The aim of this study was to examine physical variables between four weeks
before and eight weeks after two coach turnovers in a second division
Norwegian football club for both training and matches. Individual physical data
(n=1174 observations) was derived from the players using GPS-data in
combination with the subjects employing wearable instruments from Catapult.
The means for variables were divided into four study periods (training 2019,
matches 2019, training 2021, and matches 2021) to analyze each variable for
each of the four periods. The training period in 2019 revealed four variables
having a significant negative effect, including total distance covered, sprint
running distance, total player load, and total player load 2D, with all parameters
representing a small effect size. Only repeat high-intensity efforts had a
statistically significant negative effect for matches in 2019, with the effect size
being small. For the training period in 2021, sprint running distance had a small
positive effect size but a statistically significant positive outcome. On the other
hand, decelerations in band 3 had a statistically significant and small negative
influence after the switch. High-speed running distance revealed a statistically
significant negative effect, with the effect size being moderate for matches in
2021
