Comparisons of new body load and metabolic power average workload indices between starters and non-starters: A full-season study in professional soccer players

The aim of this study was to compare the weekly average training monotony new body load (wTMNBL) and strain (wTSNBL), as well as the weekly average training monotony metabolic power average (wTMMPA) and strain (wTSMPA) between four periods of a season (preseason, early-season, mid-season, and end-season), considering starters and non-starters. Twenty-one professional soccer players (age: 28.27 ± 3.78 years) were monitored throughout a season in the highest level of professional football Premier League in Iran. Data were captured by Global Positioning System (GPS) devices. Independent samples T-tests were applied to analyze the between-group differences for all dependent derived-GPS variables for the full season and its different periods (preseason, early-season, mid-season, and end-season). Based on the amount of time attending in match and training, players were divided into two groups (starters and non-starters) each week. The magnitude of the between-group difference revealed a very large significant greater weekly average TMNBL ( p<0.001, d = −2.42), TSNBL ( p<0.001; d = −2.74), TMMPA ( p<0.001; d =–2.79) and TSMPA ( p<0.001; d = −3.27) for starters when compared to non-starters during the early-season. The findings also revealed a very large significant difference when starters were compared to non-starters during the mid-season (TMNBL: p<0.001, d = −2.89; TSNBL: p<0.001, d = −2.99; TMMPA: p<0.001, d = −3.28; and TSMPA: p<0.001, d = −3.25) and end-season (TMNBL: p<0.001, d = −2.89; TSNBL: p<0.001, d = −3.07; TMMPA: p<0.001, d = −3.16; and TSMPA: p<0.001, d = −3.58). In summary, the results of this study revealed that starters present regularly higher values of NBL, MPA-based weekly training monotony, and training strain than non-starters. This result must be taken into account when planning weekly workloads for these groups. Specifically, starters might experience high values of external workloads because of match-related demands. Therefore, weekly adjustments in their training workload are required to reduce injury risk.

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Variations of Accelerometer and Metabolic Power Global Positioning System Variables across a Soccer Season: A Within-Group Study for Starters and Non-Starters

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11156747 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (15) ◽

pp. 6747

Author(s):

Hadi Nobari ◽

Rafael Oliveira ◽

Marefat Siahkouhian ◽

Jorge Pérez-Gómez ◽

Florin Cazan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Global Positioning System ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Positioning System ◽

Metabolic Power ◽

Early Season ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Global Positioning ◽

Lower Load ◽

System Variables ◽

In The Beginning

The aims of this study were to analyze the within-group weekly metabolic power average (wMPA), weekly acceleration zones (wAcZ), and weekly deceleration zones (wDcZ), in starter and non-starter professional soccer players, based on different periods of the full season (pre-, early-, mid-, and end-season). Twenty-one professional soccer players (age, 28.3 ± 3.8 years; height, 181.2 ± 7.1 cm; body mass, 74.5 ± 7.7 kg; BMI, 22.6 ± 1.0 kg·m2) were monitored during the full season in the highest level of the Iranian Premier League. WMPA, wAcZ, and wDcZ at three different zones (wAcZ1, wAcZ2, wAcZ3, wDcZ1, wDcZ2, wDcZ3) were collected using Global Positioning System. ANOVA was applied to analyze within-group changes across the different periods of the full season. In general, starters presented higher values in the beginning of the season (pre- and early-season) and lower values at mid- and end-season. Specifically, starters showed significant differences in early- vs. mid-season for wMPA, wAcZ1, and wDcZ1 (p < 0.05), plus early- vs. end-season for wMPA and wAcZ1 (p < 0.01). In addition, non-starters showed higher values in the pre-season that decreased until the end-season for wMPA, wAcZ1, and wDcZ1. Regarding wAcZ2, wDcZ2, wAcZ3, and wDcZ3, non-starters presented higher values in early-season that decreased until the end-season. Specifically, non-starters showed significant differences in pre- vs. mid-season for wMPA, wAcZ1, and wDcZ1; pre- vs. end-season for wMPA, wDcZ1, wDccZ2, and wDcZ3; early- vs. mid-season for wMPA, wAcZ1, wDcZ1, wAcZ2, and wDccZ2; early- vs. end-season for wMPA, wAcZ1, wDcZ1, wAcZ2 wDccZ2, wAcZ3, and wDcZ3; and mid- vs. end-season for wMPA, wAcZ1, and wAcZ3 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, starters were revealed to have higher values in pre- and early-season, and lower values in mid- to end-season, while non-starters were revealed to have lower load values in pre- and end-season and higher load values in early- and mid-season. This study provides extra insights over the season for starters and non-starters, respectively. Data can be used by coaches to better training periodization across soccer season.

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Blood Biomarkers Variations across the Pre-Season and Interactions with Training Load: A Study in Professional Soccer Players

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10235576 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (23) ◽

pp. 5576

Author(s):

Filipe Manuel Clemente ◽

Francisco Tomás González-Fernández ◽

Halil Ibrahim Ceylan ◽

Rui Silva ◽

Saeid Younesi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Injury Risk ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Hematological Parameters ◽

Blood Parameters ◽

Training Load ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Immune Functions ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Biochemical Analyses ◽

And Training

Background: Pre-season training in soccer can induce changes in biological markers in the circulation. However, relationships between chosen hematological and biochemical blood parameters and training load have not been measured. Objective: Analyze the blood measures changes and their relationships with training loads changes after pre-season training. Methodology: Twenty-five professional soccer players were assessed by training load measures (derived from rate of perceived exertion- known as RPE) during the pre-season period. Additionally, blood samples were collected for hematological and biochemical analyses. Results: For hematological parameters, significant increases were found for platelets (PLT) (dif: 6.42; p = 0.006; d = −0.36), while significant decreases were found for absolute neutrophils count (ANC) (dif: −3.98; p = 0.006; d = 0.11), and absolute monocytes count (AMC) (dif: −16.98; p = 0.001; d = 0.78) after the pre-season period. For biochemical parameters, there were significant increases in creatinine (dif: 5.15; p = 0.001; d = −0.46), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (dif: 12.55; p = 0.001; d = −0.84), C-reactive protein (CRP) (dif: 15.15; p = 0.001; d = −0.67), cortisol (dif: 2.85; p = 0.001; d = −0.28), and testosterone (dif: 5.38; p = 0.001; d = −0.52), whereas there were significant decreases in calcium (dif: −1.31; p = 0.007; d =0.49) and calcium corrected (dif: −2.18; p = 0.015; d = 0.82) after the pre-season period. Moreover, the Hooper Index (dif: 13.22; p = 0.01; d = 0.78), and all derived RPE measures increased after pre-season period. Moderate-to-very large positive and negative correlations (r range: 0.50–0.73) were found between the training load and hematological measures percentage of changes. Moderate-to-large positive and negative correlations (r range: 0.50–0.60) were found between training load and biochemical measures percentage of changes. Conclusions: The results indicated heavy physical loads during the pre-season, leading to a decrease in immune functions. Given the significant relationships between blood and training load measures, monitoring hematological and biochemical measures allow coaches to minimize injury risk, overreaching, and overtraining.

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Comparison of external load on high speed actions in friendly macth and training sessions (Comparación de carga externa en las acciones de alta velocidad en paridos amistosos y sesiones de entrenamientos)

Retos ◽

10.47197/retos.v0i33.52535 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 54-57

Author(s):

Francisco Javier Toscano Bendala ◽

Miguel Angel Campos Vázquez ◽

Luis Jesús Suarez-Arrones ◽

Francisco Javier Núñez Sánchez

Keyword(s):

High Velocity ◽

External Load ◽

High Speed ◽

Sampling Frequency ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Soccer Team ◽

Gps Devices ◽

And Training

The aim of the current research was to find out the differences that exist between the external load in high-velocity actions (SP+) in competitions and in training sessions of professional soccer team. We took as SP+ indicators those actions that the soccer players performed over 23 km·h-1 and could be held for at least 1 second. It was monitored 25 professional players belonging to the first team of a team of the first Spanish soccer division, and were used 10 GPS devices were used (SPI, ELITE model, GPSport, Canberra, Australia). These GSPORT transmitters have a sampling frequency of 1 Hz. The results of our study showed how during the game, the players performed substantially more number of SP+ de 1 s, 2 s, 3 s y 4 s (per minute of activity) than during training.Resumen. El objetivo de esta investigación fue encontrar las diferencias que existen entre la carga externa en acciones de alta velocidad (SP+) en paridos amistosos de pretemporada y las sesiones de entrenamientos en un equipo de fútbol profesional. Tomamos como indicadores SP + aquellas acciones que realizan los jugadores de fútbol por encima de 23 km·h-1 y pudiendo ser mantenidas durante al menos 1 segundo. Se monitorizaron 25 jugadores profesionales pertenecientes a la primera plantilla de un equipo de la primera división de fútbol español, y se utilizaron 10 dispositivos GPS (SPI, ELITE model, GPSport, Canberra, Australia). Estos transmisores GPSORT, tienen una frecuencia de muestreo de 1 Hz. Los resultados de nuestro estudio manifestaron como durante el partido, los jugadores realizaron de manera sustancial más número de SP+ de 1 s, 2 s, 3 s y 4 s (por minuto de actividad) que durante los entrenamientos.

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Wearable Inertial Measurement Unit to Accelerometer-Based Training Monotony and Strain during a Soccer Season: A within-Group Study for Starters and Non-Starters

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18158007 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (15) ◽

pp. 8007

Author(s):

Hadi Nobari ◽

Mustafa Sögüt ◽

Rafael Oliveira ◽

Jorge Pérez-Gómez ◽

Katsuhiko Suzuki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Inertial Measurement Unit ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Measurement Unit ◽

Arbitrary Unit ◽

Inertial Measurement ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Weekly Training ◽

And Training ◽

Over Time

The purpose of this study was to analyze the intragroup differences in weekly training monotony (TM) and training strain (TS) between starter and non-starter male professional soccer players at accelerometry based variables throughout the periods of a season. TM and TS of different accelerations and decelerations zones for twenty-one players were followed for forty-eight weeks. Regardless of group, players obtained the highest mean TM (starters = 3.3 ± 0.6, non-starters = 2.2 ± 1.1, in arbitrary unit, AU) and TS (starters = 1288.9 ± 265.2, non-starters = 765.4 ± 547.5, AU) scores in the pre-season for accelerations at Zone 1 (<2 m/s2). The results also indicated that both groups exhibited similar TM and TS scores in accelerations at Zones 2 (2 to 4 m/s2) and 3 (>4 m/s2) across the entire season. While the starters showed the highest TM and TS scores at deceleration Zone 1 (<−2 m/s2) in the end-season, the non-starters exhibited the highest scores at the deceleration Zone 1 in pre-season. It seems that in pre-season, coaches applied higher levels of training with greater emphasis on deceleration for non-starters. This tendency was reduced over time for non-starters, while starters presented higher values of deceleration Zone 1. These results highlight the variations in TM and TS across the different periods of a full season according to match starting status among professional soccer players, and the results suggest that non-starter players should receive higher levels of load to compensate for non-participation in matches throughout a soccer season.

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Comparison of Official and Friendly Matches through Acceleration, Deceleration and Metabolic Power Measures: A Full-Season Study in Professional Soccer Players

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18115980 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (11) ◽

pp. 5980

Author(s):

Hadi Nobari ◽

Sara Mahmoudzadeh Khalili ◽

Rafael Oliveira ◽

Alfonso Castillo-Rodríguez ◽

Jorge Pérez-Gómez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Effect Size ◽

Total Duration ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Metabolic Power ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Premier League ◽

Small Effect Size ◽

Moderate Effect Size ◽

High Effort

Soccer is a popular team sport and highly demanding activity that requires high effort and long-term training plans. The goals of this study were to compare the accelerations, decelerations and metabolic power between official and friendly full matches, between the first and second halves of the matches, and between both halves of official and friendly matches. Twelve professional soccer players (age, 28.6 ± 2.7 years; height, 182.1 ± 8.6 cm; body mass, 75.3 ± 8.2 kg; BMI, 22.6 ± 0.7 kg/m2) participated in this study. A total of 33 official and 10 friendly matches were analyzed from the Iranian Premier League. All matches were monitored using GPSPORTS systems Pty Ltd. The following variables were selected: total duration of the matches, metabolic power, accelerations Zone1 (<2 m·s−2) (AccZ1), accelerations Zone2 (2 to 4 m·s−2) (AccZ2), accelerations Zone3 (>4 m·s−2) (AccZ3), decelerations Zone1 (<−2 m·s−2) (DecZ1), decelerations Zone2 (−2 to −4 m·s−2) (DecZ2) and decelerations Zone3 (>−4 m·s−2) (DecZ3). The major finding was shown in metabolic power, where higher values occurred in friendly matches (p < 0.05 with small effect size). Furthermore, total duration, AccZ3, DecZ1, DecZ2, and DecZ3 were revealed to be higher in official matches, while AccZ1 and AccZ2 were higher in friendly matches. The second half of the official matches revealed higher values for total duration compared to friendly matches (p < 0.05, moderate effect size). In conclusion, this study observed higher values of metabolic power in friendly matches compared to official matches. AccZ3, DecZ1, DecZ2, and DecZ3 were higher in official matches, while AccZ1 and AccZ2 were higher in friendly matches.

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Morphological Changes of the Hip Commonly Associated With Femoroacetabular Impingement Are Not Correlated With Rotational Range of Hip Motion in Elite Soccer Athletes

Sports Health A Multidisciplinary Approach ◽

10.1177/1941738120973662 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 194173812097366

Author(s):

André Orlandi Bento ◽

Guilherme Falótico ◽

Keelan Enseki ◽

Ronaldo Alves Cunha ◽

Benno Ejnisman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Femoroacetabular Impingement ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Clinical Relevance ◽

Morphological Changes ◽

Alpha Angle ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Level Of Evidence ◽

Rotational Movement ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Significant Difference

Background: Morphological changes characteristic of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) are common in soccer players. However, the clinical relevance of such anatomical variations is still not well-defined. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that high alpha angle values and/or acetabular retroversion index (ARI) are correlated with rotational range of motion (ROM) of the hip and that there are clinical-radiological diferences between the dominant lower limb (DLL) and nondominant lower limb (NDLL) in professional soccer players. Study Design: Cross-sectional. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Methods: A total of 59 male professional soccer players (average age 25.5 years, range 18-38 years) were evaluated in the preseason. As main outcome measures, we evaluated the alpha angle and the ARI and hip IR and ER ROM with radiographic analysis. Results: The measurements taken on DLL and NDLL were compared and a significant difference was found between the sides in the ER ( P = 0.027), where the DLL measures were 1.54° (95% CI, 0.18-2.89) greater than the NDLL. There were no significant differences between the sides in the measures of IR ( P > 0.99), total ROM ( P = 0.07), alpha angle ( P = 0.250), and ARI ( P = 0.079). The correlations between the rotation measurements and the alpha angle in each limb were evaluated and the coefficient values showed no correlation; so also between the ARI and rotation measures. Conclusion: Morphological changes of the femur or acetabulum are not correlated with hip IR and ER ROM in male professional soccer players. ER on the dominant side was greater than on the nondominant side. There was no significant difference in the other measurements between sides. Clinical Relevance: In clinical practice, it is common to attribute loss of hip rotational movement to the presence of FAI. This study shows that anatomical FAI may not have a very strong influence on available hip rotational movement in professional soccer athletes.

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Relation Between Total Body Load and Session Rating of Perceived Exertion in Professional Soccer Players

The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research ◽

10.1519/jsc.0b013e3181fb4587 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 25 (8) ◽

pp. 2100-2103 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Pedro T Gomez-Piriz ◽

Pedro Jiménez-Reyes ◽

Carlos Ruiz-Ruiz

Keyword(s):

Perceived Exertion ◽

Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Body Load ◽

Total Body

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Training habits in professional soccer players during COVID-19 confinement

Kinesiology ◽

10.26582/k.53.2.11 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 53 (2) ◽

pp. 288-295

Author(s):

Marcos Chena ◽

Luis Gutiérrez-García ◽

Juan Carlos Zapardiel ◽

Iván Asín-Izquierdo

Keyword(s):

Ad Hoc ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Reference Database ◽

Strength And Conditioning ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Competitive Activity ◽

Training Habits ◽

New Situation ◽

And Training

The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has led to an unprecedented situation, forcing governments to take urgent measures and confine the population. These measures have also affected sports. Soccer competitions and training sessions were interrupted worldwide, causing the need to adapt training sessions to the new situation. The objective of this study is to observe and analyse training habits carried out during the COVID-19 confinement by Spanish professional soccer players of both sexes. An o bservational study was based on an ad-hoc telematic questionnaire during the COVID-19 state of alarm in Spain. The results showed that strength and conditioning training was of great importance in the training habits developed during the COVID-19 confinement, fundamentally that of strength and endurance capacities. Specificity was low as conditional capabilities were affected by contextual limitations. The findings of this study yielded very useful information related to the training habits of professional soccer players of both sexes and offered an unpublished reference database that could be used to address training planning at specific periods of the year (transition, vacations, emergencies, ...), with the aim of resuming competitive activity in the best conditions.

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Associations Between Selected Training-Stress Measures and Fitness Changes in Male Soccer Players

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.2018-0462 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (8) ◽

pp. 1050-1057 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Alireza Rabbani ◽

Mehdi Kargarfard ◽

Carlo Castagna ◽

Filipe Manuel Clemente ◽

Craig Twist

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

High Intensity ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Running Performance ◽

Total Distance ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Before And After ◽

Body Load ◽

Training Stress ◽

Training Impulse

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between accumulated global positioning system–accelerometer-based and heart rate–based training metrics and changes in high-intensity intermittent-running capacity during an in-season phase in professional soccer players. Methods: Eleven male professional players (mean [SD] age 27.2 [4.5] y) performed the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test (30-15IFT) before and after a 5-wk in-season training phase, and the final velocity (VIFT) was considered their high-intensity intermittent-running capacity. During all sessions, Edwards training impulse (Edwards TRIMP), Banister TRIMP, Z5 TRIMP, training duration, total distance covered, new body load (NBL), high-intensity running performance (distance covered above 14.4 km·h−1), and very-high-intensity running performance (distance covered above 19.8 km·h−1) were recorded. Results: The players’ VIFT showed a most likely moderate improvement (+4.3%, 90% confidence limits 3.1–5.5%, effect size 0.70, [0.51–0.89]). Accumulated NBL, Banister TRIMP, and Edwards TRIMP showed large associations (r = .51–.54) with changes in VIFT. A very large relationship was also observed between accumulated Z5 TRIMP (r = .72) with changes in VIFT. Large to nearly perfect within-individual relationships were observed between NBL and some of the other training metrics (ie, Edwards TRIMP, Banister TRIMP, training duration, and total distance) in 10 out of 11 players. Conclusions: Heart rate–based training metrics can be used to monitor high-intensity intermittent-running-capacity changes in professional soccer players. The dose–response relationship is also largely detected using accelerometer-based metrics (ie, NBL) to track changes in high-intensity intermittent-running capacity of professional soccer players.

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