Identification of Game Periods and Playing Position Activity Profiles in Elite-Level Beach Soccer Players Through Principal Component Analysis

Abstract

Beach soccer has gained increasing interest for study in the sports sciences. In this sense, the analysis of activity profiles is important for training design and load individualization. Therefore, the aims of this study were to identify the most important variables to assess the activity profile and to compare them according to the playing position and game periods in international beach soccer matches. A total of 19 matches of the Spanish national beach soccer team were analyzed during their participation in different international competitions during the 2021–2022 season. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to objectively select the external load variables that best explain the data. Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin values of 0.705 and Bartlett’s Sphericity (p 22.73; p 16.46; p 2 (m), Acc 2–3 m/s2 (m), Imp 4–5G (n), Imp 5–6G (n), Sprint (n), and Dec 10–6 m/s2 (m) (p < 0.01). In conclusion, physical and tactical demands faced by elite-level beach soccer players will be influenced by playing positions and game periods. Coaches needs to develop position-specific training programs and optimize substitution strategies for enhancing overall team performance.

Keywords

• performance analysis
• load quantification
• inertial movement units
• playing position
• game periods
• beach soccer