Heart rate recovery during the Interval Shuttle Run Test in talented soccer players

Objective: For soccer players, intermittent endurance capacity is important to reach professional level1. Several maximal tests during a season can increase the risk on injuries and it would therefore be beneficial to test players submaximal. The goal is to investigate whether the heart rate recovery (HRR) in the beginning of the Interval Shuttle Run Test (ISRT) predicts the final performance. Methods: Heart rate is registered (Polar team2 pro) in 18 talented soccer players (aged 17-19) participating in the ISRT2. Players are divided into two groups based on their performance (high vs. low) on the ISRT. HRR is determined as the difference between maximum heart rate during running periods and minimum heart rate in rest periods. Mean differences between groups in HRR during 2nd until 11th rest interval are statistically evaluated (t-test). Results: Differences in HRR were found between the two groups (p