Abstract
The aim of the study was to determine the between-match and between-halves match variability of various Global Positioning System (GPS) variables and metabolic power average (MPA) in competitions, based on the match results obtained by professional soccer players over a full season. Observations on individual match performance measures were undertaken on thirteen outfield players competing in the Iranian Premier League. The measures selected for analysis included total duration, accelerations in zones (AccZ1, 2, and 3), decelerations in zones (DecZ1, 2, and 3), and MPA collected by the Wearable Inertial Measurement Unit (WIMU). The GPS manufacturer set the thresholds for the variables analyzed as follows: AccZ1 (<2 m·s−2); AccZ2 (2 to 4 m·s−2); AccZ3 (>4 m·s−2); DecZ1 (<−2 m·s−2); DecZ2 (−2 to −4 m·s−2); DecZ3 (>−4 m·s−2). The results revealed significant differences between wins and draws for the duration of the match and draws compared to wins for the first- half duration (p ≤ 0.05; ES = 0.36 [−0.43, 1.12]), (p ≤ 0.05; ES = −7.0 [−8.78, −4.78], respectively. There were significant differences on AccZ1 during the first-half between draws and defeats (p ≤ 0.05; ES = −0.43 [−1.32, 0.46]), for AccZ3 in the second-half between draws and defeats (p ≤ 0.05; ES = 1.37 [0.48, 2.25]). In addition, there were significant differences between wins and draws (p ≤ 0.05; ES = 0.22 [−0.62, 1.10]), and wins and defeats for MPA in the first- half (p ≤ 0.05; ES = 0.34 [−0.65, 1.22]). MPA showed further differences between draws and defeats in the second- half (p ≤ 0.05; ES = 0.57 [−0.22, 1.35]). Descriptive analysis revealed differences between the first and second half for wins in AccZ2 (p = 0.005), DecZ2 (p = 0.029), and MPA (p = 0.048). In addition, draws showed significant differences between the first and second half in duration, AccZ1, AccZ2, and DecZ2 (p = 0.008), (p = 0.017), (p = 0.040), and (p = 0.037) respectively. Defeats showed differences between the first and second half in AccZ1, AccZ3, and MPA (p = 0.001), (p = 0.018), and (p = 0.003) respectively. In summary, the study reveals large variations between the match duration, accelerometer variables, and MPA both within and between matches. Regardless of the match outcome, the first half seems to produce greater outputs. The results should be considered when performing a half-time re-warm-up, as this may be an additional factor influencing the drop in the intensity markers in the second half in conjunction with factors such as fatigue, pacing strategies, and other contextual variables that may influence the results.
Highlights
The influx of micro-technology, such as Wearable Inertial Measurement Units (WIMU)and Electronic Performance Tracking Systems (EPTS) within the practice setting, has increased the ways practitioners can monitor and analyze training load through different measures such as total distance covered, distance in different speed zones, accelerations, decelerations, heart rate, etc. [1]
In a study by Barrera et al [3] on Portuguese soccer players, the match location and the results of the match impacted the physical demands of each playing position, with a decrease in the second half of the matches
A recent international survey that evaluated the current practices and perceptions in high-level soccer found that accelerations, at various thresholds, and estimated metabolic power average (MPA)
Summary
The influx of micro-technology, such as Wearable Inertial Measurement Units (WIMU)and Electronic Performance Tracking Systems (EPTS) within the practice setting, has increased the ways practitioners can monitor and analyze training load through different measures such as total distance covered, distance in different speed zones, accelerations, decelerations, heart rate, etc. [1]. The increased understanding of the technical and tactical behavior of the teams and players across varying levels can result in addressing the needs of training and improving practice design [2]. This improved technical and tactical understanding needs to be in conjunction with the physical requirements underpinning the collective behavior of the team during matches and practices. A recent international survey that evaluated the current practices and perceptions in high-level soccer found that accelerations, at various thresholds, and estimated metabolic power average (MPA)
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