title: The Copenhagen Soccer Test: physiological response and fatigue development.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aims of the study were 1) to evaluate whether a multifaceted simulated soccer game protocol, entitled the Copenhagen Soccer Test (CST), elicited a similar physiological loading as a competitive game (CG) and 2) to determine muscle metabolites, blood variables, and sprint performance in various phases of CST.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve Danish Second- and Third-Division soccer players participated in the study. On separate days, HR measurements, frequent blood sampling, and physical/technical tests were performed during 60- and 90-min versions of the CST during which repeated musculus vastus lateralis biopsies were collected. A CG was also played, where HR was recorded and pre- and post-game muscle biopsies and blood samples were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences were observed between CST and CG in average HR (85% ± 1% and 86% ± 1% HRmax, P > 0.05) or recovery plasma creatine kinase (24 h: 312 ± 57 and 324 ± 76 U·L, P > 0.05). Muscle glycogen decreased (P < 0.05) from 459 ± 15 to 232 ± 30 mmol·kg dry weight (d.w.) during CST, which was not different from CG (P > 0.05). The rate of glycogen utilization was 4 ± 1 mmol·kg d.w.·min during the warm-up and the first 15 min of CST and 1 ± 1 mmol·kg d.w.·min (P < 0.05) from 60 to 90 min of CST. After 15 min of CST, muscle lactate was elevated (P < 0.05) approximately fivefold (24 ± 3 mmol·kg d.w.), and creatine phosphate was lowered (P < 0.05) by ∼60% (28 ± 4 mmol·kg d.w.). Sprint velocity (2 × 20 m) decreased (P < 0.05) by 7% during CST (5.2 ± 0.6 to 4.9 ± 0.7 m·s).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The physiological response to the CST was reproducible and comparable to that of high-level CG. The CST allowed for rapid muscle sampling and revealed high creatine phosphate degradation throughout the test and a lowered glycogen utilization toward the end of the simulated game.
authors.affiliation: Section of Human Physiology, Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mads
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bendiksen
authors.forename: Rasmus
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bischoff
authors.forename: Morten B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Randers
authors.forename: Magni
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohr
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rollo
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Suetta
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bangsbo
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Krustrup
mesh_terms: D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005221:Fatigue / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*