Load Measures in Training/Match Monitoring in Soccer: A Systematic Review

Abstract

In soccer, the assessment of the load imposed by training and a match is recognized as a fundamental task at any competitive level. The objective of this study is to carry out a systematic review on internal and external load monitoring during training and/or a match, identifying the measures used. In addition, we wish to make recommendations that make it possible to standardize the classification and use of the different measures. The systematic review was carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The search was conducted through the electronic database Web of Science, using the keywords “soccer” and “football”, each one with the terms “internal load”, “external load”, and “workload”. Of the 1223 studies initially identified, 82 were thoroughly analyzed and are part of this systematic review. Of these, 25 articles only report internal load data, 20 report only external load data, and 37 studies report both internal and external load measures. There is a huge number of load measures, which requires that soccer coaches select and focus their attention on the most useful and specific measures. Standardizing the classification of the different measures is vital in the organization of this task, as well as when it is intended to compare the results obtained in different investigations.

Effects of Match Location, Quality of Opposition and Match Outcome on Match Running Performance in a Portuguese Professional Football Team

“…Both acceleration variables (ACC and DEC) considered the movements made in the maximum intensity zone (3 m•s −2 ): ACC (>3 m•s −2 ) and ACC (<3 m•s −2 ). The high-intensity activity thresholds were adapted from previous studies [6,7].…”

“…Additionally, the contextual factors and their changes seem to differ between playing positions. These differences in the effects of contextual factors can be considered to control the weekly training load and adequately taper the strategy in preparation for the next match-play [6,7].…”

“…The high-intensity activity (>19.8 km•h -1 ) represents 8-10% of the total distance completed, since most movement activities are carried out in low-intensity zones [4,5]. The distances covered at high intensities are a valid indicator to evaluate physical performance in professional football given its relationship with the training process [6,7]. High-speed running, sprints, tackles, impact accelerations and decelerations occur intermittently in a match-play, which require greater physiological and neuromuscular demands [8].…”

“…Researchers' and practitioners' interest in the physical performance has been growing over the last four decades at the professional football level [9,10]. Monitoring players' work-rate profiles during training and competition has become more practicable with computer-aided time-motion approaches [5][6][7]. Additionally, using tracking systems to monitor match demands has become a hot topic of research, referring to work rate, activity profile or match running performance [5,9,11,12].…”

Relationship between training load and match running performance in men's soccer

“…The quantification of professional male soccer players' running demands during training and competitions has gained an enormous amount of interest from sports scientists and coaches [1]. From a team sports perspective, soccer is documented as being one of the most demanding sports in terms of total distance (TD) covered [2].…”