ORIGINAL PAPER
The influence of opponent level on professional soccer players’ training and match performance assessed by using wearable sensor technology
1
Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
2
Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
3
Department of Physical Education and Special Motricity, Faculty of Physical Education and Mountain Sports, Transilvania University of Braşov, Braşov, Romania
4
Sepahan Football Club, Isfahan, Iran
5
Sports Dynamix Private Limited, Chennai, India
6
Sports Science School of Rio Maior, Polytechnic Institute of Santarém, Rio Maior, Portugal
7
Research Center in Sport Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, Vila Real, Portugal
8
Life Quality Research Centre, Rio Maior, Portugal
Submission date: 2021-08-28
Acceptance date: 2022-07-04
Publication date: 2022-07-11
Hum Mov. 2023;24(2):101-110
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Purpose:
The study aim was 2-fold: to quantify and compare the weekly external training load that preceded matches; to compare in-match activities depending on the opponent level (top, middle, bottom) in a top-level team from the first professional Asian national league.
Methods:
The load for 6 matches played against top-, 11 against middle-, and 11 against bottom-level teams was monitored. With a 15-Hz Global Positioning System, total duration, total distance, high-speed (18–23 km ∙ h–1) running distance, sprint (> 23 km ∙ h–1) distance, maximal speed, acceleration zone 1 (AccZ1) (< 2 m ∙ s–2), AccZ2 (2–4 m ∙ s–2), AccZ3 (> 4 m ∙ s–2), deceleration zone 1 (DecZ1) (> –2 m ∙ s–2), DecZ2 (–2 to –4 m ∙ s–2), DecZ3 (< –4 m ∙ s–2), player load, and metabolic power were collected in 12 players.
Results:
DecZ3 showed higher values against top-level compared with middle- (effect size [ES] = 0.91) and bottom-level opponents (ES = 1.50). The training was significantly longer against middle-level compared with top- and bottom-level opponents (all, p ≤ 0.001). Total distance was bigger against middle-level compared with top- (p = 0.011, ES = –0.92) and bottom-level opponents (p = 0.027, ES = 1.50). AccZ2 presented higher values when middle-level came close compared with bottom-level opponents (p = 0.05, ES = 0.79).
Conclusions:
Opponent’s level influences the load experienced by soccer players during matches. Total distance, highspeed running distance, AccZ1, and AccZ2 exhibited higher training values when a win or a draw approached. Decelerations in all zones were highest in matches against top-level teams.
The study aim was 2-fold: to quantify and compare the weekly external training load that preceded matches; to compare in-match activities depending on the opponent level (top, middle, bottom) in a top-level team from the first professional Asian national league.
Methods:
The load for 6 matches played against top-, 11 against middle-, and 11 against bottom-level teams was monitored. With a 15-Hz Global Positioning System, total duration, total distance, high-speed (18–23 km ∙ h–1) running distance, sprint (> 23 km ∙ h–1) distance, maximal speed, acceleration zone 1 (AccZ1) (< 2 m ∙ s–2), AccZ2 (2–4 m ∙ s–2), AccZ3 (> 4 m ∙ s–2), deceleration zone 1 (DecZ1) (> –2 m ∙ s–2), DecZ2 (–2 to –4 m ∙ s–2), DecZ3 (< –4 m ∙ s–2), player load, and metabolic power were collected in 12 players.
Results:
DecZ3 showed higher values against top-level compared with middle- (effect size [ES] = 0.91) and bottom-level opponents (ES = 1.50). The training was significantly longer against middle-level compared with top- and bottom-level opponents (all, p ≤ 0.001). Total distance was bigger against middle-level compared with top- (p = 0.011, ES = –0.92) and bottom-level opponents (p = 0.027, ES = 1.50). AccZ2 presented higher values when middle-level came close compared with bottom-level opponents (p = 0.05, ES = 0.79).
Conclusions:
Opponent’s level influences the load experienced by soccer players during matches. Total distance, highspeed running distance, AccZ1, and AccZ2 exhibited higher training values when a win or a draw approached. Decelerations in all zones were highest in matches against top-level teams.
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