title: Soccer activity profile of altitude versus sea-level natives during acclimatisation to 3600 m (ISA3600).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the effect of high altitude on the match activity profile of elite youth high altitude and sea level residents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty Sea Level (Australian) and 19 Altitude-resident (Bolivian) soccer players played five games, two near sea level (430 m) and three in La Paz (3600 m). Match activity profile was quantified via global positioning system with the peak 5 min period for distance ((D₅(peak)) and high velocity running (>4.17 m/s, HIVR₅(peak)); as well as the 5 min period immediately subsequent to the peak for both distance (D₅(sub)) and high-velocity running (HIVR₅(sub)) identified using a rolling 5 min epoch. The games at 3600 m were compared with the average of the two near sea-level games.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total distance per minute was reduced by a small magnitude in the first match at altitude in both teams, without any change in low-velocity running. There were variable changes in HiVR, D₅(peak) and HiVR₅(peak) from match to match for each team. There were within-team reductions in D₅(peak) in each game at altitude compared with those at near sea level, and this reduction was greater by a small magnitude in Australians than Bolivians in game 4. The effect of altitude on HiVR₅(peak) was moderately lower in Australians compared with Bolivians in game 3. There was no clear difference in the effect of altitude on maximal accelerations between teams.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High altitude reduces the distance covered by elite youth soccer players during matches. Neither 13 days of acclimatisation nor lifelong residence at high altitude protects against detrimental effects of altitude on match activity profile.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, College of Sport and Exercise Science, Victoria University, , Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Aughey
authors.forename: Kristal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: Matthew C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Varley
authors.forename: Walter F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Pitre C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Bourdon
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buchheit
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Garvican-Lewis
authors.forename: Marlen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kley
authors.forename: Rudy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Soria
authors.forename: Charli
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sargent
authors.forename: Gregory D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Roach
authors.forename: Jesus C Jimenez
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Claros
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wachsmuth
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Gore
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D000064:Acclimatization / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000531:Altitude; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001315:Australia / Q000208:ethnology; D001838:Bolivia / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Altitude; Assessing Physiological Demands of Physical Activity; Basketball/Football/Football Refereeing