Match and Training High Intensity Activity-Demands Profile during a Competitive Mesocycle in Youth Elite Soccer Players

Abstract

The monitoring of the high intensity activity-demands profile during official matches (OMs) and training sessions (TSs) provides a deeper understanding of the relationship between training and competition loads as well as players’ fitness characteristics. The aims of this study were to: 1) describe the training and match high intensity activity-demands profile in U-19 soccer players; 2) compare the profile depending on the type of session (OM or TS) throughout match-weeks; and 3) differentiate between profiles depending on the match location (home or away). Twenty-five U-19 Spanish soccer players were monitored during TSs and OMs for a one-month competitive period using a WIMU PROTM wearable inertial device. The variables of the study were: high speed running distance (HSRD), total sprints (SPs), maximum speed (MS) and player load (PL). OMs required higher demands than TSs in HSRD (460.99 ± 206.18 vs. 315.45 ± 180.12 m; p < 0.01; d = 0.75), SPs (10.86 ± 6.64 vs. 7.23 ± 4.82; p < 0.01; d = 0.69), MS (29.99 ± 2.54 vs. 28.50 ± 2.4 km/h; p < 0.01; d = 0.59) and PL (103.08 ± 24.15 vs. 83.18 ± 17.96 a.u.; p < 0.01; d = 0.94). The interaction between the type of session and mean week’s demands presented differences with medium effect size in MS (p < 0.01; ωp 2 = 0.06) and small effect size in HSRD (p = 0.04; ωp 2 = 0.03), and SP (p = 0.05; ωp 2 = 0.03), but there were no differences in PL (p = 0.18; ωp 2 = 0). Finally, no differences were found in the match location comparison (p > 0.33; d = 0.22–0.33). Therefore, the profiles presented could be useful for future scientific purposes and serve as valid information for coaches trying to optimize performance.

Effect of Playing Position, Match Half, and Match Day on the Trunk Inclination, G-Forces, and Locomotor Efficiency Experienced by Elite Soccer Players in Match Play

“…However, the players who could not participate in the total duration of the match were not included in the study to avoid the effect of pacing strategies [2,3,25,26]. In addition, goalkeepers were excluded from the analysis given the differences in the activity-profile [27].…”

Decomposing the variability of match physical performance in professional soccer: Implications for monitoring individuals

“…In recent years, load monitoring in sport has evolved through the increasing use of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) [1][2][3]. Current GPS allow the measurement of velocity and acceleration through doppler-derived methods, which allow the quantification of external training and competition loads such as distance covered, the count of efforts and identification of peak speed [4][5][6][7]. Importantly, while external loads are not the stimulus for functional training adaptations, their measurement can provide a useful objective marker of physical performance output, which plays a role in managing the overall training process [8].…”

Integrating video tracking and GPS to quantify accelerations and decelerations in elite soccer

“…It weighs 70 g and measures 81 × 45 × 16 mm. It has been used to quantify soccer demands in previous studies 29 , 30 . WIMU PRO uses two devices to determine location, and these can be used simultaneously to record the player’s position.…”