Contextual variables and weekly external load in a semi-professional football team

Abstract

objective of this study was to compare the external load of microcycle training sessions in a semi-professional football team based on player role during competition and match location. Eighteen football players competing in the Spanish third division were monitored by global positioning systems in the course of seven microcycles consisting of five sessions categorised by their position on match day (MD). The data were analysed according to whether the player was a starter or substitute and also whether the team played at home or away. The external load variables used were total distance (Drel), sprint distance (SPD), high (HSD), medium (MSD) and low (LSD) speed distance expressed as a function of session time, and the number of accelerations per minute (ACC n/10). External load was higher in MD+1 (p < .01) for substitutes (SPD, HSD and ACC) and in MD-1 (p < .05 and (p < .01) for starters (Drel, SPD and HSD). Similarly, in the microcycle's middle sessions, load (MD-4: Drel, SPD and HSD; MD-3: Drel, SPD and MSD; MD-2: Drel, MSD and LSD) was higher (p < .05 and p < .01) when the team played at home than when it played away. The findings of this research are relevant for planning the training process and postcompetition recovery strategies.