The Impact of Weekly Summated Training on Match Outcome in Professional Soccer Players

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2023

Publication Title

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Daily training sessions are used to prepare athletes for competition, with the goal of competing for a result. However, weekly accumulated training load may have a negative impact on a team’s preparation or match result. GPS data provides coaching staff insight into the load experienced throughout the week. Metrics of interest can include Total Distance (TD), High-Metabolic Load Distance [GR1] (HMLD), Number of Sprints (#S), and Total Loading (TL). HMLD is distance covered at or above 25.5 Watts per Kg. PURPOSE: The purpose was to determine how total weekly training load affected match results during a United Soccer League 1 season. METHODS: 23 (Center Backs = 6, Fullbacks = 4, Center Midfielders = 4, Wingers = 7, and Forwards = 4) professional male soccer players from one team were fitted with individual GPS units during all training sessions. Performance metrics were summated at the end of each week leading into matchday. Match outcomes for 23 games (7 Wins, 8 Losses, 8 Draws) were included for analysis. A One-Way ANOVA was used to determine the difference between team summated training load and corresponding match results for the week. Additionally, an ANOVA was run to determine potential positional variations in weekly summated load variables based on match outcome. Significance of all relationships was calculated at p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between any GPS metrics and match outcomes: TD (Win: 183.1 ± 72.92km, Loss: 243.9 ± 63.5km, Draw: 223.9 ± 86.5km; F (2,135) = 0.827, p=0.439); HMLD (Win: 21.7 ± 9.3km, Loss: 29.7 ± 8.5km, Draw: 29.7 ± 14.4km; F (2,135) = 1.043, p=0.355); #S (Win: 279.6 ± 147.7sprints, Loss: 374.0 ± 128.8sprints, Draw: 455.3 ± 273.9sprints; F (2,135) = 1.713, p=0.184); and TL (Win: 3126.1 ± 1251.7au, Loss: 4110.0 ± 1093.0au, Draw: 3805.1 ± 1519.5au; F (2,135) = 0.739, p=0.480). [GR2] Similar non-significant findings were noted when separated by position groups and GPS metrics of interest (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were found between results and weekly summated training load, suggesting that training load was not an impact on match result. This approach utilized full team data without respect for player contribution to the match. Further analyses should be conducted with special regard to match contribution analyses to see if a similar result exists.

Comments

Georgia Southern University faculty member, Stephen Rossi co-authored The Impact of Weekly Summated Training on Match Outcome in Professional Soccer Players.

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