Effect of formation, ball in play and ball possession on peak demands in elite soccer

Abstract

This study examined the most demanding passages of match play (MDP) and the effects of playing formation, ball-in-play (BiP) time and ball possession on the 1-min peak (1-min peak ) demand in elite soccer. During 18 official matches, 305 individual samples from 223 Italian Serie A soccer players were collected. MDP and 1-min peak were calculated across playing position (central defenders, wide defenders, central midfielders, wide midfielders, wide forwards and forwards). Maximum relative (m·min -1 ) total distance (TD), high-speed running (HSR), very high-speed running (VHSR), sprint (SPR), acceleration/deceleration (Acc/Dec), estimated metabolic power (P met ) and high-metabolic load (HML) distance were calculated across different durations (1–5, 10, 90 min) using a rolling method. Additionally, 1-min peak demand was compared across playing formation (3-4-1-2, 3-4-2-1, 3-5-2, 4-3-3, 4-4-2), BiP and ball/no-ball possession cycles. MDP showed large to verylarge [effect-size (ES): 1.20/4.06] differences between 1-min peak vs all durations for each parameter. In 1-min peak , central midfielders and wide midfielders achieved greater TD and HSR (ES:0.43/1.13) while wide midfielders and wide forwards showed greater SPR and Acc/Dec (ES:0.30/1.15) than other positions. For VHSR, SPR and Acc/Dec 1-min peak showed fourfold higher locomotor requirements than 90-min. 1-min peak for Acc/Dec was highest in 4-3-3 for forwards, central and wide midfielders. 1-min Peak was lower during peak BiP (BiP peak ) for HSR, VHSR and Acc/Dec (ES: -2.57/-1.42). Comparing with vs without ball possession, BiP peak was greater (ES: 0.06/1.48) in forwards and wide forwards and lower (ES: -2.12/-0.07) in central defenders and wide defenders. Positional differences in MDP, 1-min peak and BiP peak were observed. Soccer-specific drills should account for positional differences when conditioning players for the peak demands. This may help practitioners to bridge the training/match gap.

A Comparison of Match Demands Using Ball-in-Play versus Whole Match Data in Professional Soccer Players of the English Championship

“…These findings also support the research of Riboli et al [8] in Italian Serie A soccer players, who state discrete time frames, such as the most demanding periods of play, should be considered to properly condition players. Furthermore, Riboli et al [8] state that failure to do so may underestimate the outputs required when only considering whole match data samples.…”

“…However, BiP analysis is relatively new and, as such, there is a paucity of research in this area. Subsequently, the results of this study show that whole match data (which include periods when the ball is out of play) underestimate movement demands and support the growing research in this area [8,9,23,25]. These findings also support the research of Riboli et al [8] in Italian Serie A soccer players, who state discrete time frames, such as the most demanding periods of play, should be considered to properly condition players.…”

“…Subsequently, the results of this study show that whole match data (which include periods when the ball is out of play) underestimate movement demands and support the growing research in this area [8,9,23,25]. These findings also support the research of Riboli et al [8] in Italian Serie A soccer players, who state discrete time frames, such as the most demanding periods of play, should be considered to properly condition players. Furthermore, Riboli et al [8] state that failure to do so may underestimate the outputs required when only considering whole match data samples.…”

“…Modern microtechnology (i.e., Global Positioning System (GPS) can be used to quantify individual and team training loads and has become commonplace in semi-professional and professional soccer club [7][8][9][10]. GPS microtechnology provides reliable and valid measurements of over-ground speed, from which several kinematic variables can be derived [11,12], including distance and relative distance in selected speed zones, and the frequency of accelerations and decelerations [13].…”

“…For example, the concept of effective playing time was analyzed at a men's European Soccer Championship, which showed the game was active for 54.4 ± 4 min [21]. More recently, match activity profiles during periods of ballin-play (BiP) were reported to provide a more accurate representation of match demands compared to whole match variables [8,9,22]. This concept aims to exclude all stoppages in play from the analysis, such as substitutions, the ball leaving the field of play, and dead play during free kicks or set pieces.…”