Validity evidences in t20 as an approach to the anaerobic threshold in young soccer players

Abstract

The aim of this study was to obtain initial validity evidences of using the twenty minute running test (T20) as an approach to the Anaerobic Threshold (AT) in young soccer players. Twenty-eight athletes (13.5 ± 0.3 years; 58 ± 12 kg; 166 ± 0.11 cm) of national level were submitted to maintain a constant speed, and the distances (3965 ± 415 m), the average speed (11.84 ± 1.24 Km.h^-1), the last hear rate (181 ± 9 bpm) (n = 14), and blood lactate concentration [la] (2.52 ± 0.90 mmol.l^-1) were determined. Despite individual variations, the average of blood lactate concentration found was similar to the one suggested in the literature to fixed concentration of lactate in AT (2.5 mmol.l^-1) in children and young adolescents. In spite of the limitations of this study, T20 seems to be an alternative method for the approach of AT.