Effect of small sided soccer games on Interleukin-18 and blood lactate of teenage soccer players in warm weather

Introduction: Training techniques, age, and climatic conditions may play a significant role in physiological responses of soccer players. Therefore, this study set out to investigate changes in the serum interleukin-18 (IL-18) and blood lactate levels of teenagers after playing small-sided soccer games in warm weather. Correspondence: Akbar Chamani, PhD Student. Department of Exerciese Physiology Pardis Kish. Tehran University. Tehran, Iran Tel:+98 9360611722 Email: [email protected] Methods: In this study, 24 soccer players aged 15-18 years were participated. Among them, 16 players divided into six experimental groups including two 4-member teams (mean age: 16.13&plusmn;0.88 years; height: 167.00&plusmn;6.66cm; weight: 58.70&plusmn;7.34kg: BMI: 20.96&plusmn;1.79) and four 2-member teams (mean age: 16.80&plusmn;0.48 years; height: 167.00&plusmn;5.73cm; weight: 55.16&plusmn;5.98kg: BMI: 19.78&plusmn;1.83). Experiments were conducted in two fields, sized 25&times;20 m2 and 35&times;28m2, respectively. The other 8 players (mean age: 16.18&plusmn;1.07 years; height: 171.00&plusmn;6.75cm; weight: 58.86&plusmn;8.21kg: BMI: 20.03&plusmn;2.14) were taken as control group and did not perform any [athletic] activity. The blood samples of all groups were collected before and immediately after the games, and then the IL-18 and lactate levels were measured. Results: According to the results, the amount of IL-18 and lactate significantly increased in the experimental groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: It may put that playing small sided soccer games in warm weather significantly increases IL-18 and blood lactate levels of teenage players.