Comparing Position Specific GPS Normative Data in Professional Female Club Soccer

Objective: To establish normative ranges in common performance tests for professional women’s club soccer. Setting:1st division professional women’s soccer club in the United States Participants: Twenty-eight healthy professional women’s soccer players (Age: 27.8 ± 5.1 years; Body Mass: 66.2 ± 6.7 kg). Main Outcome Measures: Countermovement Jump, Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull, and Nordic Hamstring Curl tests were performed to obtain lower body compound strength, power, and eccentric hamstring strength. Paired-samples t tests were used to determine between-limbs differences for each outcome measure. Results: Jump height had a mean of 28.9 ± 4.2 cm. Peak vertical force (IMTP) had a mean of 1869 ± 262N, with relative peak vertical force (21.6 ± 2.04 N/kg). Nordic hamstring results included L max force (310.0 ± 66.4 N) and R max force (298.9 ± 50.2 N). Conclusion: These metrics help professionals (athletic trainers, physical therapists, sports scientists, and physicians) identify female soccer players whose performance is either inside or outside normative data.

The current study aimed to describe the distribution of physical and technical performance during the different phases of play in professional Australian Football. The phases of play (offence, defence, contested play, umpire stoppages, set shots and goal resets) were manually coded from video footage for a single team competing in 18 matches in the Australian Football League. Measures of physical performance including total distance (m), average speed (m · min−1), low-speed running (LSR, <14.4 km h−1), high-speed running (HSR, >14.4 km h−1), accelerations (2.78 m · s−2) and decelerations (−2.78 m · s−2) were derived from each phase of play via global positioning system (GPS) devices. Technical skill data including tackles, handballs and kicks were obtained from a commercial statistics provider and derived from each phase of play. Linear mixed-effects models and effect sizes were used to assess and reflect the differences in physical and technical performance between the six phases of play. Activity and recovery cycles, defined as periods where the ball was in or out of play were also described using mean and 95% confidence intervals. The analysis showed that several similarities existed between offence and defence for physical performance metrics. Contested play involved the highest total distance, LSR, accelerations, decelerations and tackles compared to all other phases. Offence and defence involved the highest average speed and HSR running distances. Handballs and kicks were highest during offence, while tackles were highest during contested play, followed by defence. Activity and recovery cycles involved mean durations of ~110 and ~39 s and average speeds of ~160 and ~84 m · min−1, respectively. The integration of video, GPS and technical skill data can be used to investigate specific phases of Australian Football match-play and subsequently guide match analysis and training design.

Introduction: Although football is recognized as the fastest growing sport globally, scientific literature on female footballis still limited. Available published data in understanding the physical demands of female football players have described the necessity of a high level of physical conditioning during matches with average heart rates of 84-86% maximum heart rate and an average of 9.1-11.9 km in total distance covered in the running. The most commonly utilized physical performance measures reported are high-speed running (19km/h-23km/h) and sprinting (&gt;23 km/h). A better understanding of football's physical, technical and tactical demands has resulted from investigations of both training and matches by wearing a global positioning system unit.Objective: This study aimed to assess the running speed and the proportions of different types of running during official competitions in elite female football players.Material and Method: A total of 22 female players (16 seniors and six juniors) that are part of a Romanian First League female football team -Politehnica Timisoara, have been monitored for running speed and covered distance in 6 official matches, which represent a quarter of the championship period. The assessment period was ten weeks (August-October 2021). The monitored parameters (total distance, distance/minute, low speed running, high speed running, sprint running, and maximum speed) wereobtained using K-Sport GPS with a high sampling rate of 50 Hz.Results: During the six analyzed matches the following average values were found: total covered distance -7906.33 ± 1176.68 m, distance/minute -90.83 ± 3.72 m/min, low-speed running distance-7598.50 ± 1102.16 m, high-speed running distance -308 ± 101.31 m, sprint running distance -69.50 ± 28.54 m, and maximum speed -25.13 ± 0.84 km/h.Conclusion: Regarding the monitored parameters (total distance, average speed, proportion of different speed running, maximum speed), we observed a constancy between different matches. During female football matches, high-speed running and sprinting covered 4.77% of the total distance. Based on this data, a future training objective would be the enhancement of this percentage in order to optimize the key moments of the matches.

Introduction. The Yo-Yo Intermittent Endurance Test-Level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1) is considered a valuable measurement tool in assessing specific soccer endurance. However, there is a lack of recent research validating this test with regard to match running performance (MRP) in elite-level soccer. Material and Methods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of Yo-Yo IR1 in predicting MRP during elite-level soccer matches. The participants were soccer players who competed in the highest-level Croatian soccer league (23.57 ± 2.84 years, 181.9 ± 5.17 cm, 78.36 ± 4.18 kg), and they were all tested using Yo-Yo IR1 in the middle of the season 2019/2020. The players’ MRP (n = 71) was measured using the Global Positioning System over one-half season, and included the total distance covered, the distance covered in different speed zones, accelerations and decelerations. The association between MRP and Yo-Yo IR1 was identified with Pearson’s correlation. Results. The results indicated that central midfielders and fullbacks achieved significantly higher results in Yo-Yo IR1 than forwards and central defenders (F-test: 29.80; p &lt; 0.01; large effect size). Higher results in Yo-Yo IR1 were correlated with the match amount of (i) the total distance covered (r = 0.65); (ii) high-speed running (r = 0.42); (iii) high-intensity distance covered (r = 0.36); (iv) total accelerations (r = 0.37); and total decelerations (r = 0.42). Conclusions. The established associations between Yo-Yo IR1 and MRP in this study confirmed the validity of Yo-Yo IR1 in predicting MRP in professional soccer today.

This study aims to quantify and compare the external and internal training load demands of sided-game drills in professional team players during the competitive season. Twenty-four male professional soccer players of the same club were enrolled in this study. Drills were categorized as large-sided games (LSG): 10vs10 (84 × 60 m or 72 × 60 m), Hexagon possession 9vs9 + 3 (36 × 48 m), Possession gate 8vs8 + 2 (36 × 44 m), Possession 7vs7 + 3 (30 × 32 m) or as Small-sided games (SSG): 6vs6 (48 × 42 m), and Possession 6vs4 (30 × 60 m). A total of 7 drills and 279 individual data points were included in this analysis. Distance covered, high-speed running (HSR), and sprinting distance were all calculated in meters per minute (m.min−1) while total accelerations (>3 m.s−2) and total decelerations (− < 3 m.s−2) were calculated in number of actions per minute (n.min−1). All external load was measured with global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) STATSports Apex units. Players’ internal load was quantified using their rating of perceived exertion (RPE). We found that distance covered (p < 0.01, large), HSR (p < 0.01, large), and sprinting distance (p < 0.01, large) changed between drills (e.g., greater in LSG formats), acceleration (p < 0.01, large) and deceleration (p < 0.01, large) demands were greater in smaller formats (e.g., SSG 6vs6, and Possession 6vs4), while RPE was lower in the Possession gate 8vs8 + 2 format (p < 0.01, large). This study found that sided-games can replicate and sometimes exceed some match-specific intensity parameters, however, HSR and sprinting were consistently lower compared to official matches.

An analysis of the physical demands of international female soccer match-play and the physical characteristics of elite players

The activity profiles of football players during competition can be affected by the athletes' competitive level and sex. However, evidence of this in youth South American athletes is scarce as is the effects of body composition on match activity profiles. Therefore, the present study compared the activity profiles of Chilean under-20 (U20) and under-17 (U17) male and female teams during the World Cup qualification tournaments (WC) using a multicomponent athlete monitoring system and explored the relationships between these profiles and the players' body composition. Athlete's body composition was measured as there were total distance, distance covered at different velocities, explosive efforts, sprints, and estimated player load (PL) during the 2018-2019 World Cup Qualifiers. Males had greater muscle and lower fat mass than females and covered 10.8% more total distance with maximal speed being 15.3% faster in match play (P<0.05). However, females covered more distance at higher running speeds and had a greater number of sprints (P<0.05). For males, the U20 club was 3.7% faster and performed 26.3% more explosive efforts than the U17 club (P<0.05). Contrastingly, the female U17 club covered more total distance, more distance at different speeds had more total sprints, greater PL, and muscle mass than the U20 club (P<0.05). Across all athletes, fat mass correlated negatively to total distance (R=-0.39; P=0.001), while muscle mass correlated positively with maximal speed (R=0.72; P=0.001). Gender, competitive level, and body composition seem to affect match-activity profiles in football players during WC qualifiers.

The aims of this systematic review were (1) to summarize the evidence on absolute velocity thresholds used to classify high-speed running and sprinting, (2) to examine the existing evidence about the individualized thresholds approach, (3) to describe high-speed and sprint running distance match demands, and (4) to provide training strategies for eliciting HSR and sprinting during training sessions in professional adult soccer. This systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. After the authors' screening, 30 studies were included in this review. This review found that, to date, there is no consensus on the absolute thresholds defining high-speed and sprint running in adult soccer players. Until international standards are defined, it is reasonable to set absolute thresholds considering the range of values found in the literature collected in this review. Relative velocity thresholds could be considered for specific training sessions whose goal is to reach near maximal velocity exposure. During official matches, high-speed and sprint running distances ranged from 911 to 1,063 m and 223–307 m, respectively, in professional female soccer players, while ranges from 618 to 1,001 m and 153–295 m, respectively, in professional male soccer players. During training, game-based drills designed in formats using relative areas per player greater than 225 m2 and 300 m2 appear to be adequate for achieving high-speed running and sprinting exposure, respectively, for male players. The combination of game-based, running exercises and soccer circuit-based drills is advisable to ensure adequate high-speed and sprint running exposure both at a team and individual level.

Currently, many children and teenagers dream of becoming football players and dedicate a large part of their time to achieving this goal. The clubs' medical and performance departments' primary mission is to reduce the risk of injury to these athletes, allowing them to have more playing and training time to develop their full capabilities.This study aimed to investigate whether participation in youth football tournaments with congested schedules increases the risk of injury in U15 footballers, particularly during critical stages of maturation. In this way, in a retrospective manner,an analysis was conducted of the injuries recorded after a period marked by the participation of a U15 elite team in a preseason youth football tournament. Additionally,the maturational stage of each athlete on this team was recorded and the external workload data through the Global Positioning System (GPS), which included total distance (TD), high-speed running (HSR), accelerations and decelerations greater than or less than 2 m·s-2(ACC-DEC2),and accelerations and decelerations greater than or less than 3 m·s-2(ACC-DEC3), from the weeks before the tournament were used, aiming to understand whether, in the injured athletes, the accumulation of these metrics during the tournament exceeded the accumulation of the same metrics before the tournament. According to the results obtained, eight athletes sustained injuries during the tournament and the two weeks following it. All injured athletes were in the circaor post-peak height velocity (PHV) maturation stage. In the analysis of the GPS data, it was found that 87.5%, 75%, and 50% of the athletes who suffered an injury exhibited higher rolling sum (RS) values during the tournament compared to their previously recorded maximum values regarding TD, HSR, and ACC-DEC2, respectively. In contrast, 75% of the athletes who did not suffer an injury recorded higher maximum RS values before the tournament compared to during the tournament regarding the parameter of ACC-DEC3. The participation of young footballers in the circa-PHV and post-PHV stages of maturation in several games on consecutive days seems to induce negative consequences for the athletes, namely a greater risk of overuse and acute injuries. The external load metrics presented appear to correlate with the risk of injury, specifically a higher risk of injury in athletes whose accumulated values of TD, HSR, and ACC-DEC2 during competition participation are higher than those previously recorded. Conversely, the presence of higher accumulated values of ACC-DEC3 prior to competition participation compared to those recorded during the competition may be a protective factor regarding injury risk. Careful management of microcycles and applied workloads is a key task to control or prevent injuries and, in this way, increase the young footballers' participation in games and training.

The aim of the present study was to firstly, quantify the external training load (TL) of semi-professional soccer players during an annual season and secondly, to examine the influence of one (1MW) and two (2MW) match weekly microcycles. Data were collected from 24 semi-professional outfield soccer players during the 2018-2019 annual season using micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) devices for the following variables: Training duration (min), total distance (TD), Player Load (PL), high speed running (HSR) distance (5.5-7.0 m/s), and acceleration (ACC) efforts (&gt;2 m/s2). Training sessions were defined as days before match day (i.e. MD minus), with match weeks broken down as either 1MW or 2MW. Data revealed higher TD, PL, and HSR distance on MD and MD-5 when compared to all other MD codes. MD-4 displayed significantly higher values compared to MD-1 (mean differences (M diff): TD: 785 ± 158 m; PL: 29 ± 9 au; HSR: 192 ± 63 m; ACC: 15 ± 3 #) and MD-2 (M diff: TD: 279 ± 137 m; HSR: 127 ± 54 m). During 2MW scenarios, both TD (M diff: 685 ± 328 m) and PL (M diff: 33 ± 14 au) were higher on MD-1 when compared to 1MW. However, lower values were observed for duration and HSR on MD-2 and MD-4 during 2MW compared to 1MW scenarios.These data suggest that there appears to be a progressive reduction in TD, PL, HSR and ACC leading into competitive matches based on MD- analysis. However, some variability exists in TL prescription as a result of different MW scenarios (i.e. 1MW vs. 2MW).

Calculation of percentage changes in volumes of blood, plasma, and red cells in dehydration.

BackgroundSided games (i.e., small sided, medium sided, large sided) involve tactical, technical, physical, and psychological elements and are commonly implemented in soccer training. Although soccer sided-games research is plentiful, a meta-analytical synthesis of external load exposure during sided games is lacking.ObjectiveThe objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to: (1) synthesize the evidence on high-speed and sprint running exposure induced by sided games in adult soccer players, (2) establish pooled estimates and intra-individual reliability for high-speed and sprint running exposure, and (3) explore the moderating effects of game format and playing constraints.MethodsA literature search was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines. Four databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science Core Collection) were systematically searched up to 25 January, 2022. Eligibility criteria were adult soccer players (population); training programs incorporating sided games (intervention); game manipulations including number of players, pitch dimension, and game orientation (comparator); and high-speed, very high-speed, and sprint relative (mcdotmin−1) running distances and associated intra-individual reliability (outcome). Eligible study risk of bias was evaluated using RoBANS. Pooled estimates for high-speed and sprint running exposure, and their intra-individual reliability, along with the moderating effect of tracking device running velocity thresholds, pitch dimension (i.e., area per player), and game orientation (i.e. score or possession), were determined via a multi-level mixed-effects meta-analysis. Estimate uncertainty is presented as 95% compatibility intervals (CIs) with the likely range of relative distances in similar future studies determined via 95% prediction intervals.ResultsA total of 104 and 7 studies met our eligibility criteria for the main and reliability analyses, respectively. The range of relative distances covered across small-sided games, medium-sided games, and large-sided games was 14.8 mcdotmin−1 (95% CI 12.3–17.4) to 17.2 mcdotmin−1 (95% CI 13.5–20.8) for high-speed running, 2.7 mcdotmin−1 (95% CI 1.8–3.5) to 3.6 mcdotmin−1 (95% CI 2.3–4.8) for very high-speed running, and 0.2 mcdotmin−1 (95% CI 0.1–0.4) to 0.7 mcdotmin−1 (95% CI 0.5–0.9) for sprinting. Across different game formats, 95% prediction intervals showed future exposure for high-speed, very high-speed running, and sprinting to be 0–46.5 mcdotmin−1, 0–14.2 mcdotmin−1, and 0–2.6 mcdotmin−1, respectively. High-speed, very high-speed running, and sprinting showed poor reliability with a pooled coefficient of variation of 22.8% with distances being moderated by device speed thresholds, pitch dimension, and game orientation.ConclusionsThis review is the first to provide a detailed synthesis of exposure and intra-individual reliability of high-speed and sprint running during soccer sided games. Our estimates, along with the moderating influence of common programming variables such as velocity thresholds, area per player, and game orientation should be considered for informed planning of small-sided games, medium-sided games, and large-sided games soccer training.Clinical Trial RegistrationOpen Science Framework available through https://osf.io/a4xr2/.

Wellbeing perception and the impact on external training output among elite soccer players.

Objectives: a) to determine, through a Principal Component Analysis (PCA), the motor behaviors that best explain physical performance in friendly matches during pre-season, and b) to compare these motor behaviors among the matches played. Methodology: 20 professional male players (age 25.8 ±5.0 years, soccer playing experience: 11.8 ±1.7 years) from a club of the 1st division of the Costa Rican Professional Soccer League participated. A Global Positioning System (GPS) was used to quantify motor activities during five friendly matches during the pre-season prior to the start of the official championship. A PCA and a repeated measures analysis of variance were applied. Results: three components were identified that explained 82.4% of the total variance: 1) volume of load (36.7%), 2) high-intensity actions (27.2%) and 3) changes of direction (18.5%). Significant differences were found in total distance (F= 3.45, p= 0.012, ωp²= 0.3) and in total accelerations (F= 18.77, p <0.01, ωp²= 0.76) among the matches played. There were no differences in maximum speed, body load, total impacts, and sprint distance. Conclusions: body load, total impacts, total distance, distance at sprint speed, maximal speed and accelerations better explained the physical performance of the teams in pre-season games. There were variations between the five matches in total distance and accelerations. Monitoring of matches during pre-season provide information that can help with training planning.

Comprehensive weekly load data appears relatively absent in the literature for the professional female soccer population. This exploratory observational study quantified the weekly training, match, and total loads experienced in a professional soccer team and compared these loads according to player role. Data were collected over a full season from 22 players competing in the Australian national A-League Women's soccer competition. Internal (session-rating of perceived exertion load [session-RPE load]) and external load (total and relative values for total and high-speed running [HSR] distance) data were acquired during on-field training sessions and matches. Players were categorized as starters (started the match) or non-starters (used as a substitute in the match) within each week. Linear mixed models and effect size analyses were used to compare weekly loads between player roles. Weekly match and total load analyses revealed higher (p < 0.001, moderate-to-very large effects) duration, total distance, total HSR distance, and session-RPE load in starters than non-starters. In contrast, relative total and HSR distance in matches were higher (p < 0.001, moderate-to-large effects) in non-starters than in starters. These data provide an initial reference for the weekly loads in this competition, highlighting disparities between player roles that should be considered when developing training and preparation plans. Given the recruitment of a single team and small sample size, future research should extend upon this study to further strengthen the evidence base in this population.