Positional Differences in GPS Outputs and Perceived Exertion During Soccer Training Games and Competition

Abbott, W, Brickley, G, and Smeeton, NJ. Positional differences in GPS outputs and perceived exertion during soccer training games and competition. J Strength Cond Res 32(11): 3222–3231, 2018—Soccer training games are popular training modalities, allowing technical, tactical, and physical aspects to be trained simultaneously. Small (SSGs), medium (MSGs), and large training games (LSGs) elicit differing physical demands. To date, no research has investigated physical and perceived demands of training games on soccer playing positions relative to competitive demands. In addition, previous research has referenced average competitive intensities, ignoring peak demands of competition. The current aim was to investigate the effect of training game formats on average and peak physical outputs produced by soccer playing positions. Physical and perceptual data from 22 competitive matches and 39 training game sessions were collected for 46 U23 professional players using 10-Hz global positioning system (GPS) and 100-Hz accelerometer devices (MinimaxX version 4.0; Catapult Innovations, Melbourne, Australia). Data analyzed included GPS-derived distance, speed, acceleration, deceleration, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Two-way between-subjects analyses of variance were used to compare average and peak GPS metrics, and RPE, between training games and competition for playing positions. Despite eliciting significantly higher average total distances compared with competition (p
Source: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research - Category: Sports Medicine Tags: Original Research Source Type: research