Three-, Four-, and Five-Day Microcycles: The Normality in Professional Football

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to quantify training and match-day (MD) load during 3-, 4-, and 5-day microcycles in professional adult football, as well as to analyze the effect of the microcycle length on training load produced the day after the match (MD + 1) and the day before the match (MD − 1). Methods: The study involved 20 male professional football players whose external and internal loads were monitored for a whole season. The training exposure, total distance covered, high-speed-running distance, sprint distance (SD), individual SD above 80% of the individual maximum velocity (D > 80%), and the number of accelerations and decelerations were quantified, as well as rating of perceived exertion and session rating of perceived exertion training load. Results: Microcycle length affected most of the variables of interest: high-speed-running distance (F = 9.04, P < .01), SD (F = 13.90, P < .01), D > 80% (F = 20.25, P < .01), accelerations (F = 10.12, P < .01), and decelerations (F = 6.01, P < .01). There was an interaction effect between the training day and microcycle type for SD (F = 5.46, P < .01), D > 80% (F = 4.51, P < .01), accelerations (F = 2.24, P = .06), and decelerations (F = 3.91, P < .01). Conclusions: Coaches seem to be influenced by shorter microcycles in their training proposal, preferring sessions with a reduced muscle impact during shorter microcycles. Independent of the length of the congested fixture microcycle, the daily load seems to decrease when MD approaches.