This study aims to investigate the effect of detraining and subsequent re-training on the cardiovascular fitness of elite male soccer players. This study recruited twenty-two elite male soccer players (n = 22, mean age: 23.29 ± 2.89 years). Pre-season training, detraining, and re-training phases were incorporated in the experiments' pre-post design, and Yoyo Intermittent Recovery Level 2 (YYIR2) assessed participants' cardiovascular fitness levels. The pairwise comparison result suggests that the eight weeks pre-season training program significantly improves the players' VO2 max by 17.95% (baseline=57.81 ± 3.23, post pre-season=68.19 ± 4.32, p=.000 < .05). Following fourteen weeks of the detraining phase, the VO2 max significantly drops 21.83% to 53.30 ± 0.66, p=.000 < .05. By using the same eight weeks of pre-season training programs in the re-training phase, players' VO2 max show a significant rebuild by 14.20% to 60.87 ± 3.12, p=.000 < .05. The repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a significant main impact of phase on VO2 max (F(3,63)=102.878, p=.000), which suggests that the various stages of training brought on the variations in VO2 max. In conclusion, this study found that elite soccer players' cardiovascular fitness decreased after detraining but improved again with re-training. Proper year-round periodized training and conditioning is highlighted, as the study was based on an actual elite players program.
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