The anaerobic speed reserve of high-level soccer players: a comparison based on the running speed profile among and within playing positions

Purpose
The aim of the study was to examine the differences of the anaerobic speed reserve (ASR) in soccer players according to the playing positions (defenders, midfielders, and forwards).

Methods
Overall, 120 elite-level national Brazilian soccer players (46 defenders, 45 midfielders, and 29 forwards) performer a field incremental test to estimate maximal aerobic speed (MAS) and a 30-m sprint to determine maximal sprinting speed (MSS). The difference between MAS and MSS was used to estimate ASR. Players were classified by position and by MAS and MSS performance. For each playing position, they were ranked and divided into higher and lower MSS (MSS-H and MSS-L, respectively) and MAS (MAS-H and MAS-L, respectively) groups. The players’ ASR was compared among these groups.

Results
The comparison of ASR within playing position showed no difference among defenders, midfielders, or forwards. In addition, a higher ASR was found for the fastest players (MSS-H) in all playing positions as compared with their MSS-L counterparts. When ASR was compared between MAS-H and MAS-L, a significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed. A high correlation was noted between ASR and MSS (r = 0.72; p < 0.001) and between ASR and MAS (r = –0.63; p < 0.001).

Conclusions
MSS is the main index that determines the magnitude of ASR, which should be considered when characterizing the soccer players’ running speed profile. However, no difference was found when the playing positions were compared, indicating similar characteristics of the running profile in a large sample of soccer players.