Abstract
Background: This study’s aim was twofold: (i) to compare starters and non-starters on a professional soccer team in terms of variations in training intensity indexes across a season, calculated through total distance, sprint distance, accelerations (Acc), and decelerations (Dec) and (ii) to analyse the relationship between the intensity indexes for each playing status. Methods: Nineteen players (age, 29.4 ± 4.4 years; height, 1.8 ± 0.1 m; body mass, 74.8 ± 2.3 kg) were divided into starters and non-starters and followed for 43 weeks using global positioning systems. Results: Training intensity measures (acute:chronic workload ratio [ACWR], coupled and uncoupled) were higher during the latter stage of the season. Total distance peaked during the mid-season, whereas the highest value for exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) was recorded later in the season. Interestingly, the EMWA of total distance showed little variation during the season for players of both playing statuses. The EWMA of total distance showed a significant higher value for starters than non-starters (p = 0.036; g = 1.27 [0.31, 2.32]). The interruption in games between week 34 and week 35 due to COVID-19 moved some measures into the injury risk zone — namely, the ACWR coupled of sprint distance and Dec; the ACWR uncoupled of total distance, sprint distance, Acc, Dec; and the EWMA of sprint distance, Acc and Dec. Conclusions: The highest training intensity measures were reported late in the season and were similar between starters and non-starters. Across the season, only one difference between starters and non-starters occurred, revealing that training intensity was properly managed throughout the season regardless of the status of the players.
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
