Seasonal analysis of match load in professional soccer players: An observational cohort study of a Swiss U18, U21 and first team

Abstract

The aim of this study was to quantify and compare various external match load measures in three age groups and leagues in male soccer (U18 in highest league of their age group vs U21 in fourth highest league vs first team in highest league). In this retrospective observational cohort study accelerations, decelerations, absolute and relative high-speed running as well as sprint distance, dynamic stress load, explosive distance, high intensity bursts total distance, high metabolic load (HML) distance, speed intensity, total distance, total time, and total loading were assessed in 416 individual player matches of 59 players. All these external load measures showed large inter-individual variability. At a group level, one-way ANOVAs or Kruskal–Wallis tests revealed statistically significant differences between the three teams for all measures analyzed (all p < 0.05), except accelerations. The first team displayed statistically significant higher dynamic stress load, explosive distance, HML distance, speed intensity, total distance and total loading compared to the two youth teams (all p < 0.05). The U18 featured statistically significant higher number of decelerations, absolute and relative high-speed running distance, high metabolic load distance, speed intensity, relative sprint distance, total distance, and total time than the U21, while for U21 higher dynamic stress load was observed than for U18 (all p < 0.05). Based on our data we conclude a routinely monitoring of match loads of different age groups and competitive settings to be required to 1) provide an indication of what players need to be prepared for, 2) track the athletic and match evolution, and 3) individually tailor training programs allowing players to fulfill the short- and long-term sport-specific requirements.

Training and match load ratios in professional soccer–should we use player- or position-specific match reference values?

“…Apex 10 Hz is a multi-GNSS augmented unit, capable of acquiring and tracking multiple satellite systems (e.g., GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou) concurrently to provide the best possible position information. The Apex GNSS model reports information about the number of satellites connected (M = 15.1, SD = 1.8, range 10 to 22), which was lower than reported in previous literature (6,34,35). The Apex units present the following characteristics: 30 mm (wide) × 80 mm (high) dimensions, 48 g weight, 100 Hz gyroscope, 100 Hz tri-axial accelerometer, and 10 Hz magnetometer.…”

“…Knowing what soccer players physically need to be prepared for requires a solid understanding of the sport-specific demands (6)(7)(8)(9). Measures of load, both in training and matches, can be categorized as either external or internal, depending on whether they refer to measurable aspects occurring externally or internally to the athlete (10)(11)(12).…”

“…In order to optimally develop the physical capabilities of soccer players, training stimuli need to be applied individually even within a team environment (10,(13)(14)(15)(16). To individually tailor training programs, maximizing positive physiological adaptation and simultaneously preventing injury and illness, careful load monitoring is required (10)(11)(12)(13)17).…”

“…To individually tailor training programs, maximizing positive physiological adaptation and simultaneously preventing injury and illness, careful load monitoring is required (10)(11)(12)(13)17). Within load monitoring, employing an integrated load monitoring approach (i.e., rigorous and consistent, combining both external and internal loads) seems crucial (10)(11)(12)(13)15).…”

A 10-week FIFA 11+ program improves the short-sprint and modified agility T-test performance in elite seven-a-side soccer players

“…Soccer is a team sport that encompasses a wide range of physical demands, including short and long sprints, agility, rapid changes in direction, tackling, jumping, and kicking the ball ( Haycraft et al, 2017 ; Seyedi et al, 2023 ). Consequently, it garners significant attention from researchers and practitioners, aiming to optimize training methods and techniques for enhanced physical performance ( Miguel et al, 2021 ; Torres-Ronda et al, 2022 ; Ammann et al, 2023 ). In this context, the development of effective warm-up programs, which prepare soccer players for these challenges, holds paramount importance ( Fort-Vanmeerhaeghe et al, 2016 ).…”