented a small ES in Statistical analyses favor of SSC (d = 0.24) and an insignificant ES in BSC (d = 0.18), DSC Values were reported as mean ± standard deviation. The (d = 0.15) and PNFC (d = 0.08) with respect to CC, with a magnitude Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to determine the normality of of change located between 0.5% and 1.8%. The results of physical the data, while the Levene’s test was used to determine the performance according to the warm-up conditions are presented in homogeneity of variance. Normal distribution was observed for all Table 1, while the differences between conditions are presented in data. To compare the physical performance variables based on the type Table 2. of intervention used the one-way ANOVA test with Bonferroni’s post hoc. The effect size (ES) was calculated with Cohen’s d (Cohen, 1992) considering a small (0.20–0.49), moderate (0.50–0.79) or strong Discussion (>0.80) effect the formula used was d= (M1-M2)/SD (Rendón- Macías et al., 2021). In all cases, a significance value of p < The present study aimed to compare the effects of warm-up versus 0.05 was established. The STATISTICA 8 program was used to warm-up using stretching exercises on the physical performance of perform the statistical analysis. male youth soccer players. Among the main results, it was found that there are no statistically significant differences between the CC for the experimental conditions of stretching (static, dynamic, ballistic and Results proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation). However, a moderate ES (d > 0.50) with a magnitude of change greater than 9.9% in CMJ, a No adverse effects or injuries were observed. No statistically small ES (d > 0.20) in 10 m, 20 m, and 30 m sprint with a magnitude of significant differences (F = 0.86; p = 0.64) were observed in the change of 4.1%, while ball kicking speed presented a small ES (d > jump height (CMJ) between heating conditions. However, there 0.20) with a magnitude of change of 1.9% in favor of the experimental was a moderate ES in favor of DSC (d = 0.57), BSC (d = 0.55) and conditions, significantly, for SSC, BSC, PNFC compared to CC. an insignificant ES in SSC and PNFC (d = 0.06) concerning CC, in It is important to assess lower extremity power in soccer players as addition to a magnitude of change located between 1% and 9.9%. performance in vertical jumping ability which has been correlated with Running sprint speed reported no statistically significant acceleration and speed in youth soccer players (Zahalka et al., 2021), differences for the 10 m (F = 2.35; p = 0.053), 20 m (F = 0.24; these explosive actions during the matches in soccer, such as the ability p = 0.90) and 30 m (F = 0.15; p = 0.95) sprint between warm-up to jump and run at high speed, are determinants of good performance conditions. However, a moderate ES in favor of BSC (d = 0.56) and (Myftiu and Dalip, 2021). Actions such as those indicated occur in a small ES in favor of SSC (d = 0.25), DSC (d = 0.28) and PNFC (d = more than 50% of goal situations (Sánchez et al., 2020). Therefore, it is 0.25) were present concerning the CC for the 10 m sprint, while the essential to use warm-up strategies that favor the performance of magnitude of change was between 4.1% and 8.3%. In the 20 m soccer players for such actions during matches. In the study conducted sprint, there was a small ES in favor of SSC (d = 0.25), an by Vazini Taher and Parnow (2017) on youth soccer players, an insignificant ES in DSC (d = 0.11) and no differences were improvement of 2.8% was detected by dynamic stretching compared reported in BSC and PNFC (d = 0.00) to CC, while the to static stretching in CMJ. In the study by Oliveira et al. (2018) a trend magnitude of change was between 1.8% and 3.7%. In the 30 m of improvement in jump height measured through the squat jump in sprint, an insignificant ES was presented in SSC (d = 0.15), PNFC youth soccer players through warm-ups with stretching when (d = 0.07) and no differences were reported in DSC and BSC (d = compared to control condition was detected, being this 0.00) to CC, while the magnitude of change was located between improvement of 0.1% with ballistic stretching, 0.3% with dynamic 1.2% and 2.5%. stretching, 1.3% with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and Ball kicking speed did not present statistically significant 2.3% with static stretching. In a review by Hammami et al. (2018) in differences for dominant (F = 0.56; p = 0.69) and non-dominant youth and adult soccer players, it was observed that warm-up using foot (F = 0.66; p = 0.62). Ball kicking speed with the dominant foot ballistic and dynamic stretching led to an improvement in CMJ with a reported a small ES in favor of BSC (d = 0.20) and an insignificant ES small ES (d = 0.31). It might be associated with neural or mechanical Frontiers in Physiology 05 frontiersin.org Hernandez-Martinez et al. 10.3389/fphys.2023.1127669 TABLE 2 Differences between intervention conditions of youth’s male soccer players. Intervention CMJ (cm) Speed Speed Speed Ball kicking speed of the Ball kicking speed of the conditions (n = 85) 10 (s) 20 (s) 30 (s) dominant foot (km/h) non-dominant foot (km/h) CC vs. SSC d = 0.06a p = d = 0.17a p = d = 0.18a p = d = 0.16a p = d = 0.17a p = 0.60 (1.60%) d = 0.24b p = 0.92 (1.89%) 1.00 (1.06%) 1.00 (2.88%) 0.90 (3.13%) 0.95 (2.73%) CC vs. DSC d = 0.57c p = d = 0.36b p = d = 0.05a p = d = 0.03a p = d = 0.13a p = 0.60 (1.24%) d = 0.15a p = 0.95 (1.32%) 0.49 (9.96%) 0.62 (5.34%) 0.90 (0.92%) 0.95 (0.49%) CC vs. BSC d = 0.55c p = d = 0.45b p = d = 0.02a p = d = 0.03a p = d = 0.20b p = 0.65 (1.95%) d = 0.18a p = 0.90 (1.51%) 0.46 (9.96%) 0.33 (6.58%) 0.90 (0.36%) 0.95 (0.62%) CC vs. PNFC d = 0.06a p = d = 0.25b p = d = 0.02a p = d = 0.03a p = d = 0.09a p = 0.65 (0.88%) d = 0.08a p = 0.90 (0.56%) 0.16 (1.06%) 1.00 (4.11%) 0.90 (0.36%) 0.95 (0.62%) SSC vs. DSC d = 0.51c p = d = 0.56c p = d = 0.24b p = d = 0.2a p = d = 0.29b p = 0.65 (2.89%) d = 0.33b p = 0.60 (3.28%) 0.85 (8.80%) 0.95 (8%) 0.90 (3.93%) 1.00 (3.14%) SSC vs. BSC d = 0.49b p = d = 0.65c p = d = 0.21b p = d = 0.20b p = d = 0.36b p = 0.63 (3.61%) d = 0.37b p = 0.60 (3.47%) 0.79 (8.80%) 0.53 (9.2%) 0.92 (3.39%) 1.00 (3.26%) SSC vs. PNFC d = 0.00a p = d = 0.07a p = d = 0.16a p = d = 0.11a p = d = 0.07a p = 0.70 (0.72%) d = 0.16a p = 0.60 (1.35%) 1.00 (0%) 1.00 (1.2%) 0.91 (2.68%) 1.00 (1.81%) DSC vs. BSC d = 0.00a p = d = 0.1a p = d = 0.14a p = d = 0.00a p = d = 0.06a p = 0.70 (0.70%) d = 0.19a p = 1.00 (0.18%) 1.00 (0%) 1.00 (1.30%) 0.90 (2.46%) 0.90 (0.12%) DSC vs. PNFC d = 0.51c p = d = 0.65c p = d = 0.18a p = d = 0.08a p = d = 0.21b p = 0.75 (2.10%) d = 0.21b p = 1.00 (1.86%) 0.79 (8.09%) 0.29 (10%) 0.90 (3.22%) 0.90 (1.37%) BSC vs. PNFC d = 0.49b p = d = 0.73c p = d = 0.04a p = d = 0.09a p = d = 0.29b p = 0.60 (2.79%) d = 0.24b p = 1.00 (2.05%) 0.73 (8.09%) 1.00 (11.4%) 0.90 (0.74%) 0.90 (1.47%) CMJ: countermovement jump. CC: control condition. SSC: static stretching condition. DSC: dynamic stretching condition. BSC: ballistic stretching condition. PNFC: proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation condition. d: effect size. a Insignificant effect ( 0.50) concerning CC with a 9.9% (dominant and non-dominant) and if the kick is faster it is less likely change in CMJ, an auspicious fact aligned with previously reported that the goalkeeper or opposing player has enough time to react (Rađa studies. et al., 2019). Therefore, it is vital to choose the right way to warm-up in Straight-line sprinting is the most frequent action before goals, order to prepare the body of the soccer players so that they have a more both for the player scoring and assisting (Chmura et al., 2022). In the remarkable ability to hit the ball without risk of injury. In addition, it is present 10 m, 20 m and 30 m sprint was similar to the warm-up relevant to consider individual characteristics such as age, skill level, condition. In the study by Oliveira et al. (2018), improvements in 10 m gender and experience of the soccer players to choose the exercises speed were detected for the warm-up condition with static stretching, (Palucci Vieira et al., 2021). In a study conducted by Amiri-Khorasani which showed improvements of 1% compared to the ballistic and Ferdinands (2014) on youth soccer players, an increase in ball stretching condition and 3% compared to the proprioceptive kicking speed of 5.1% was observed using warm-up with ballistic neuromuscular facilitation condition. In the study by López stretching and 6.3% with static stretching compared to the CC. Similar Mariscal et al. (2021) in youth soccer players, improvements of to what was observed by Gelen (2010) in youth soccer players with a 0.6% in 20 m speed and 2% in 30 m speed were identified by 3.3% increase in ball kicking speed performance using ballistic warm-ups with static stretching compared to the warm-up with stretching warm-up compared to static stretching warm-up. Our ballistic stretching. Despite finding no significant differences study did not report significant differences for or against the between the warm-up conditions applied in our study, a small and warm-up conditions with stretching. However, a small ES was moderate ES was detected in SSC, BSC and PNFC (d > 0.20) for the detected in BSC and SSC (d > 0.20) for CC, with a change between 10 m sprint, in addition to a small ES for SSC (d > 0.20) for the 20 m 1.8% and 1.9% in ball-kicking speed for both feet, which would sprint for the CC, with a change located between 3.7% and 4.1%. The indicate greater performance after the warm-up with static and literature has reported on other groups of soccer players (Oliveira ballistic stretching. Increasing performance in ball kicking speed et al., 2018; López Mariscal et al., 2021). may increase the likelihood of success in soccer (Gelen, 2010; To generate an increase in the probability of scoring a goal, the Amiri-Khorasani and Ferdinands, 2014). soccer player must reach the highest possible ball speed, which Among the limitations of the study are: i) not including depends on several variables, such as speed of the foot at the measurements of neurophysiological mechanisms to determine Frontiers in Physiology 06 frontiersin.org Hernandez-Martinez et al. 10.3389/fphys.2023.1127669 muscle activation to the various stimuli in the warm-up conditions; ii) Data availability statement not assessing the level of physical maturation of the participants; iii) not having females in the sample. Among the strengths of the study, The raw data supporting the conclusion of this article will be made we can mention the randomization of the warm-up conditions and the available by the authors, without undue reservation. choice of exercises and stretching methods aligned with those most commonly used in soccer. Based on the results found in the present study, it can be indicated that the warm-up based on static, dynamic, Ethics statement ballistic or proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching does not affect jump height, running sprint speed and ball kicking speed in The studies involving human participants were reviewed and male youth soccer players. Future studies could deepen the approved by the Bioethics Committee of the University of Playa characteristics of the most appropriate stretching exercises and the Ancha, Chile (approval number: 005/2016). Written informed optimal warm-up time to promote physical performance at different consent to participate in this study was provided by the levels and age ranges. participantsʼ legal guardian/next of kin. Practical applications Author contributions Based on findings of the present study, when comparing the standard Conceptualization, JH-M; methodology, JH-M, and PV-B; versus the stretching-based warm-up, no significant effects were detected software, JH-M, and PV-B; formal analysis, JH-M, and PV-B; on running sprint speed, jump height and ball kicking speed in male investigation, JH-M, RR-C, TV-A, MC-C, BC-T, TH-V, AL-F, HN, youth soccer players. In this sense, we recommend the use of warm-ups and PV-B; writing-original draft preparation, JH-M, and PV-B; based on flexibility in youth soccer players during training, since the writing-review and editing, JH-M, RR-C, TV-A, MC-C, BC-T, TH- literature reinforces its inclusion to promote development, prevent V, AL-F, HN, and PV-B; supervision, RR-C, TH-V, and PV-B. All injuries and, as was reported (Hammami et al., 2018; Gil et al., 2019), authors have read and agreed to the published version of the does not alter the specific performance in soccer players. Similarly, it is manuscript. advisable to carry out actions that accommodate the players in order to maximize their performance in explosive actions (Fashioni et al., 2020) that predominate during the game and lead to greater recruitment and Conflict of interest activation of type 2 fibers (Isla et al., 2021b) predominants in the soccer. On the other hand, a lower RPE in the warm-up is associated with less The authors declare that the research was conducted in the muscle fatigue, wich has a positive impact on physical performance (Yanci absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be et al., 2019). construed as a potential conflict of interest. Conclusion Publisher’s note When comparing the standard warm-up with the stretching-based All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors warm-up (regardless of its modality, i.e. SSC, DSC, BSC, PNFC) it and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated exerts no effect on the jump height, sprint running speed and ball organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the kicking speed of male youth soccer players. The incorporation of reviewers. 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