Influence of Tactical Formation on Average and Peak Demands of Elite Soccer Match-Play

Abstract

Global Positioning Systems (GPS) have provided practitioners with information on the activity profiles of team-sport players. There is no available literature identifying the average or peak physical demands of elite soccer in the USA. This investigation aims to quantify the activity profiles and most demanding passages of elite soccer competition within different positions, periods, and tactical formations. Activity profiles were captured from 449 whole-period, and 661 peak-period data from 24 field players across a 31-game Major League Soccer season. Total distance covered (metres), average speed (m·min-1), and number of acceleration and deceleration (m·s-2) efforts were used to comprise whole-period profiles. Peak values for speed (m·min-1) were obtained by using a moving-average approach for durations lasting 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 minutes. Across all positions the 4-2-3-1, 3-4-3, and 4-3-3 formations showed a decrease in average speed between the first and second halves. The 4-3-1-2 yielded greatest whole-period accelerations and decelerations for full backs, and overall distance covered and average speed for strikers. Most peak intensities were observed in the first half of match-play, with attacking midfielders and strikers demonstrating their greatest activity during the first half of a 4-3-1-2 formation. Altering tactical formations results in different physical outputs for all positional groups. Depending on the formation implemented, positional groups resulted in differences, with physical outputs, between halves during match-play.

Peak match acceleration demands differentiate between elite youth and professional football players

“…However, such comparisons are limited as they do not share a collective philosophy around team formation and tactical approaches. Importantly, past research has observed that peak match running demands differ with team formations and tactical approaches [ 6 , 15 , 20 , 21 ], and therefore controlling these factors is crucial in exploring competition differences in peak physical outputs. Therefore, the current study aimed to quantify and compare the peak match running demands (TD, HSD and AveAcc) of elite youth and professional footballers within a single club that employs consistent team formations and tactical approaches.…”

In-Season Match Demands Of Men’s Collegiate Soccer: A Comparison By Half, Position, Match Outcome, Match Location, And Competition Phase

“…The reduction in load across half may also be attributed to score discrepancies and match outcome, such that loads may decrease when teams are winning and increase when teams are losing (Lago-Peñas, 2012). There are also known differences in positional demands as prior research has reported wide defenders and strikers produce the greatest high-speed running, sprinting, and high-intensity acceleration distances, compared to other positions (Abbott et al, 2018;Andrzejewski et al, 2015;Bloomfield et al, 2007;Di Salvo et al, 2007); however, positional workloads may also be affected by tactical formation (Calder & Gabbett, 2022). Match location may also influence external loads, as prior research has shown greater intensity efforts at home matches (Lago-Peñas, 2012; Oliva-Lozano et al, 2021).…”

“…For instance, if a player is out of position, other players may have to work harder until that player recovers(Dalen et al, 2020). Tactical formation has also been shown to alter positional workloads, as workloads may change based on the configuration of defenders, midfielders, and forwards due to space allotted for each player to cover while attacking, defending, and transitioning(Calder & Gabbett, 2022). Another important consideration is that tactical assignments may vary from player to player, even within the same position from match to match(Carling et al, 2016).…”