Current approaches to measuring high-intensity locomotor actions in adult male professional soccer. A scoping review

High-intensity locomotor actions (HILAs) including high-speed running (HSR), sprinting, accelerations, and decelerations are critical to performance and injury risk in professional soccer. Rapid technological and methodological developments since 2021 necessitate an updated synthesis of how these actions are quantified and interpreted in applied settings. A scoping review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Five databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, Academic Search Complete, Web of Science) were searched for English-language studies published between 22 March 2021 and 22 February 2025. Eligible studies included adult male professional soccer players and quantified HILAs in training and/or matches using Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Local Positioning Systems (LPS; sampling frequency > 10 Hz), or digital video-based tracking. Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. Most used 10 Hz GPS units (n = 16) and applied absolute thresholds (n = 16) (e.g., HSR > 19.8 km · h−¹, sprinting > 25.2 km · h−¹, accelerations/decelerations > 3 m · s−²/ < −3 m · s−²), with only four adopting relative thresholds. Data filtering procedures were often nderreported, and temporal normalisation was uncommon. Tactical (e.g., formation, playing style), temporal (e.g., match phase), and positional (e.g., role, field zone) contexts were rarely considered, and only one study integrated GPS with video analysis. Training typically under-replicated match demands, particularly for non-starters. Considerable methodological heterogeneity limited cross-study comparability. In conclusion, current monitoring practices for HILAs in professional soccer remain dominated by GPS and absolute thresholds, with limited individualisation and contextual integration. Future research should prioritise standardised threshold definitions, transparent data processing, and integration of video and GPS technologies to enhance ecological validity and applied impact.