Biology of Sport

Abstract

4/2024 vol. 41
Original paper

Weekly external load distribution in football teams of different competitive levels

  1. Department of Sports Sciences and Physical Education, University of Maia, Maia, Portugal
  2. Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, CIDESD, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
  3. Catapult Sports, Melbourne, Australia
  4. Performance Department, Futebol clube Famalicão SAD, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Braga, Portugal
  5. Portugal Football School, Portuguese Football Federation, Oeiras, Portugal
  6. Department of Sports Sciences, Exercise and Health, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal
Biol Sport. 2024;41(4):155–164
Online publish date: 2024/04/25
View full text
Confronting perimenopausal women’s knowledge of coronary heart disease with their health behaviours. Controversial role of hormone replacement therapy in the protection of coronary heart disease
This study aimed to compare the microcycle load distribution between teams from different competitive levels. A total of 22 microcycles from one team of each competitive level (first division, 1st DIV, n = 32 players; second division, 2nd DIV, n = 23 players; third division, 3rd DIV, n = 23 players) were monitored using GPS (10 Hz, Catapult). During the match, a higher number of high accelerations (i.e., > 3 m/s, per min) were found in the 3rd DIV team compared to the 1st and 2nd DIV teams. On match day (MD) +1&+2, the 1st DIV team covered more total (per min, p < 0.001) and high-speed running distance (HSR per min, p < 0.001 and p = 0.042, respectively) than both the 2nd and 3rd DIV teams. The 2nd DIV team showed lower values in most distance-related variables (total distance covered per min, p < 0.001; running distance per min, p < 0.001; HSR per min, p < 0.001; and sprinting distance per min, p < 0.001) for both MD-4 and MD-3 compared to the 1st and 3rd DIV teams. In contrast, it showed higher sprinting distance per min (p < 0.001) on MD-2. In general, the 3rd DIV team showed higher values in the number of high accelerations (per min, p < 0.001) across all sessions. These results suggest that distance-related variables may be a priority when planning microcycles for the 1st DIV team, while accelerations are relevant for the 3rd DIV team. A higher emphasis on external load during MD-2 by the 2nd DIV team may explain the lower external loads across the microcycle
Share
without publication fees