Quantification of training load across two competitive seasons in elite senior and youth male soccer players from an English Premiership club

Ryland Morgans; Dave Rhodes; Jose Teixeira; Toni Modric; Sime Versic; Rafael Oliveira

doi:10.5114/biolsport.2023.126667

eISSN: 2083-1862
ISSN: 0860-021X

Biology of Sport

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4/2023
vol. 40

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abstract:

Original paper

Quantification of training load across two competitive seasons in elite senior and youth male soccer players from an English Premiership club

Ryland Morgans

¹

,

Dave Rhodes

¹

,

Jose Teixeira

^{2, 3, 4}

,

Toni Modric

^{5, 6}

,

Sime Versic

^{5, 6}

,

Rafael Oliveira

^{2, 7, 8}

Football Performance Hub, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, UK
Research Centre in Sports Sciences, Health and Human Development, 5001–801 Vila Real, Portugal
Department of Sport and Physical Education, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, 5300–253 Bragança, Portugal
Polytechnic Institute of Guarda, 6300–559 Guarda, Portugal
Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, Split, Croatia
High Performance Sport Center, Croatian Olympic Committee, Zagreb, Croatia
Sports Science School of Rio Maior–Polytechnic Institute of Santarém, 2040–413 Rio Maior, Portugal
Life Quality Research Centre, 2040–413 Rio Maior, Portugal

Biol Sport. 2023;40(4):1197–1205

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2023.126667

Online publish date: 2023/06/12

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This study aimed to compare the daily training load (TL) in first-team and U-18 soccer players from an English Premiership club. 36 first-team (age 23.2±5.9 years, weight 75.2±8.1 kg, height 1.83±0.06 m), and 22 U-18 players (age 17.5±1.1 years, weight 71.1±8.2 kg, height 1.78±0.08 m) participated. GPS metrics were measured during all pitch training sessions throughout the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons. Linear mixed-effect model analyses revealed that, irrespective of training day, U-18 players covered greater total and explosive distance than first-team players, and performed a higher number of accelerations and decelerations, whereas first-team players covered greater sprint distance. Irrespective of the team, all examined variables were greater at match-day (MD)-3, while the number of accelerations and decelerations were higher at MD-4. Significant team-by-training day interactions revealed that U-18 players covered greater total and high-intensity distances than first-team players at MD-4, MD-2, and MD-1, whereas first-team players covered greater total and high-intensity distances at MD-3. Sprint distance was greater for first-team players at MD-3 and MD-4, while explosive distance was greater for U-18 players at MD-2. Also, U-18 players performed a higher number of accelerations than first-team players at MD-3 and MD-2, and a higher number of decelerations at MD-4. The present results provide novel information on TL patterns in English Premiership soccer and contribute to understanding how training methods to physically develop players are implemented in different countries and leagues.

keywords:

Quantification of training load across two competitive seasons in elite senior and youth male soccer players from an English Premiership club

Ryland Morgans 1 , Dave Rhodes 1 , Jose Teixeira 2, 3, 4 , Toni Modric 5, 6 , Sime Versic 5, 6 , Rafael Oliveira 2, 7, 8

Global Positioning System, performance, training adaptations, Elite European soccer players, competitive level, football

Ryland Morgans

¹

,

Dave Rhodes

¹

,

Jose Teixeira

^{2, 3, 4}

,

Toni Modric

^{5, 6}

,

Sime Versic

^{5, 6}

,

Rafael Oliveira

^{2, 7, 8}