Variation in Match Physical Performance in Turkish Super League Soccer Players by Position Across Four Seasons

Year 2024, Volume: 15 Issue: 1, 188 - 202, 29.04.2024

Alper Aşçı Yusuf Köklü Utku Alemdaroğlu

https://doi.org/10.54141/psbd.1407381

Abstract

This study examined variations in match physical performances of Turkish Super League soccer players over four consecutive seasons, considering playing position. Data were derived from 1224 different match indices for 17997 observations of 25 different teams. These data were collected over the four seasons from 2015–16 to 2018–19 utilizing a multi-camera computerized tracking system. Playing positions were categorized as follows: central defender (CD), external defender (ED), central midfielder (CM), external midfielder (EM), and forward (FWR). The data analysed covered total distance, as well as distances covered in the following conditions: high-speed running (HSR, 20-23.9 km.h-1), sprinting (> 24 km.h-1), high metabolic power (HMP; from 20 to 35 W·kg1), elevated metabolic power (EMP; from 35 to 55 W·kg-1), and maximal metabolic power (MMP; > 55 W·kg-1). Players in the CM position were found to cover a significantly greater total distance, as well as significantly greater HMP and EMP distances than all other positions. In contrast, those in EM and ED positions engaged in significantly greater high-speed running and sprint distance than all other positions (p<0.05). Decreases were found in the distances covered in the different running speed zones and metabolic power zones for all positions over the seasons from 2015–16 to 2018–19. These findings show that the positional roles of the players entail different physical demands. Therefore, it is recommended that coaches consider the physical demands of the positions and seasonal variation when creating training programs for players.

Keywords

Football, Metabolic power, Playing position, Time-motion analysis, Seasonal changes

References

• Akyildiz, Z., Çene, E., Parim, C., Çetin, O., Turan, Ç., Yüksel, Y., Silva, R., Silva, A. F., & Nobari, H. (2022). Classified metabolic power-based measures in professional football players: comparison between playing positions and match period. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-022-00541-y
• Andrzejewski, M., Konefał, M., Chmura, P., Kowalczuk, E., & Chmura, J. (2016). Match outcome and distances covered at various speeds in match play by elite German soccer players. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 16(3), 817–828. https://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2016.11868930
• Baysal, S., & Duygulu, P. (2016). Sentioscope: A Soccer Player Tracking System Using Model Field Particles. IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, 26(7). https://doi.org/10.1109/TCSVT.2015.2455713
• Brito Souza, D., López-Del Campo, R., Blanco-Pita, H., Resta, R., & Del Coso, J. (2020). Association of match running performance with and without ball possession to football performance. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 20(3), 483–494. https://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2020.1762279
• Buchheit, M., Manouvrier, C., Cassirame, J., & Morin, J. B. (2015). Monitoring locomotor load in soccer: Is metabolic power, powerful? International Journal of Sports Medicine, 36(14), 1149–1155. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0035-1555927
• Bush, M., Barnes, C., Archer, D. T., Hogg, B., & Bradley, P. S. (2015). Evolution of match performance parameters for various playing positions in the English Premier League. Human Movement Science, 39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2014.10.003
• Carling, C. (2013). Interpreting physical performance in professional soccer match-play: Should we be more pragmatic in our approach? Sports Medicine, 43(8), 655–663. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-013-0055-8
• Castagna, C., Varley, M., Póvoas, S. C. A., & D’Ottavio, S. (2017). Evaluation of the match external load in soccer: Methods comparison. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2016-0160
• Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioural sciences. Hillside. In NJ: Lawrence Earlbaum Associates (pp. 278–280). https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.ep10768783
• Coutts, A. J., Kempton, T., Sullivan, C., Bilsborough, J., Cordy, J., & Rampinini, E. (2015). Metabolic power and energetic costs of professional Australian Football match-play. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 18(2), 219–224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2014.02.003
• Dellal, A., Wong, D. P., Moalla, W., & Chamari, K. (2010). Physical and technical activity of soccer players in the French first league- with special reference to their playing position. International SportMed Journal, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.10520/EJC48393
• Di Salvo, V., Baron, R., Tschan, H., Calderon Montero, F. J., Bachl, N., & Pigozzi, F. (2007). Performance characteristics according to playing position in elite soccer. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 28(3), 222–227. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2006-924294
• Di Salvo, V., Pigozzi, F., González-Haro, C., Laughlin, M. S., & De Witt, J. K. (2013). Match performance comparison in top English soccer leagues. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 34(6). https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0032-1327660
• Dubois, R., Paillard, T., Lyons, M., McGrath, D., Maurelli, O., & Prioux, J. (2017). Running and metabolic demands of elite rugby union assessed using traditional, metabolic power, and heart rate monitoring methods. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 16(1).
• Gai, Y., Leicht, A. S., Lago, C., & Gómez, M. Á. (2019). Physical and technical differences between domestic and foreign soccer players according to playing positions in the China Super League. Research in Sports Medicine, 27(3). https://doi.org/10.1080/15438627.2018.1540005
• Gaudino, P., Iaia, F. M., Alberti, G., Strudwick, A. J., Atkinson, G., & Gregson, W. (2013). Monitoring training in elite soccer players: Systematic bias between running speed and metabolic power data. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 34(11). https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0033-1337943
• Hoppe, M. W., Baumgart, C., Slomka, M., Polglaze, T., & Freiwald, J. (2017). Variability of Metabolic Power Data in Elite Soccer Players during Pre-Season Matches. Journal of Human Kinetics, 58(1). https://doi.org/10.1515/hukin-2017-0083
• Kempton, T., Sirotic, A. C., Rampinini, E., & Coutts, A. J. (2015). Metabolic power demands of rugby league match play. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 10(1), 23–28. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2013-0540
• Lago-Peñas, C., Lorenzo-Martinez, M., López-Del Campo, R., Resta, R., & Rey, E. (2023). Evolution of physical and technical parameters in the Spanish LaLiga 2012-2019. Science and Medicine in Football, 7(1), 41–46. https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2022.2049980
• Manzi, V., Impellizzeri, F., & Castagna, C. (2014). Aerobic fitness ecological validity in elite soccer players: A metabolic power approach. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28(4), 914–919. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000239
• Modric, T., Versic, S., & Sekulic, D. (2021). Relationship between Yo-Yo Intermittent Endurance Test-Level 1 and Match Running Performance in Soccer: Still on the Right Path? Polish Journal of Sport and Tourism, 28(4). https://doi.org/10.2478/pjst-2021-0021
• Morgans, R., Orme, P., Anderson, L., & Drust, B. (2014). Principles and practices of training for soccer. In Journal of Sport and Health Science (Vol. 3, Issue 4, pp. 251–257). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2014.07.002
• Morgans, R., Orme, P., Bezuglov, E., & Di Michele, R. (2022). Technical and physical performance across five consecutive seasons in elite European Soccer. International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching, 18(3), 839–847. https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541221089247
• Osgnach, C., Poser, S., Bernardini, R., Rinaldo, R., & Di Prampero, P. E. (2010). Energy cost and metabolic power in elite soccer: A new match analysis approach. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 42(1), 170–178. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181ae5cfd
• Polglaze, T., Dawson, B., Buttfield, A., & Peeling, P. (2018). Metabolic power and energy expenditure in an international men’s hockey tournament. Journal of Sports Sciences, 36(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2017.1287933
• Radziminski, L., Szwarc, A., Padrón-Cabo, A., & Jastrzebski, Z. (2020). Correlations between body composition, aerobic capacity, speed and distance covered among professional soccer players during official matches. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 60(2). https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.19.09979-1
• Rampinini, E., Coutts, A. J., Castagna, C., Sassi, R., & Impellizzeri, F. M. (2007). Variation in top level soccer match performance. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 28(12), 1018–1024. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-965158
• Rampinini, Ermanno, Impellizzeri, F. M., Castagna, C., Coutts, A. J., & Wisløff, U. (2009). Technical performance during soccer matches of the Italian Serie A league: Effect of fatigue and competitive level. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2007.10.002
• Redkva, P. E., Paes, M. R., Fernandez, R., & Da-Silva, S. G. (2018). Correlation between Match Performance and Field Tests in Professional Soccer Players. Journal of Human Kinetics, 62(1). https://doi.org/10.1515/hukin-2017-0171
• Rienzi, E., Drust, B., Reilly, T., Carter, J. E. L., & Martin, A. (2000). Investigation of anthropometric and work-rate profiles of elite South American international soccer players. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 40(2), 162–169. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-00000028
• Rivilla-García, J., Calvo, L. C., Jiménez-Rubio, S., Paredes-Hernández, V., Muñoz, A., Tillaar, R. Van Den, & Navandar, A. (2019). Characteristics of Very High Intensity Runs of Soccer Players in Relation to Their Playing Position and Playing Half in the 2013-14 Spanish la Liga Season. Journal of Human Kinetics, 66(1), 213–222. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2018-0058
• Roca, A., Ford, P. R., McRobert, A. P., & Williams, A. M. (2013). Perceptual-cognitive skills and their interaction as a function of task constraints in soccer. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 35(2). https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.35.2.144
• Sal de Rellán-Guerra, A., Rey, E., Kalén, A., & Lago-Peñas, C. (2019). Age-related physical and technical match performance changes in elite soccer players. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 29(9). https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13463
• Sarmento, H., Anguera, M. T., Pereira, A., & Araújo, D. (2018). Talent Identification and Development in Male Football: A Systematic Review. Sports Medicine, 48(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0851-7
• Stølen, T., Chamari, K., Castagna, C., & Wisløff, U. (2005). Physiology of soccer: An update. In Sports Medicine (Vol. 35, Issue 6, pp. 501–536). https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200535060-00004
• Venzke, J., Weber, H., Schlipsing, M., Salmen, J., & Platen, P. (2023). Metabolic power and energy expenditure in the German Bundesliga. Frontiers in Physiology, 14, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2023.1142324