Changes in disjunctive reaction time of soccer goalkeepers in selected training load zones

Abstract

In our research, we tried to find out if there are changes in the disjunctive reaction time in selected training load zones of soccer goalkeepers. We expanded our knowledge of the training load and its influence on the disjunctive reaction speed, which is one of the limiting factors of the individual game performance of goalkeepers. There was an assumption of changes in the disjunctive reaction time of goalkeepers from different age categories in the selected training load zones. The research group was formed by eight elite soccer goalkeepers (n = 8) from U15, U16, U17 and U19 categories. The disjunctive reaction time was evaluated by means of the FiTRO Agility Check test that provided us with the values of the disjunctive reaction time of every goalkeeper involved. The POLAR heart rate monitor was used to evaluate the heart rate and the loading zones of goalkeepers were determined using a program called POLAR Team2. Subsequently, the obtained data were evaluated by using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test and Cohen´s „r“ (effect size). We found out a statistically significant relationship between the value of the disjunctive reaction time by the observed goalkeepers in the calm zone (50-59 % HRmax) and in the 90-100 % HRmax zone.