Relative Training Load and Match Outcome: Are Professional Soccer Players Actually Undertrained during the In-Season?

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Soccer Performance Analysis
• Training Load Monitoring

Background:

• Previous research focused on training/match ratios (TMr) but did not explore the impact of relative training load (RTL) on soccer match outcomes.
• Understanding how training load influences match success is crucial for optimizing performance and preventing fatigue.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between relative training load (RTL) and the final outcome (win, draw, loss) of professional soccer matches.
• To identify specific running performance metrics and their timing relative to a match that correlate with match success.

Main Methods:

• Analyzed running performances (RP) of 21 professional soccer players using global positioning system data over one season.
• Calculated various training/match ratios (TMr) for total distance, low-intensity distance, running distance, high-intensity distance, accelerations, and decelerations.
• Correlated TMr values from training sessions (MD-1 to MD-5) with official match outcomes using Spearman correlations.

Main Results:

• Negative associations were found between match outcome and total distance ratio (TDr), low-intensity distance ratio (LIDr), acceleration ratio (ACCr), and deceleration ratio (DECr) on MD-1 and MD-2.
• Positive associations were observed between match outcome and high-intensity distance ratio (HIDr) on MD-3.
• Positive associations were also found for TDr, LIDr, ACCr, and DECr on MD-5.

Conclusions:

• Final soccer match outcomes are associated with relative training load, particularly the timing and intensity of running and acceleration/deceleration activities.
• Optimal performance appears linked to higher relative training loads of high-intensity running three days before a match, and total/low-intensity running five days before.
• Conversely, lower relative training loads for total and low-intensity running, accelerations, and decelerations one to two days before a match are associated with better outcomes.