Martín García, A, Gómez Díaz, A, Bradley, PS, Cos Morera, F and Casamichana, D (2018) The Quantification of a Professional Football Teams External Load Using a Microcycle Structure. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 32 (12). pp. 3511-3518. ISSN 1064-8011

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Abstract

The aims of this study were to (1) determine the external load of a football team across playing position and relative to competition for a structured microcycle and (2) examine the loading and variation the day after competition for players with or without game time. Training and match data were obtained from twenty-four professional football players who belonging to the reserve squad of a Spanish La Liga Club during the 2015/16 season using global positioning technology (n=37 matches and n=42 training weeks). Training load data were analyzed with respect to the number of days before or after a match (MD minus or plus). Training load metrics declined as competition approached (MD-4>MD-3>MD-2>MD-1; p<0.05; ES: 0.4-3.1). On the day after competition, players without game time demonstrated greater load in a compensatory session (MD+1C) that replicated competition compared to a recovery session (MD+1R) completed by players with game time (MD+1C>MD+1R; p<0.05; ES: 1.4-1.6). Acceleration and deceleration metrics during training exceeded 50% of that performed in competition for MD+1C (80-86%), MD-4 (71-72%), MD-3 (62-69%) and MD-2 (56-61%). Full backs performed more high-speed running and sprint distance than other positions at MD-3 and MD-4 (p<0.05; ES: 0.8-1.7). The coefficient of variation for weekly training sessions ranged from ~40% for MD-3 and MD-4 to ~80% for MD+1R. The data demonstrate that the external load of a structured microcycle varied substantially based on the players training day and position. This information could be useful for applied sports scientists when trying to systematically manage load, particularly compensatory conditioning for players without game time.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	1106 Human Movement And Sports Science
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine
Divisions:	Sport & Exercise Sciences
Publisher:	Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
Date Deposited:	24 Jul 2018 14:58
Last Modified:	04 Sep 2021 02:33
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/9011

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