Player load in male elite soccer: Comparisons of patterns between matches and positions

Dalen, Terje; Aune, Tore; Hjelde, Geir Håvard; Ettema, Gertjan; Sandbakk, Øyvind; McGhie, David

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0239162

Cited by 7 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The total distance covered was monitored in 13 of the 17 studies included in this systematic review. This finding confirms that the total distance covered is, historically, one of the first variables to be monitored and the most commonly used variable for measuring external load in many sports [ 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 ]. Our results show that an elite handball player covered an average of 3664.4 ± 1121.6 m during a match (from 1346.6 ± 3852.5 to 6943.9 ± 364.4 m).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Physical Demands during Official Competitions in Elite Handball: A Systematic Review

García-Sánchez

Navarro

Karcher

et al. 2023

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

An understanding of physical demands during official competitions is essential to achieving the highest performance in handball. The aim of this systematic review was to summarise the available scientific evidence associated with physical demands during official competitions in elite handball according to playing positions, competition level and gender. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, 17 studies were selected after a systematic search and selection process of three digital databases: PubMed, Web of Science and Sport Discus. The quality of the selected studies was evaluated using the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology checklist; the average score was 18.47 points. The sample consisted of 1175 handball players, of whom 1042 were men (88.68%) and 133 were women (11.32%). The results show that an elite handball player covered on average 3664.4 ± 1121.6 m during a match. The average running pace was 84.8 ± 17.2 m∙min−1. The total distance covered was largely greater in national competitions (4506.7 ± 647.9 m) compared with international competitions (2190.3 ± 1950.5 m) (effect size (ES) = 1.2); however, the running pace did not present any significant difference between the international or national level (ES = 0.06). In regard to gender, the total distance covered was moderately greater in female competitions (4549.1 ± 758.6 m) compared with male competitions (3332.6 ± 1257.7 m) (ES = 0.9), and the running pace was largely greater in female competitions (110.5 ± 7.2 m∙min−1) compared with male competitions (78.4 ± 19.7 m∙min−1) (ES = 1.6). In relation to playing position, backs and wings covered a moderately greater total distance (ES = 0.7 and 0.6) and slightly more meters per minute (ES = 0.4 and 0.2) than pivots. Moreover, the technical activity profile differed between playing positions. Backs performed moderately more throws than pivots and wings (ES = 1.2 and 0.9), pivots exhibited largely more body contact than backs and wings, and wings performed moderately more fast breaks (6.7 ± 3.0) than backs (2.2 ± 2.3) (ES = 1.8). Therefore, this research study provides practical applications for handball coaches and strength and conditioning professionals with respect to designing and implementing more individualised training programmes to maximise performance and reduce injury risk.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Physical Demands during Official Competitions in Elite Handball: A Systematic Review

García-Sánchez

Navarro

Karcher

et al. 2023

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Physical competition characteristics vary by playing position, depending on a number of situational factors, including tactical decisions, team formation, opponents style of play and level of competition [ 159 , 160 ]. Total distance during a professional men’s match ranges from 10 to 12 km, with central midfielders covering the highest distance (11,885 m) while central defenders and strikers cover the lowest (10,671 m and 10,790 m, respectively) [ 161 ].…”

Section: Sport Specific Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Tracking Systems in Team Sports: A Narrative Review of Applications of the Data and Sport Specific Analysis

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Seeking to obtain a competitive advantage and manage the risk of injury, team sport organisations are investing in tracking systems that can quantify training and competition characteristics. It is expected that such information can support objective decision-making for the prescription and manipulation of training load. This narrative review aims to summarise, and critically evaluate, different tracking systems and their use within team sports. The selection of systems should be dependent upon the context of the sport and needs careful consideration by practitioners. The selection of metrics requires a critical process to be able to describe, plan, monitor and evaluate training and competition characteristics of each sport. An emerging consideration for tracking systems data is the selection of suitable time analysis, such as temporal durations, peak demands or time series segmentation, whose best use depends on the temporal characteristics of the sport. Finally, examples of characteristics and the application of tracking data across seven popular team sports are presented. Practitioners working in specific team sports are advised to follow a critical thinking process, with a healthy dose of scepticism and awareness of appropriate theoretical frameworks, where possible, when creating new or selecting an existing metric to profile team sport athletes.

show abstract

“…11 However, this pattern was not observed for other external load variables such as distance covered, sprinting distance, total accelerations, or total decelerations. 11 This is also consistent with other investigations, which observed that playing position had no significant effect on the locomotor efficiency (ie, PL TOTAL per meter covered) 28 and that the variance in the PL TOTAL was not significantly explained by the positional role during elite soccer match play. 1 Nevertheless, other researchers also showed that positional differences in PL TOTAL may exist across playing positions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…In this regard, a recent study observed that the pattern of development of the PL TOTAL , PL V , PL ML , and PL AP throughout match time was very similar in all playing positions, which implies that physical pacing patterns might be employed by soccer players. 11 However, this pattern was not observed for other external load variables such as distance covered, sprinting distance, total accelerations, or total decelerations. 11 This is also consistent with other investigations, which observed that playing position had no significant effect on the locomotor efficiency (ie, PL TOTAL per meter covered) 28 and that the variance in the PL TOTAL was not significantly explained by the positional role during elite soccer match play.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Exploring the Use of Player Load in Elite Soccer Players

Oliva-Lozano

Conte

Fortes

et al. 2022

Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: The aims of this study were to (1) analyze the distribution of the player load (PLTOTAL) in 3 axes of movement (PLAP, anterior-posterior; PLML, medial-lateral; PLV, vertical) during elite soccer matches, (2) investigate the effect of playing position on PL-related variables, and (3) explore the association between PLTOTAL and distance covered by the players. Hypothesis: Despite different load distribution between axes of movement, PLTOTAL might be used as a body load indicator for all playing positions. Study Design: Longitudinal study. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Methods: Data were collected from elite soccer players using WIMU Pro tracking systems, which included inertial sensors. Results: The axis of movement had a significant effect on the distribution of the load ( P < 0.001; conditional R2 = 0.91), with the greatest contribution from the PLV ( P < 0.001; d = 5.41-5.86). Moreover, no effect of playing position on PLTOTAL, PLV, PLML, or PLAP was observed ( P > 0.05). Finally, a large correlation was found between PLTOTAL and distance covered, and the linear mixed model showed that distance may be predicted by the PLTOTAL (conditional R2 = 0.81; P < 0.001). Conclusion: Differences in load distribution were based on the axis of movement, although playing position had no effect on any variable. The selection of either distance covered, which is representative of a 2-dimensional analysis, or PLTOTAL, which is representative of a 3-dimensional analysis, may be adequate for monitoring locomotor demands or accelerometer-derived load. Clinical Relevance: Training strategies that focus on the vertical component of match play should be adopted. In addition, given that PLTOTAL is an accelerometry-based metric, which combines the accelerations in anterior-posterior, medial-lateral, and vertical planes, strength and conditioning coaches may use this parameter as a measure of total body load.

show abstract

Player load in male elite soccer: Comparisons of patterns between matches and positions

Cited by 7 publications

References 31 publications

Physical Demands during Official Competitions in Elite Handball: A Systematic Review

Physical Demands during Official Competitions in Elite Handball: A Systematic Review

Tracking Systems in Team Sports: A Narrative Review of Applications of the Data and Sport Specific Analysis

Exploring the Use of Player Load in Elite Soccer Players

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About