Evidence of game demands and strategies to prepare players

Abstract

Introduction: Just as there has been a significant growth in the industry and club football departments, there has also been a shift in the demands of the game as a result of the way the game is played and coached, and along with that a change in the methods used to prepare players for matches and then manage the recovery process to enable them to perform in the subsequent match. This presentation will explore changes in the physiological demands of the game over a 5–10 year period, drawing on evidence that exists both in terms of the physiological demands on players as measured through GPS-data and other load monitoring techniques, along with the types of physical attributes necessary for competing successfully at the highest level. It will also evaluate changes in the performance characteristics of players over this same time period, from basic parameters such as height and weight through to more advanced metrics associated with the modern athlete profile. Finally, there will be some prediction of how these game demands and physical characteristics are likely to change both in the short, medium and long term future.