Analysis of the acceleration profile according to initial speed and positional role in elite professional male soccer players

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to analyze the acceleration profile in elite professional soccer players according to their initial speed but also considering players' position. Players' accelerations profiles were analyzed using a relative acceleration profile according to the initial speed (S1, from 0 to 7 km/h; S2, from 7.1 to 14.3 km/h; and S3, ≥14.4 km/h) and the maximum acceleration. Within-group analyzes showed that center backs (CB) performed more high intensity accelerations (likely) when they started in S1 than S2 (effect size [ES] 0.50). Strikers (S) and wide midfielders (W-MD) achieved more accelerations (likely to almost certain) starting in S3 than S1 (ES=0.80 and ES=0.59, respectively) and S2 (ES=0.67 and ES=1.09, respectively). Full backs (FB) completed more accelerations (almost certain) starting in S1 and S3 than S2 (ES=1.39 and ES=1.36, respectively). Finally, midfielders (MD) executed a greater number of high intensity accelerations (likely to almost certain) when they started in S1 than S2 (ES=0.83) and S3 (ES=0.66), and in S3 than S2 (ES=4.72). Between-group analyzes showed that S, W-MD, and FB performed a greater total number of high intensity accelerations (very likely to almost certain) than CB (ES=1.94, ES=1.57, and ES=1.51, respectively) and MD (ES=1.23, ES=0.92; and ES=0.81, respectively). Furthermore, MD performed substantially greater total number of high intensity accelerations (likely) than CB (ES=0.56). Results suggest that CB achieved more high-intensity accelerations starting in low and moderate speed, S and W-MD in high speed, and FB combined low and high speed.