Quantification of Pre-Season and In-Season Training Intensity across an Entire Competitive Season of Asian Professional Soccer Players

Abstract

The aim of this study was to quantify the training load in two microcycles (Ms) from pre- and another two from in-season and to analyze playing position influences on the load experienced by professional soccer players. Nineteen Asian athletes, including four central defenders, four wide defenders, six central midfielders, three wide midfielders, and two strikers participated in this study. The micro-electromechanical system was used to collect training duration, total distance, and data from Zone 1 (0–3.9 km·h−1), Zone 2 (4–7.1 km·h−1), Zone 3 (7.2–14.3 km·h−1), Zone 4 (14.4–19.7 km·h−1), and Zone 5 (>19.8 km·h−1), heart rate maximum (HRmax), and average (HRavg). The load was reduced on the last day of the Ms, with the exception of Zone 5, in M1, where higher values were found on the last day. Significant differences were observed between central and wide defenders for distance covered in Zone 4 (effect-size: ES = −4.83) in M2 and M4 (ES = 4.96). Throughout all the Ms, a constant HRmax (165–188 bpm) and HRavg (119–145 bpm) were observed. There was a tendency to decrease the load on the last day of the Ms. In general, there were higher external training loads in Ms from the pre-season than in-season. Wide defenders and wide midfielders showed higher distances covered with high-intensity running.

Monitoring Internal Training Intensity Correlated with Neuromuscular and Well-Being Status in Croatian Professional Soccer Players during Five Weeks of the Pre-Season Training Phase

“…Additionally, training intensities may vary according to the objectives of different phases of an entire annual training season, including the pre-season, during which coaches are striving to recondition players to attain the fitness levels of the past season, while during the in-season, maintaining the fitness levels achieved during the pre-season is the main objective [11]. This could apply to soccer players' specific intensities in accordance with each distinct phase [12], which could therefore have a different impact on the players' abilities to adapt, recover, and maintain their well-being. Specifically, previous researchers have assessed these variables in the pre-season [13][14][15] and the in-season [16][17][18], comparing both training periods [11,12,15].…”

“…This could apply to soccer players' specific intensities in accordance with each distinct phase [12], which could therefore have a different impact on the players' abilities to adapt, recover, and maintain their well-being. Specifically, previous researchers have assessed these variables in the pre-season [13][14][15] and the in-season [16][17][18], comparing both training periods [11,12,15]. Regarding the pre-season phase, it has been previously reported by Buchheit et al [13] that during the 2 weeks of pre-season camp, there were significant day-to-day variations in training intensity (coefficient of variation [CV] = 66%) and wellness measures (6-18%), while the overall well-being did not change substantially throughout the camp, and that all well-being measures were related to delta training intensity.…”

“…Due to the specificity of the pre-season training phase and its role in preparing players to handle the demands of the matches, and due to its specificity in terms of higher intensities compared to those in the in-season period [11,12,15], tracking players adaptations to this training period is of great interest, as it determines the success of the entire competitive season. Moreover, variations in well-being and training intensity outcomes, as well as relationships between them, must be determined when designing a training program for different season phases.…”

Load Monitoring and Its Relationship with Healthcare in Sports

“…Another study compared the external load between official and friendly matches and between the first and second halves of professional soccer players [ 14 ], while another analyzed differences among playing positions: whether playing home/away matches and if playing in the first or second part of the championship influence the external load of amateur soccer [ 15 ]. Moreover, external load was compared between starters and non-starters [ 16 ] and among the playing positions [ 17 ] of professional soccer players based on different parts of a full season. A sub-analysis of a specific type of training exercise (i.e., small-sided games) was performed to analyze the between-session and within-player variability of heart rates and external load of young male soccer players [ 18 ].…”