Compensatory training sessions have been highlighted as useful strategies to solve the differential weekly training load between the players’ starting status. However, the influence of the players’ starting status is still understudied in sub-elite youth football. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the weekly training load on a standard microcycle in starters and non-starters of a sub-elite youth football academy. The weekly training load of 60 young sub-elite football players was monitored during a 6-week period using an 18 Hz global positioning system (GPS), 1 Hz telemetry heart rate, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and total quality recovery (TQR). The total distance (TD) covered presented a significant difference between starters and non-starters with a moderate effect ( t = −2.38, Δ = −428.03 m, p = 0.018, d = 0.26). Training volume was higher in non-starters than in starter players (TD Starters = 5105.53 ± 1684.22 vs. TD Non-starters = 5533.56 ± 1549.26 m). Significant interactive effects were found between a player’s starting status, playing time, and session duration in overall training load variables for within (F = 140.46; η 2 = 0.85; p < 0.001) and between-subjects (F = 11.63 to 160.70; η 2 = 0.05 to 0.76; p < 0.001). The player’s starting status seems to only influence the training volume in sub-elite youth football, unless one considers the covariance of the playing time and session duration. Consequently, coaches should prioritize complementary training to equalize training volume and emphasize similar practice opportunities for non-starters. Future studies should evaluate the gap between training and match load, measuring the impact of recovery and compensatory sessions.

The aim of this study was two-fold: (1) to analyze the influence of season phase (i.e., the start of the in-season and mid-in-season) on match running performance in a Portuguese professional football team; (2) to determine and model the main factor influencing match running performance during the in-season in this specific football team. Eighteen matches were collected by an 18 Hz global positioning system (GPS) from a professional Portuguese football team during the start of the in-season and mid-in-season. The match running performance was analyzed according to season phases, presenting significant differences in total distance (TD) (tlowerbound = 4.71, p < 0.001; tupperbound = −2.22, p = 0.002), average speed (AvS) (tlowerbound = 359.45, p < 0.001; tupperbound = −359.87, p < 0.001), and relative high speed running (rHSR) (tlowerbound = 13.10, p < 0.001; tupperbound = −10.21, p < 0.001). The logistic regression showed TD (β = −1.59, z = −2.84, p = 0.005) and AvS (β = 2.68, z = −2.84, p = 0.007) as the major factors influencing match running performance during seasonal variation. Sprints and accelerations showed no significance for predicting match running performance during the season phases (β = −0.05 to 1.07, z = −0.95 to 1.07, p = 0.29 to 0.72). Current research confirms that lower and upper bounds should be used to quantify seasonal differences on match running performance. TD and AvS were described as the main factors influencing match running performance during the in-season phase. Thus, it is important to highlight the pace and volume of the game to maximize match running performance.

A concretização deste artigo tem subjacente uma larga experiência em termos profissionais, no futebol, em geral, e no futebol de formação, em particular. Sem seguir a estrutura formal de um artigo científico, mas com suporte de pesquisa bibliográfica e webgráfica, bem como de uma reflexão sobre a intervenção direta no processo, o mesmo pretende apresentar algumas reflexões e contributos que procuram rentabilizar ainda mais o processo de formação em mais clubes e, consequentemente, aproveitar ainda mais o potencial dos nossos jovens futebolistas. Nomeadamente, criar regras claras que obriguem os clubes a reinvestirem uma maior percentagem do valor total da transferência das vendas de jogadores oriundos da formação; acabar com a divisão estanque, entre o futebol profissional versus futebol de formação; definir melhor os objetivos e as prioridades a alcançar em cada escalão etário e os objetivos terminais a atingir no final do processo de formação; entre outros.