Abstract
Objectives
To compare fixed epochs (FIXED) and rolling averages (ROLL) for quantifying worst-case
scenario (‘peak’) running demands during professional soccer match-play, whilst assessing
contextual influences.
Design
Descriptive, observational.
Methods
Twenty-five outfield players from an English Championship soccer club wore 10-Hz microelectromechanical
systems during 28 matches. Relative total and high-speed (>5.5 m s−1) distances were averaged over fixed and rolling 60-s to 600-s epochs. Linear mixed
models compared FIXED versus ROLL and assessed the influence of epoch length, playing
position, starting status, match result, location, formation, and time-of-day.
Results
Irrespective of playing position or epoch duration, FIXED underestimated ROLL for
total (∼7–10%) and high-speed (∼12–25%) distance. In ROLL, worst-case scenario relative
total and high-speed distances reduced from 190.1 ± 20.4 m min−1 and 59.5 ± 23.0 m min−1 in the 60-s epoch, to 120.9 ± 13.1 m min−1 and 14.2 ± 6.5 m min−1 in the 600-s epoch, respectively. Worst-case scenario total distance was higher for
midfielders (∼9−16 m min−1) and defenders (∼3–10 m min−1) compared with attackers. In general, starters experienced higher worst-case scenario
total distance than substitutes (∼3.6–8.5 m min−1), but lower worst-case scenario high-speed running over 300-s (∼3 m min−1). Greater worst-case scenario total and high-speed distances were elicited during
wins (∼7.3–11.2 m min−1 and ∼2.7–7.9 m min−1, respectively) and losses (∼2.7–5.7 m min−1 and ∼1.4–2.2 m min−1, respectively) versus draws, whilst time-of-day and playing formation influenced
worst-case scenario high-speed distances only.
Conclusions
These data indicate an underestimation of worst-case scenario running demands in FIXED
versus ROLL over 60-s to 600-s epochs while highlighting situational influences. Such
information facilitates training specificity by enabling sessions to be targeted at
the most demanding periods of competition.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 09, 2020
Accepted:
January 5,
2020
Received in revised form:
October 14,
2019
Received:
May 24,
2019
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
