Effect of training day, match, and length of the microcycle on the worst-case scenarios in professional soccer players

Abstract

© 2021 Informa UK Limited This document is the accepted version of a published work that appeared in final form in Research in Sports Medicine. This document is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 To access the final edited and published work see: https://doi.org/10.1080/15438627.2021.1895786This study aimed to describe in-season worst-case scenarios (WCS) of professional soccer players and compare the WCS between training and match days (MD), considering the length of microcycle. A cohort study was designed for four competitive mesocycles in LaLiga123. The WCS of distance covered (DIS), high-speed running distance (HSRD), and sprinting distance (SPD) for four different WCS durations (1ʹ, 3ʹ, 5ʹ, 10ʹ) were analysed. Statistical differences between the WCS from training and MD were found at all intensities and periods. The magnitude of differences was moderate in DIS-1ʹ (F= 15.49; p 0.05). In conclusion, specific WCS training programmes (e.g., including 1 min to 10-min training drills in MD-4) may be useful to prepare the demands required on MD