Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to: (a) assess centripetal force (CentF) and changes of direction (COD) in elite soccer players according to playing position (central defender, CD; lateral defender, LD; central midfielder, CM; lateral midfielder, LM; forward, FW), laterality (right-footed vs. left-footed) and field zone (central vs. lateral), and (b) analyze the relationship between anthropometric characteristics (age, weight, height, body mass and fat mass) and non-linear locomotion workload. Thirty professional soccer players (age: 26.57±5.56 years) were tracked during the 2017–2018 season during friendly, national and international matches (38 total games) using inertial measurement devices. CentF and COD were the variables extracted for analysis. A one-way ANOVA was used for playing position comparison, a t-test for laterality and field zone, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient to analyze relationships between anthropometric characteristics and dependent variables. There were differences by playing position in COD (556.33-to-412.18), R20COD (484.36-to-354.81) and R60COD (48.38-to-38.61) (p < .01; ωp2 = 0.03-to-0.05; CD>CM>LD>LM = FW); in CODHIA (49.75-to-37.11), R20CODHIA (16.04-to-9.11) and R60CODHIA (10.64-to-9.11) (p < .01; ωp2 = 0.03-to-0.07; CM>FW>LM>CD = LD); in CODSPRINT (14.56-to-8.40) and R20CODSPRINT (3.29-to-1.40) (p < .01; ωp2 = 0.03-to-0.04; FW = LM = CM>CD = LD); and in CentFMAX both in clockwise (992.04-to-902.09N) and counterclockwise (999.24-to-872.61N) directions (p < .02; ωp2 = 0.02-to-0.07; FW = CD>CM = LM = LD). The highest values of counterclockwise CentF were performed by left-footed players in the central zone (p < .001; d = 0.71-to-1.44) and clockwise CentF by right-footed players (p < .001; d = 0.04-to-0.55) in the lateral field zone. Moderate correlations were found between age, body mass and high intensity/sprints COD and repeated COD ability (p < .05; r = 0.235-to-0.383). Therefore, team staff should consider anthropometric characteristics, playing position, laterality and field zone to individualize training workload related to non-linear locomotion in soccer.
Highlights
Soccer players cover a total distance of between 8 to 13 km [1]
The purpose of the present study was to: (a) assess centripetal force (CentF) and changes of direction (COD) in elite soccer players according to playing position, laterality and field zone, and (b) analyze the relationship between anthropometric characteristics and non-linear locomotion workload
The purposes of the present study were to: (a) assess CentF and COD in elite soccer players according to playing position, laterality
Summary
Soccer players cover a total distance of between 8 to 13 km [1]. Out of this total volume, the players need to transition between short high intensity efforts and longer periods of low activity, currently occurring more often due to the evolution of the game [2]. 12% of the total distance traveled is performed at sprint intensity with short efforts in time and distance [3] In this analysis of soccer demands, many authors suggest that we should take into account the acyclic activity of the player that includes changes in intensity, direction and movement patterns [4]. These differences can be reviewed in the work of Churchil et al [13], but a key factor is trunk rotation, and the neuromechanical requirements that this implies For this reason, linear and nonlinear sprint performances embody different physical and technical capabilities and should be independently assessed and trained, for the same reason as for acyclic and non-sensitive locomotion, these actions cannot be measured with tracking systems
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