Match and Training External Load Ratios in Semi-Professional Male Soccer Players: An Exploratory Study

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Soccer Performance Analysis
• Training Load Monitoring

Background:

• Understanding external training loads is crucial for optimizing performance and preventing injuries in soccer.
• Quantifying high-speed running distance (HSRD) and sprint distance (SPD) provides key insights into player exertion.
• Training-to-match load ratios help balance training stress with match demands.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify and compare absolute daily and weekly HSRD and SPD loads.
• To analyze training-to-match ratios across the microcycle in semi-professional male soccer players.
• To investigate the influence of playing position and training day on these loads.

Main Methods:

• Monitoring 24 semi-professional male soccer players over nine microcycles using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) devices.
• Calculating absolute HSRD and SPD for each training day and match.
• Deriving daily and weekly training-to-match ratios and analyzing data with linear mixed-effects models.

Main Results:

• Match days showed the highest absolute HSRD and SPD across all positions.
• HSRD peaked on MD-3, while SPD peaked on MD-2, with lowest values on MD-1.
• Significant interactions between playing position and training day were observed for both HSRD and SPD.
• All positions exceeded 100% of match-derived HSRD and SPD during the training week.
• Wide defenders and midfielders had higher absolute HSRD; central defenders had higher training-to-match ratios.

Conclusions:

• Semi-professional soccer players accumulate weekly training loads (HSRD and SPD) that surpass match demands.
• The distribution of these loads is influenced by playing position and specific training days within the microcycle.
• Further research is needed to explore training-to-match load ratios across various competitive levels.