Characterization of external load in different types of exercise in professional soccer

Abstract

Purpose. To compare the duration of exercise and magnitude of external load per type of exercise (warm-up, small-sided games, position games - movements with/without ball but without the dynamics of a real game, simulations of real games - 11 vs. 11, fitness exercises, large-sided games, technical drills) during different training days in professional soccer players and test the relationships between duration of exercise and the external load. Methods. Overall, 22 professional soccer players (25.1 ± 2.9 years, 181.9 ± 6.3 cm, 73.1 ± 6.3 kg) were daily monitored by a microelectromechanical system. The training duration (minutes) and the external load measures of total distance covered and high-speed running distance were collected for each type of exercise. Results. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant differences in training duration, total distance covered, and high-speed running distance between the exercises (p < 0.001). A greater total distance was covered in simulations of real games (2321 m/session), as well as high-speed running (84.6 m/session). The total distance covered in simulations of real games was greater by 77% than in small-sided games, while that in high-speed running in simulations of real games was greater by 153% than in large-sided games. Conclusions. The study revealed that simulations of real games and position games were the exercises that occupied the most time in the sessions and that the simulations of real games were the greatest contributor to distance covered and distance covered at high-speed running.