Abstract
BackgroundThis study aimed to compare the match running performance between bottom- and top-ranked teams in professional soccer players over the 2020 season of the Brazilian National 2nd Division League. In addition, this study verified the independent and interactive effects of playing position and contextual factors on running outputs between these teams.MethodsForty-eight professional male outfield soccer players participated in this study (top-ranked team, n = 24; bottom-ranked team, n = 24). The distance- and accelerometry-based measures were recorded during 69 matches using a global positioning system (10 Hz) integrated with an accelerometer (400 Hz).ResultsThe top-ranked team covered greater total distance [median (interquartile range); 10,330.0 m (1430.0)] and high-acceleration [97.0 m (32.0)] than the bottom-ranked team, in home and away matches [p < 0.05, effect size (ES) = small]. The midfielders of the top-ranked team covered higher total distance, high-speed running (> 18 km h−1), high acceleration (≥ 3 m s−2), high-deceleration (≤ −3 m s−2), and performed more sprints [(> 25 km h−1) compared to midfielders of the bottom-ranked team (p < 0.05, η2 = small-moderate]. The matches against top-level opponents required high values of high-acceleration and number of sprints only for the top-ranked team (p < 0.05, ES = small). Independent analysis showed that match outcome (loss vs. draw vs. win) was not influenced by running performance for both bottom- and top-ranked teams (p > 0.05; η2 = small). However, the top-ranked team covered greater total distance, high-acceleration/deceleration than bottom-ranked team in loss matches (p < 0.05, η2 = small).ConclusionsThese findings should be considered when the coaches and practitioners interpret the match running outputs and when evaluating the effects of training intervention on these performance indicators.
Highlights
IntroductionResearchers and practitioners’ interest in the physical performance of soccer players during the match-play using distance-based measures (e.g., distance covered at different speeds) has grown substantially over the last five decades, leading to a myriad of studies and systematic and scientific evidence-based approaches to physical conditioning [1,2,3]
Researchers and practitioners’ interest in the physical performance of soccer players during the match-play using distance-based measures has grown substantially over the last five decades, leading to a myriad of studies and systematic and scientific evidence-based approaches to physical conditioning [1,2,3]
General The top-ranked team presented greater Total distance covered (TD) and highacceleration during the 1st halves, 2nd halves, and whole matches compared to bottom-ranked team (p < 0.001– 0.04; effect sizes (ES) = small; Table 2)
Summary
Researchers and practitioners’ interest in the physical performance of soccer players during the match-play using distance-based measures (e.g., distance covered at different speeds) has grown substantially over the last five decades, leading to a myriad of studies and systematic and scientific evidence-based approaches to physical conditioning [1,2,3]. Some measures (e.g., total distance covered and distance in high-speed running) can be highly dependent on positional role, tactical contexts, players’ physical fitness, competitive standard, and contextual factors, among other aspects [4, 8,9,10]. This study verified the independent and interactive effects of playing position and contextual factors on running outputs between these teams
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