The influence of successive matches on match-running performance during an under-23 international soccer tournament: The necessity of individual analysis |
| |
| Authors: | Matthew C Varley Valter Di Salvo Mattia Modonutti Warren Gregson Alberto Mendez-Villanueva |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Football Performance &2. Science Department, Aspire Academy, Doha, Qatar;3. Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia;4. Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, Rome, Italy;5. Football Exchange, Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK |
| |
| Abstract: | This study investigated the effects of successive matches on match-running in elite under-23 soccer players during an international tournament. Match-running data was collected using a semi-automated multi-camera tracking system during an international under-23 tournament from all participating outfield players. Players who played 100% of all group stage matches were included (3 matches separated by 72 h, n = 44). Differences in match-running performance between matches were identified using a generalised linear mixed model. There were no clear effects for total, walking, jogging, running, high-speed running and sprinting distance between matches 1 and 3 (effect size (ES); ?0.32 to 0.05). Positional analysis found that sprint distance was largely maintained from matches 1 to 3 across all positions. Attackers had a moderate decrease in total, jogging and running distance between matches 1 and 3 (ES; ?0.72 to ?0.66). Classifying players as increasers or decreasers in match-running revealed that match-running changes are susceptible to individual differences. Sprint performance appears to be maintained over successive matches regardless of playing position. However, reductions in other match-running categories vary between positions. Changes in match-running over successive matches affect individuals differently; thus, players should be monitored on an individual basis. |
| |
| Keywords: | Football match analysis congested fixtures physical performance Prozone |
|
|
