Abstract
Analysis of the key performance variables in soccer is one of the most continuous and attractive research topics. Using global positioning devices (GPS), the primary aim of this study was to highlight the physiological response of a professional soccer team across competitive microcycles in-season according to the most influential contextual performance variables. Determining the training load (TL), a work ratio was established between all recorded data within the training sessions and the competitive profile (CP). Each microcycle was classified in accordance with the contextual variables: opponent level (high, medium, low), match location (home and away) and score (win, draw, lose). Results revealed that the team were significantly more successful (games won) in competitive games against high-level opponents and when played at home. Cumulative microcycle/weekly training load (WTL) was significantly lower when the team won. In addition to the opponent level and the match location, WTL could condition the athlete’s performance in the competition. Competitive performance responses are the main source of information for the planning of training programs. The results of this study could be used as a reference to structure TL and WTL according to contextual variables in the competition. This study, which is the first of its kind, revealed that WTL effects the performance of the players in the competition.
Highlights
Analysis of the performance variables in team sports has been one of the most noted research topics within professional soccer in recent years [1,2,3,4,5,6]
Competitive performance ysis is used as a reference to apply training load in professional soccer players
Findings found in this study showed that weekly training load (WTL), high-speed running (HSR) was less in the weeks when there were clashes with high level opponents, with significant differences in accumulated intensity
Summary
Analysis of the performance variables in team sports has been one of the most noted research topics within professional soccer in recent years [1,2,3,4,5,6]. The physical, technical and tactical demands of professional soccer players have continued to evolve, according to recent research [1,4], with one of the main sources of information concerning the planning of training programs [1,6]. Training load (TL) monitoring and the assessment of elite players in professional soccer through the use of global positioning systems (GPS) is well documented and performed on a daily basis [1,5,8]. GPS have become increasingly frequent to analyze the competitive performance variables in professional soccer teams [1,5,9]. It is a tool to quantify the external load, strong correlations have been found with other methods of quantification of internal load based on session-RPE [10,11]
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