Analysis of the Association between Running Performance and Game Performance Indicators in Professional Soccer Players

Abstract

Running performance (RP) and game performance indicators (GPI) are important determinants of success in soccer (football), but there is an evident lack of knowledge about the possible associations between RP and GPI. This study aimed to identify associations between RP and GPI in professional soccer players and to compare RP and GPI among soccer playing positions. One hundred one match performances were observed over the course of half of a season at the highest level of national competition in Croatia. Players (mean ± SD, age: 23.85 ± 2.88 years; body height: 183.05 ± 8.88 cm; body mass: 78.69 ± 7.17 kg) were classified into five playing positions (central defenders (n = 26), full-backs (n = 24), central midfielders (n = 33), wide midfielders (n = 10), and forwards (n = 8). RP, as measured by global positioning system, included the total distance covered, distance covered in five speed categories (walking, jogging, running, high-speed running, and maximal sprinting), total number of accelerations, number of high-intensity accelerations, total number of decelerations, and number of high-intensity decelerations. The GPI were collected by the position-specific performance statistics index (InStat index). The average total distance was 10,298.4 ± 928.7 m, with central defenders having the shortest and central midfielders having the greatest covered distances. The running (r = 0.419, p = 0.03) and high-intensity accelerations (r = 0.493, p = 0.01) were correlated with the InStat index for central defenders. The number of decelerations of full-backs (r = −0.43, p = 0.04) and the distance covered during sprinting of forwards (r = 0.80, p = 0.02) were associated with their GPI obtained by InStat index. The specific correlations between RP and GPI should be considered during the conditioning process in soccer. The soccer training should follow the specific requirements of the playing positions established herein, which will allow players to meet the game demands and to perform successfully.

Playing position specifics of associations between running performance during the training and match in male soccer players

“…Accordingly, this result may suggest that CMs are more focused on developing soccer skills than performing high-intensity tasks. This result is consistent with those in previous studies on match performance (Modric et al, 2019). Additionally, it must be noted that the Croatian First Football (Soccer) League is less competitive than the top-level European leagues (Modric et al, 2019), so it seems that high-intensity efforts in CM training and the style of the games are probably sufficient for position-specific success in the competitive soccer league observed in this study (Croatian National League).…”

“…In other words, training demands that involve (i) more effort in the running zone and (ii) high-intensity accelerations correspond to changes in the same performance variables during games for this playing position. As previously mentioned, these variables were identified as important determinants of game success for this position (Modric et al, 2019). Therefore, the correlation between training sessions and matches in these variables implies that (i) structurally position-specific training has been applied in training programs for CDs and that (ii) such an approach directly corresponded to their performance during games.…”

“…These findings, together with the previously reported results of the high-intensity distance covered each week, imply that CMs train at a relatively low intensity throughout the week. These players are probably more focused on ball possession and the number of key passes, dribbles and shots, considering that these performance variables are key for their success in soccer games (Modric et al, 2019).…”

“…Soccer is a highly complex team sport; it involves two teams, changing dynamics and multistructural movements (Modric, Versic, Sekulic, & Liposek, 2019). The actions during a game involve running at different intensity levels, many changes in direction, tackles and jumps with short recovery periods (Sládečková, Botek, Krejčí, & Lehnert, 2019).…”

“…The match performance in official soccer matches (i.e., external match loads) was more frequently evaluated than were training loads; additionally, the results obtained by highly sophisticated global positioning systems (Aquino et al, 2020;Modric et al, 2019) and those obtained by various video-based platforms are generally consistent (Barros et al, 2007;Bradley et al, 2009;Di Salvo et al, 2007;Liu, Yi, Giménez, Gómez, & Lago-Peñas, 2015;Vigne, Gaudino, Rogowski, Alloatti, & Hautier, 2010). Accordingly, it is evident that both (i) external training load and (ii) match performance during soccer matches are often investigated separately (Jaspers et al, 2017;Sarmento et al, 2014), while the relationship between the external match load in official matches and weekly external training load has not been sufficiently explored.…”