Accumulative weekly load in a professional football team: with special reference to match playing time and game position

The aim of this study was to compare weekly accumulative load during the in-season competitive period by professional soccer players according to the amount of time played in official matches (90-min, >60-min, 19.8 km·h-1), sprint meters (SPR; >25.2 km·h-1), high metabolic load distance (HMLD; >25.5 W·kg-1), number of accelerations (ACC; >3 m·s-2) and decelerations (DEC; 60-min vs. <60-min and 0-min), HSR (90-min vs. <60-min and 0-min) and SPR (90-min vs. <60-min and 0-min). In addition, less positional variation was observed in relation to the competition requirements. This information would allow coaches to refine the required load with the objective of optimizing performance to soccer players

The Quantification of a Professional Football Teams External Load Using a Microcycle Structure

The aims of this study were to (1) determine the external load of a football team across playing position and relative to competition for a structured microcycle and (2) examine the loading and variation the day after competition for players with or without game time. Training and match data were obtained from twenty-four professional football players who belonging to the reserve squad of a Spanish La Liga Club during the 2015/16 season using global positioning technology (n=37 matches and n=42 training weeks). Training load data were analyzed with respect to the number of days before or after a match (MD minus or plus). Training load metrics declined as competition approached (MD-4>MD-3>MD-2>MD-1; pMD+1R; p<0.05; ES: 1.4-1.6). Acceleration and deceleration metrics during training exceeded 50% of that performed in competition for MD+1C (80-86%), MD-4 (71-72%), MD-3 (62-69%) and MD-2 (56-61%). Full backs performed more high-speed running and sprint distance than other positions at MD-3 and MD-4 (p<0.05; ES: 0.8-1.7). The coefficient of variation for weekly training sessions ranged from ~40% for MD-3 and MD-4 to ~80% for MD+1R. The data demonstrate that the external load of a structured microcycle varied substantially based on the players training day and position. This information could be useful for applied sports scientists when trying to systematically manage load, particularly compensatory conditioning for players without game time