Athletes who make sharp cutting movements while playing a sport like soccer are more susceptible to ACL injury and fatigue may increase this risk. Purpose: This study tracked the kinetics of 7 female Division 1 soccer players participating in 2 soccer matches with 43 hours rest between them by using a box jump followed by a random directed cut at a 45° angle. Methods: Motion capture data was collected before and after a Friday evening match (T0, T1), before and after a Sunday afternoon match (T2, T3) and approximately 65 hours after the second match in order to assess the effects of match play on kinetics of an unanticipated sidestep cut. The players tested all traveled more than 9.5 km during each match. Results: At T0, the max resultant ground reaction force (GRF) was 3.54xBW ± 0.81 (SD) and reached a peak of 3.743 × BW ± 0.49 after the first match (T1). The value at T2 (3.593 × BW ± 0.30) was significantly higher than the final post-match measurement (T4, 3.146 × BW ± 0.42, p = 0.038). The max posterior GRF was significantly increased from T0 (0.876 × BW ± 0.09) to T1 (0.979 × BW ± 0.101, p = 0.024), a possible indicator of higher anterior tibial shear forces following one match. The max lateral GRF showed no significant changes. Conclusions: The research indicates participation in a soccer match can alter kinetics during a sidestep maneuver following landing from a box jump, but there is no clear detriment to playing in a second match with short rest. Practical Applications: Although this research shows no clear effect of short rest, coaches and trainers should be aware that fatigue can adversely affect the forces on the knee joint.
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