The current study confirmed the decrement in a player's performance toward the end of a match in all playing positions. Wide midfielders displayed the highest and fittest levels of physical and physiological demands, respectively, whereas center backs had the lowest and least-fit levels of physical and physiological demands, respectively. The position-specific relationship between external and internal load confirms that players with more overall running performance during the full match were the best in eff.

The aim was to compare the running activity in official matches with that achieved in two small-sided games, designed with the same relative area per player but with different constraints and field dimensions, aiming to stimulate high-speed and very-high-speed running. Seventeen young professional players played one 5 vs. 5+5 with 2 floaters, varying in terms of whether there was a change of playing area (SSGCA) or not change (SSGNC). Running activity was monitored using GPS and the following variables were recorded: total distance covered; high-speed distance (18–21 km·h−1); very high-speed distance (>21 km·h−1); peak speed; accelerations and decelerations between 2–3 m·s−2 and above 3 m·s−2. SSGCA achieved statistically higher total distance, high-speed, peak speed and number of accelerations and decelerations than SSGNC (large to small magnitude). Both drills showed statistically greater high speed, number of accelerations and decelerations than official matches (large to small magnitude). Moreover, SSGCA exhibited statistically more total distance and distance at higher speed than official matches (moderate and small magnitude, respectively). In contrast, official matches showed statistically higher peak speeds than both training tasks and more very high speed than SSGNC (large and moderate magnitude, respectively). Coaches could use SSGCA to promote greater running activity in soccer players.

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationships between countermovement jump (CMJ) height and inertial power in squat and sprint variables with change of direction (COD) performance. Fifty young healthy active males participated in the study. To determine these relationships, we carried out a 10-m linear sprint test (T 10 m), vertical jump tests (CMJ and CMJ Abalakov), an assessment of power relative to bodyweight in a flywheel squat (P bw ), and 10-m COD sprints with two different turn types (COD-90 • and COD-180 • ). T10 m showed statistically large and moderate correlations with T10 m COD-180 • (r = 0.55) and T10-m COD-90 • (r = 0.41), respectively. Moderate to large correlations between jumping height, linear sprinting, and sprints with COD were found (r = −0.43 to r = −0.59), and there were unclear correlations between jumping height and the loss of speed caused by executing COD (DEC-COD). P bw showed a large correlation with CMJ Abalakov and CMJ jump height (r = 0.65 and r = 0.57, respectively), and a moderate and large correlation with T 10 m, T 10 m COD-180 • , and T10 m COD-90 • (r = −0.33, r = −0.38, and r = −0.54, respectively). Despite the existence of substantial correlations between variables, straight linear sprinting, jumping performance, CODs and squat power were, for the most part, separate motor qualities (R 2 from 14% to 34%), suggesting that all of them should be specifically assessed and trained.

Pareja-Blanco, F, Asi án-Clemente, JA, and S áez de Villarreal, E. Combined squat and light-load resisted sprint training for improving athletic performance. J Strength Cond Res 35(9): 2457-2463, 2021-This study aimed to analyze the effects of 5 training methods: squat (SQ), light-load sled towing (LST), heavy-load sled towing (HST), squat combined with LST (SQ + LST), and squat combined with HST (SQ + HST) on physical performance. Ninety-one physically active men were randomly assigned to one of the aforementioned training methods or a control group. Before and after the training period, a battery of tests was completed: 30-m sprint; change of direction (COD); countermovement jump (CMJ) and Abalakov jump (ABK); and estimated 1 repetition maximum (1RM) in squat.Training took place once per week for 8 weeks. SQ trained the squat exercise, HST trained resisted sprints with 80% body mass (BM) load, LST trained resisted sprints with 12.5% BM load, SQ + HST combined squat with 80% BM load resisted sprint, and SQ + LST combined squat with 12.5% BM load resisted sprint. The loads used in squat ranged from 40 to 55% 1RM. After the training program, SQ + LST showed improvements in 0-to 30-, 10-to 20-, and 10-to 30-m sprint times, whereas SQ + HST did not achieve significant enhancements over any sprint time. LST and HST improved over 0-20 and 10-30 m, respectively. SQ showed improvements in 20-to 30-m sprint time. Change of direction and CMJ performance were increased for HST, SQ + HST, and SQ + LST, whereas only SQ + LST improved ABK height. SQ, HST, SQ + HST, and SQ + LST increased 1RM. Squat training with low/moderate loads combined with LST (12.5% BM) may be an effective stimulus for improving leg strength, jump ability, COD, and sprint performance.

The purpose of this study was to compare the physical and physiological demands of a small-sided game (SSG) in three different age groups (senior, under-19 [U-19] and under-17 [U-17]) belonging to the same academy. A further aim was to contrast the physical and physiological profiles of normal and floater players during this task. Thirty male football players performed a 4 vs. 4 + 2 floaters on a playing field of 40 by 30m for four bouts of 4 min with 2 min of passive recovery. In addition to heart rate (mean and maximal), a GPS (Global Positioning System) system was used to record the distances covered at different speeds, the number of accelerations and decelerations, and the work/rest ratio (W:R Ratio). Analysis of the data showed that the demands of the SSGs are determined by the age of the players and that the regular players have greater demands than floater players in the SSGs utilized. These results suggest that the coaches should pay attention to the promotion of players to superior teams because there are physical differences between them (especially the U-17 to U-19 teams). Likewise, coaches should understand that floaters are a useful tool for regulating the training load of players and programming the return-to-play process, as floater players experience lower demands than normal players.