Journal of Strengtb and Conditioning Research, 2005.

19(4), 799-804

4'; 2005 National Strength & Conditioning Aasociatiun

HEART RATE AND BLOOD LACTATE CONCENTRATIONS

AS PREDICTORS OF PHYSIOLOGICAL LOAD ON ELITE
SOCCER PLAYERS DURING VARIOUS SOCCER
TRAINING ACTIVITIES
NiYAZi E N I S E L E R
Department of Physical Education and Sports, Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey.
Eniseler, N. Heart rate and blood lactate concentrations as predictors of physiological load on elite soccer players
during various soccer training activitie.s. J. Strength Cond. Res.
19(4):799-804. 2005.The purpose of this investigation was to
estimate the physiologic strain on players during various soccer
training activities. Ten soccer players from the first division soccer league of Turkey were used as subjects. The heart rate responses were mea.sured during 4 types of soccer training. First,
the heart rates that corresponded to a blood lactate concentration of both 2 and 4 mM were measured, and then, during the
4 types of training, they were correlated with the proportion of
time that the heart rate was below tbe 2-mM lactate line, between the 2- and 4-mM lactate lines, and above tbe 4-mM lactate
line. Mean heart rates during friendly match, modified game,
tactical training, and technical training activities were 157
19. 135 28, 126 21, and 118 21 b-min ', respectively. Tbe
differences between all of tbese soccer training activities were
statistically significant (p ^ 0.01), The results demonstrate that
la) technical and tactical training consisted of very low exercise
intensities (most of the heart rates were below the 4-mM lactate
level) and (b) the percentages of time that the heart rate correlated to a point above the 4-mM lactate reference level during
the friendly match and modified game were 49.6 T. 21.1% and
23.9 24,5%, respectively, Tbe practical implications of these
findings are that, by using 2- to 4-mM reference lines, coaches
can structure heart rate zones that can help determine the individualized exercise intensity for their players as well as estimate overall exercise intensity during soccer training.
ABSTRACT.

KEY WOKDS. match, lactate threshold

INTRODUCTION

^m
J I
T I
^

t is essential to determine valid and practical

methods to quantify exercise loads to increase
athletic performance. For example, Foster et al.
(12) reported the use of ratings of perceived exertion as a valid method for the quantification
of exercise during a wide variety of exercise types. However, there continues to be a requirement for objective
measures to quantify exercise loads during various physical activities. Currently, methods such as heart rates and
lactate concentration measures are used as valid and objective approaches to estimate exercise loads during physical activities. Soccer players move in diverse directions
with different intensities during soccer activities, which
makes it difficult to estimate the physiologic strain on
players. However, newly available technologies, such as
portable heart rate monitors and lactate analyzers, are
making it possible to characterize the demands that are
associated with a soccer game in terms of the rate and
duration of energy expenditures. In fact, various studies

have estimated exercise intensities (physiologic load) by

the use of heart rate values during a soccer game, whether in competition or in training. In general, the mean average heart rate for a soccer player during a soccer game
has been reported to be hetween 150 and 175 b min ' (1,
4-6, 10, 17-21, 23-26, 29). To physically prepare for a
match, training programs should include several specific
pbysical activities, such as modified games, tactical training, and technical training, as well as the playing of preparation matches (which are competitive soccer matches)
against opponent teams. It is apparent tbat eacb pbysical
activity during soccer training will improve tbe pbysical
conditioning of players in different ways hy placing different kinds of physiologic loads on players. It is essential
to quantify the physiologic loads of soccer players so that
researchers or coaches can accurately apply the correct
training intensities. Although tbe exercise intensity of
soccer matches has heen estimated in previous studies (1,
4-6, 17, 18, 20, 24, 26, 29), the effects of various soccer
training sessions, such as modified games, technical
training, and tactical training, bave not, to our knowledge, been studied.
In general terms, both Vo^max and blood lactate (anaerobic tbreshold) variables can be used to explain performance endurance (28). In addition, for elite soccer
players, the physiologic load appears to he very close to
the reported hlood lactate threshold during a soccer
match (5, 6, 20). Given that hlood lactate is associated
with physiologic load, it can be correlated with the headrate of soccer players during soccer matches and training
sessions to evaluate energy requirements. Since each soccer player has different lactate threshold levels tbat correspond to their specific beart rate values, the interpretations of heart rates during various soccer activities (soccer match, modified game, tactical training, and technical
training! are individualized. Tbis simply means tbat each
player has bis or her own specific heart rate and lactate
threshold for any given physical activity. This is not only
an individualized hase hut also an objective base on which
to construct a soccer training program. By objective base,
this researcher means that measurements are obtained
from vahd and reliable instruments and that such measurements reflect tbe actual values for each player. One
of the important applications of individualized and objective data for each player is that coaches may quantify the
physiologic load accurately and prescribe a specific training program for eacb athlete as well as the whole team
hy using such data.
799

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ENISELER

Two main purposes were pursued in this study. The

first purpose was to estimate the training intensity on
elite soccer players during a soccer match as well as various soccer training sessions (modified game, tactical
training, and technical training) by using heart rate values. The second purpose was to estimate actual exercise
intensity by examining the relationship between heart
rate values that were measured during the soccer activities and 2- and 4-mM lactate threshold levels that were
determined during an incremental shuttle run test. In
particular, heart rate responses of each soccer player during training sessions were correlated to the 2- to 4-mM
lactate levels (lactate reference heart rate lines) to provide an individualized approach for evaluating the intensity of training. It is assumed that categorizing recorded
heart rates during training helps determine the training
intensity.
METHODS
Experimental Approach to the Problem
To estimate the physiologic strain on soccer players during soccer match, modified game, technical training, and
tactical training activities, the heart rate values were correlated to 2- and 4-mM lactate reference heart rate lines.
All the measurements were completed during the first 2
weeks of the preseason training period, and each measurement took place on separate days.
Subjects
The participants were 10 male professional soccer players
from a team in the first division soccer league in Turkey.
The first division soccer league includes 18 teams. The
league is called a super league to indicate the competitiveness and quality of the teams. Prior to participation
in this study, all players provided their informed consent.
Their age, weight, and height were 24.4 4.1 years, 70.7
3.1 kg, and 176.4 6.2 cm, respectively. The mean
anaerobic thresholds of soccer players were 12.79 0.85
km-h"'. In addition, the mean body fat percentage of participants was 9.3 3.4*^. Measurements were taken during the first to second week of a 7-week-long preseason
training session. That preseason training was started after a 1-month rest (season break} explains why players
were at a somewhat lower level of conditioning. This also
explains the lower anaerobic threshold of soccer players
that was observed in this study. For example, in literature, studies with elite soccer players (8, 9, 14, 16) have
shown that soccer players have an approximate anaerobic
threshold of 13.5-14 kmh ', and body fat percentages
were less than 10% in season (27).
Procedures
A modified incremental 20-m shuttle run test on a grass
soccer field was performed by all soccer players (N = 10)
to determine the 2- and 4-mM (onset of blood lactate accumulation lOBLAI) lactate threshold levels. The shuttle
run test was preferred to identify the lactate threshold
level in this study since it considers directional changes
of motion and acceleration that are common to a soccer
game (13). In addition, a field test was used because players would feel more motivated under field conditions than
under laboratory conditions. Such testing might produce
more reliable results. Specifically, in this test, the initial
running speed was 8 km h K Each stage of the test took

4 minutes, at which time the running speed increased by

1.2 kmh '. The running speed of each stage of the test
was given by an acoustic signal from tape recorder for
each sign post spaced exactly 20 m apart. The final running speed was 15.2 km-h '. The test took 30 minutes to
complete. Since lactate diffuses from muscle to blood,
blood lactate levels are time-dependent; therefore, each
stage was completed in 4 minutes. Fingertip capillary
blood samples were taken during the 1-minute interval
after every stage and were placed in heparinized capillary
tubes immediately. The blood samples were analyzed for
lactate by an electroenzymatic method (YSI 2300 lactate
analyzer. Yellow Springs Instrument Co., Yellovi' Springs,
OH). The subjects' heart rates were measured with a Polar Vantage NV telemetric heart rate monitor (Polar Electro Oy, Kempele, Finland). The heart rate at the end of
each exercise stage was correlated to the blood lactate
concentration and plotted. The heart rates at 2 and 4 mM
(OBLA) were calculated for visual inspection.
The players' heart rates were recorded at 5-second intervals for 20 minutes throughout soccer match, modified
game, tactical training, and technical training activities
by a Polar Vantage NV heart rate monitor (Polar Electro,
Vantaa, Finland).
The percentages of recorded heart rates below the 2mM, between the 2- and 4-mM, and above the 4-mM lactate reference heart rate lines were examined for each of
the 4 types of training.
The 2-mM lactate reference heart rate line was used
as an indicator of significant initial blood lactate elevation (3), while the 4-mM lactate reference heart rate line
was used to display the onset of the anaerobic threshold
(3, 15). Another reason for using the 2- to 4-niM lactate
reference heart rate lines was that studies have shown
that lactate concentrations range from 4 to 6 mM during
soccer games (22).
Since each soccer condition might have difTerent exercise intensities, it is logical to order conditions from
high to low intensity. For example, a soccer match would
have a higher intensity than a modified game.
A soccer match is an activity in which players actually
use Vk'hat they learn in practice in terms of tactical and
technical training. This study included a preseason 90minute match on a standard soccer field against an opponent team in the same soccer league and included official refereeing. Since this was a soccer match against an
opponent, players were assumed to focus on winning the
game by showing assertive attitudes as well as using all
of the tactical and technical skills normally required in a
soccer game. This researcher used 20 minutes of a 90minute soccer match for analysis. There were 2 main reasons for choosing a 20-minute period. First, since modified game, tactical training, and technical training activities were 20 minutes long, a 20-minute period of the soccer match was analyzed to make statistical analysis
easier. Second, although the soccer match was 90 minutes
long, some soccer players played for 45-60 minutes, even
though the coach attempted to give every player 90 minutes of playing time. Since playing time varied, a 20-minute period was used to ensure statistical objectivity.
The modified game was an activity in which the players also used what they had learned in practice in terms
of tactical and technical training. However, the modified
game took place on half of the soccer field and was 20
minutes long, with 11 players vs. 11 players. It was as-

PHYSIOLOGIC LOAD ON SOCCER

TABLE 1. Minimum, maximum, and mean heart rate values
during various training activities.

Variable
Technical training
Tactical training
Modified game
Soccer match

Mean SD
(b-min ')
118 21
126 21
135 28
157 19

Minimum
(b-min ')
60
68
67
112

Maximum
(b-min ')
164
182
197
203

sumed that this activity would simulate a soccer match.

In addition, players were assumed to use the same tactical and technical soccer skills required for match-play
while they competed with each other. The main ohjective
was to improve the tactical and technical skills of players,
not to win the modified game.
Tactical training was an activity specifically designed
to teach the tactical aspects of soccer following a 20-minute warm-up period. It included wing-attack combinations for goal scoring without the pressure of an opponent
vs. players. The practice took place on half of a soccer
field, with each attack starting from the central line toward the goal with 6 players. Such a practice included
wing attacks with long passes and crosses and finished
with a shot to the goal. This activity was a part of lVihour soccer training period. It lasted for 20 minutes.
Technical training played a specific part in a soccer
practice period that included juggling, ball control, and
passing activities without pressure from an opponent.
The objective was to improve the technical skills of the
players. Specifically, passing activities, such as wall pass,
give and go, and 1-2 pass drills with low-intensity running, were performed in pairs. It was a 20-minute training regimen in a lV^-hour soccer training period and followed a 20-minute warm-up period.

801

TABLE 2. Percentage of heart rates recorded below, between,

and above the 2- and 4-mM reference heart rate lines during
various soccer training activities.
Discrete
Modified
Tactical
Technical
range
game
training
Match
training
(mM)
<2
2-A
>4
%100
%90
%80
%70
%60
%50
%40
%30
%20
%10
%0

13.9 12.6 45.5 24.3 63.4 20.2 77.0 14.1

36.5 17.0 30.6 10.5 32.1 16.8 22.7 13.8
49.6 27.1 23.9 24.6 4.5 7.9
0 0

1
Match

wmm
B>4 mM
D2-4 mM
n< 2 mM

Modifiedgame

Tactical
Training

Technical
Training

1. Percentage of the recorded heart rate beiow,

between, and above the 2- and 4-mM lactate reference heart
rate lines during various soccer training activities.
FIGURE

the summary of results in terms of percentages of heart

rates during various soccer training activities. The percentages of the heart rate recorded below, between, and
above the 2- and 4-mM lactate reference heart rate lines
during the soccer match were 13.9, 36.5, and 49.6%, respectively, for 10 subjects. During the modified game, the
percentage of heart rate was the highest (45.5'7^) for below
the 2-mM reference heart rate line, while it was 30.67r
Statistical Analyses
for between the 2- to 4-mM range and 23.9% for above
the 4-mM lactate reference heart rate line. During tactiStatistical comparisons among heart rate values in each
cal training and technical training, most of the heart
of the 4 soccer training activities were made using the
rates recorded were below tbe 2-mM reference heart rate
Friedman test. Statistical significance was set at p <
line (63.4 and 77.0%, respectively) (see Table 2). As shown
0.01.
in
Table 2, the mean technical training heart rate did not
Percentages of recorded heart rates were calculated
cross
ahove the 4-mM lactate reference heart rate line.
for below, between, and above the 2- and 4-mM lactate
On
tbe
other hand, only 4.57^' of the heart rate recorded
reference heart rate lines to better illustrate energy reduring
tactical
training was above the 4-mM lactate refquirements during given activity modalities (soccer
erence
heart
rate
line.
match, modified game, tactical training, and technical
Figure
1
also
illustrates
the percentage of the recorded
training).
heart rate that was below, between, and above the 2- and
RESULTS
4-mM lactate reference heart rate lines during various
soccer training activities. A visual inspection of Figure 1
Physiologic Responses
shows that the percentage of the recorded heart rate inHeart Rates. The highest mean heart rate was observed
creases for beiow the 2-mM lactate reference heart rate
during the soccer match {157 19 b-min '), followed by
line as the nature of the soccer activity changes. While
the modified game (135 28 b-min '), tactical training
the most of the heart rate percentages were below the 2(126 21 b-min '), and technical training (118 21
mM lactate reference heart rate line for technical trainb-min '). An examination of maximum and minimum
ing, in the soccer matcb, most of the heart rate percentheart values showed that, during the soccer match, the
ages were above the 4-mM lactate reference heart rate
athletes reached the highest heart rate (203 b-min '),
line.
while players had the lowest heart rate (60 b-min M durFigure 2a-d shows the heart rate response curve during technical training. Heart rate differences among all
ing soccer match, modified game, tactical training, and
soccer activities were statistically significant ip < 0.01).
technical training activities for 1 player's 2- and 4-mM
Mean SD heart rates with maximum and minimum
lactate reference heart rate lines. This heart rate revalues are shown in Table 1.
sponse curve visually shows bow heart rate values change
Percentage of Heart Rate Corresponding to 2 and 4- with respect to blood lactate threshold levels. By exammM Lactate Reference Heart Rate Lines. Table 2 depicts ining the blood lactate threshold levels and heart rate

802

ENISELER

4 rrtt reference HR

4 ntA reference HR

2 nM reference HR

2 rtM reference HR

20.00

5,00

(b)

10,00

15,00

20,00

Tims (min)

200

2 rrM reference HR

Heart r ate (b/min)

180
4 rrM reference HR

- A rrW reference HR
160
140

- , 2 rrWreference I

120
100
80
5,00

20.00

10,00

15,00

20,00

Tims (min)

FIGURE 2. Heart rate (HR> responses, showing both the 2- and 4-mM lactate reference heart rate lines for a single subject
during (a) a match, (b) a modified game, (c) tactical training, and (d) technical training.

values in Figure 2 for 1 player, the reader can examine

the way heart rate values occur below, between, and
above the lactate reference heart rate lines. Figure 2 illustrates the intermittent nature of soccer as a physical
activity.
DISCUSSION

The present study investigated the heart rate responses

of elite soccer players in soccer match, modified game,
tactical training, and technical training activities. Findings showed that the heart rate values of elite athletes
vary with the training sessions. Specifically, the highest
heart rate values occurred during the soccer match (mean
beart rate ^ 157 19 b min '), and the lowest heart rate
values occurred during the technical training activity
(mean heart rate ^ 118 21 b min '). In addition, mean
heart rate values during tactical and technical training
activities were lower than those during the modified
game. In terms of mean heart rates that occurred during
each training session (soccer match, modified game, tactical training, and technical training), findings from the
present study agree with the training category systems
of Flanagan and Merrick (10). While a soccer match can
be categorized as bigh intensity, beart rate values were
in the moderate-intensity category for the modified game.
On the other band, tbe mean heart rate values for tactical
and tecbnical training activities were in the low-intensity
category.
Quantifying and assessing pbysiologic strain on soccer
players during various soccer training activities are two
of the most important factors that are considered when
planning soccer training programs. Since heart rate data
collection is not complicated and causes little inconvenience to the players, it can be speculated that heart rate
values can be used as a key variable to estimate playing
intensities during a soccer game. It is common to use
beart rate as a measure of tbe exercise intensity on tbe
field. Generally, a linear relationship exists among heart

TABLE 3. Mean values for heart rate during soccer matchplay in various studies.
Heart rate
(h-min ')
157
161
161
169
169 first half
165 second half
164 first half
154 second half
170

Match-play
situation
Training matches
Preparation
match
Competitive game
Preparation
match
Competitive
match

References
Reilly (19)
Ogushi et al. (17)
Florida-James and Reilly
(11)
Ali and Farrally (1)
Van Gool et al. (29)

Competitive game

Bangsbo et al. (6)

Competitive
match

Flanagan and Merick

(10)

rate, work rate, and oxygen uptake, hut at near-maximal

exercise intensity, the linearity between heart rate and
Vo., is not always observed (2). In tbis case, linearity was
assumed between beart rate and exercise intensity; thus,
heart rate refiects the actual exercise intensity. For various studies, mean heart rates during training and
matches were used as a measure of physiologic strain on
players, despite tbe intermittent nature of soccer activity
(4, 23).
Previous studies have reported tbat heart rate values
during soccer match-play were approximately 157-175
b min '; bowever, these heart rate values were related to
match-play but not soccer training II, 4, 10, 11, 17, 19,
29). Tbese heart rate values are shown in Tahle 3.
Tbe reason for tbe bigher heart rate values during
match and modified game activities compared to tbe rates
during tactical and tecbnical soccer training migbt be because tbe game is played under tbe pbysical presence and
pressure of an opponent. Players reacting to tbis type of

PHYSIOLOGIC LOAD ON SCXTCER

pressure must move quickly during the game, which results in increased heart rates. In addition, during the
match, the level of the mean heart rate was higher than
that during a modified game. The reason for this might
he that, for the soccer match, the activity took place on a
larger field with greater psychologic stress. The dimension of the playing field for the modified game was half
that of the standard soccer field, but the soccer match was
played on a standard soccer field.
According to another, similar study, mean heart rate
values were 144, 143, and 153 b min ' during technical
training activities such as wide crossing, direct shooting,
and fast hreak drills, respectively. In the same study,
mean heart rate values during match-play were high (170
mean h-min ') (10).
Since steady-state heart rate values during soccer activities were not observed, it is difficult to interpret the
physiologic strain on players on the hasis of this parameter alone. In some studies, discrete heart rate ranges
have been used to assess physiologic strain during soccer
match-play (10, 24). The percentage of total time spent
within discrete heart rate ranges may give an idea about
the physiologic strain on players, but there may be some
individual physiologic differences in heart rate response,
even during the same exercise. That is why, in this study,
since the 2- and 4-mM lactate reference heart rate lines
are a convenient reference parameter to show individual
differences (3, 14), they were used for each player to determine the intensity of the various soccer training activities.
Given these observations, the second purpose of this
study was to estimate actual exercise intensity by examining the relationship between heart rate values that
were measured during soccer matcb, modified game, tactical training, and technical training activities to 2- and
4-mM lactate reference heart rate lines that were determined during an incremental shuttle run test. Results
sbowed that heart rate values below, between, and above
the 2- and 4-mM lactate reference heart rate lines
changed with the type of activity. Explicitly, this study
suggested that the percentages of heart rate recorded
above the 4-mM lactate reference heart rate line during
match and modified game activities were approximately
50 and 25'/f, respectively. The percentages during tactical
and technical training were 4.5 and 0%, respectively (Table 2). Assuming that heart rate responses above the 4mM lactate reference heart rate line indicate high-intensity anaerobic work, the ratios of the aerobic to the anaerobic component of work during soccer match, modified
game, tactical training, and technical training activities
may be approximated as 50%:50%, 75%:25%, 96%:4'7(,
and 100%:07r, respectively. The reasons for this high rate
of anaerobic energy expenditure during game-related activities could be explained as the result of frequent acceleration, deceleration, quick direction changes, intermittent sprinting, jumping, tackling, and backward and sideways movement. These motions are sometimes observed
during tactical and technical training. For example, Reilly and Thomas (25) also reported that physiologic costs
were high during backward and sideways movements.
Ogushi et al. (17) studied physiologic intensity in soccer matches by measuring running speeds during soccer
match-play and tben correlating these running speeds
witb blood lactate concentrations obtained from laboratory measurements. They indicated that the percentages

803

of time spent above the 4-mM lactate reference heart rate

line were 8.8, 10.4, and 11.99f for 3 subjects, respectively,
during a competitive soccer match.
Robde and Espersen (26) reported that there was a
significant difference between soccer match-play and
training that consisted of minor practice games. During
match-play, the players were in a high-energy expenditure interval for 26% of the time, while during training,
the interval represented 49r of the time. The reason given
for this was that the minor practice games took place with
a limited number of players and within a limited field
size.
In the present study, the percentages of the heart
rates that were recorded below the 2-mM iactate reference heart rate line during tactical and technical training
were 63 and 77%, respectively (Table 2). Since these types
of training were very low in intensity, the energy requirements during these training periods might be supplied
from aerobic sources. In addition, from the heart rate values obtained during tactical and technical training, tbe
results imply that the intensity of exercise was not sufficient to induce a physiologic training effect, but this
type of training may be sufficient to provide skill improvement. In fact, coaches use technical practice to improve
their players' technical understanding of the game and
help them achieve greater skills that they can apply during soccer games. However, if the objective of the coach
is to improve the physical conditioning of the players,
then the application of training should be oriented toward
anaerobic energy expenditure. In other words, training
stimuli must reach an intensity proportional to the players' threshold capacity (7).
The detailed beart rate analysis of all soccer training
for a sample player is presented in Figure 2. These results
suggest that not only soccer game-related activities but
also technical and tactical activities bave intermittent natures with respect to energy expenditure.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The major problem that occurs when integrating physical

and technical approaches to training is the coach's difficulty in accurately quantifying training intensities. Estimating the exercise intensity during various training activities and coordinating soccer training with exercise intensities will assist in structuring a training program
that best suits elite soccer players. Using heart rate values and blood lactate threshold levels, coaches and researchers can estimate the physiologic load in an individualized and objective way.
In addition, the results of the present study suggest
that soccer-specific exercise training using a ball be coordinated witb heart rate monitoring during the training
sessions. This would allow coaches to determine the actual individual cardiovascular load to optimize the training or to control the compliance of the physiologic stimuli
imposed on players to the training previously programmed.
Specifically, by using 2- to 4-mM iactate reference
heart rate lines, coaches can construct heart rate zones
that can assist in determining individualized exercise intensities for their players. For each beart rate zone, measured player heart rates during training could let coaches
determine the training intensities that should be
achieved.

804

ENISELKR

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Acknowledgments
The author thanks the footballers of Denizlispor Clup for giving
their time and effort to participate as a subjects in this study
and Drs. S. Bereket and H.F. Mavi, Celal Bayar University,
Physical Education end Sports Department, Manisa, Turkey, for
editing and finalizing the manuscript.

Address correspondence to Dr. Niyazi Eniseler, niyazi.

eniseler@bayar .edu.tr.