International Journal of Strength and Conditioning (Jun 2023)

In-Season Match Demands Of Men’s Collegiate Soccer: A Comparison By Half, Position, Match Outcome, Match Location, And Competition Phase

  • Richard Aziz,
  • Margaret T. Jones,
  • Andrew R. Jagim,
  • Mary Kate Feit,
  • Nicholas Kuhlman Kuhlman,
  • Thomas Crabhill,
  • Jennifer B. Fields

DOI
https://doi.org/10.47206/ijsc.v3i1.154
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 1

Abstract

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The purpose of this study was to quantify athlete external workload by half, position, match outcome, match location, and competition phase (e.g., conference vs non-conference) during match play across a men’s NCAA DIII soccer season. Throughout the competitive season, 16 soccer players wore a GPS device in 17 matches. Workload metrics collected were: total distance (TD), distance per minute (D/min), distance in speed zones (SZ) 1-5, sprint efforts, sprint distance (SD), top speed, accelerations, player load (PL), and player load per minute (PL/min). TD (4164±1235 m), PL (169±52 AU) D/min (116±20 m/min), PL/min (4.7±0.8 AU), SD (80±55 m), accelerations (32±14), decelerations (35±14), PP (30±10), SZ2 (1520±469 m), and SZ3 (582±222 m) were significantly higher in the 1st half of play. Forwards demonstrated significantly higher top speeds (9.5±2.0 m/s) than midfielders (8.0±1.1 m/s) and defenders (7.7±1.2 m/s). PL (309.45±83.86 AU), D/min (216.82±59.26 m/min), PL/min (8.76±2.26 AU/min), top speed (15.82±3.41 m/s), SZ3 (1059.45±403.27 m) and SZ4 (139.52±75.78 m) were significantly greater in matches that resulted in wins. However, SZ5 (20.59 ± 23 m) was significantly greater during matches that resulted in losses. PL (321.73±93.38 AU), D/min (229.26±74.58 m/min), PL/min (9.24±2.84 AU/min), top speed (16.03±4.43 m/s), SZ2 (2819.48±891.09 m), SZ3 (1130.63±460.09 m), SZ4 (150.33±80.52 m) SZ5 (20.84±22.86 m) were significantly greater during home matches. PL (321.85±88.79 AU), D/min (228.2±64.66 m/min), PL/min (9.16±2.45 AU/min), SZ2 (2850.53±795.83 m), SZ3 (1145.27±456.34 m), and SZ4 (142.49±74.89 m), were significantly greater during nonconference matches. SZ5 (19.23 ± 22.87 m) was significantly greater during conference matches. Match workloads help coaches identify physical demands needed to compete. Tailoring training and monitoring accumulated fatigue will allow coaches to optimize team performance.

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