Skip to content
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
social sciences
Analysis of a training mesocycle and positional quantification in elite European soccer players
International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching, Volume 12, No. 5, Year 2017
Notification
URL copied to clipboard!
Description
Ensuring adequate levels of training and recovery at the elite level of professional soccer to maximise player performance has continued to drive the necessity to monitor the training load and physical training output of soccer players. The aim of this investigation was to analyse a training mesocycle whilst quantifying positional demands imposed on elite European soccer players. Sixteen players were assessed using global positioning systems and ratings of perceived exertion over a competitive training six-week mesocycle period. The positional demands and training loads were analysed in addition to match conditions (match location, match score) and player’s age. Results from the investigation revealed that typical daily training loads (i.e. total distance, high-intensity distance, sprint distance, average speed, ratings of perceived exertion) did not differ throughout each week of the mesocycle in-season period. Further analysis revealed training loads were significantly lower on match day-1 when compared to training loads on match day-2, match day-3 and match day-4 preceding a match (p<0.05). Significant differences in physical outputs were also found between match day-2, match day- 3 and match day-4 highlighting a structured periodised tapered approach (p<0.05). Lower average speeds were reported in training post-successful matches compared to defeats (p<0.05), and more specifically when a match was played away compared to home fixtures (p<0.05). To conclude, practitioners can maintain a uniformed and structured training load mesocycle whilst inducing variation of the physical outputs during the microcycle phase. Additionally, the investigation also provides a tapering approach that may induce significant variation of the positional demands. © The Author(s) 2017.
Authors & Co-Authors
Owen, Adam Lee
Portugal, Lisbon
Sport Lisboa e Benfica
France, Saint-priest-en-jarez
Laboratoire Interuniversitaire de Biologie de la Motricité
Lago-Peñas, Carlos
Spain, Vigo
Universidade de Vigo
Gômez, Miguel Ángel R.
Spain, Madrid
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Mendes, Bruno Miguel Borges
Portugal, Lisbon
Sport Lisboa e Benfica
Dellal, Alexandre
Switzerland, Zurich
Fédération Internationale de Football Association
Statistics
Citations: 61
Authors: 5
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1177/1747954117727851
ISSN:
17479541