Research Article

The Effect of Match Running Performance on Team Success in Professional Soccer

Volume: 28 Number: 1 March 30, 2026
EN TR

The Effect of Match Running Performance on Team Success in Professional Soccer

Abstract

This study aimed to examine match running performance (RP) in professional soccer teams in terms of success variables. A total of 626 observations obtained via a multicamera tracking system (InStat Ltd.) from a total of 323 matches played by 19 teams in the Turkish Super League (TSL) during a season were analyzed. The success of the teams was examined as two different independent variables: i) according to the end-of-season final table ranking (1st rank: the first five teams that have qualified for the European League; 2nd rank: the second rank five teams; 3rd rank: the third rank five teams; and 4th rank: the four relegated teams). ii) According to the match outcome (win, draw, loss). The RP variables included total distance (TD), covered distance in five speed zones (walking, jogging, running, high-speed running (HSR) and sprinting), high-intensity acceleration (HIA) and maximum acceleration. ANOVA and post hoc tests revealed that 1st-rank teams were significantly more common in running, HSR, sprinting and acceleration (p<.05). There was no difference between the TD groups (p>.05). The TD, walking sprinting and max. acceleration values of the winning teams were greater (p<.05). The short-term success goal for teams is to win a match or score a point, and the long-term goal is to be at the top of the final table in the season. Therefore, the current research revealed that high-intensity RPs in matches are especially decisive in the success of teams.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Sports Training, Sports Science and Exercise (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

March 30, 2026

Submission Date

January 31, 2026

Acceptance Date

March 23, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 28 Number: 1

APA
Tokul, E., Mülazımoğlu, O., Özkara, A. B., Özçilingir, Ö. M., Somoğlu, M. B., Turan, Ç., Başkaya, G., & Erdem, K. (2026). The Effect of Match Running Performance on Team Success in Professional Soccer. Research in Sport Education and Sciences, 28(1), 69-78. https://doi.org/10.62425/rses.1877792
AMA
1.Tokul E, Mülazımoğlu O, Özkara AB, et al. The Effect of Match Running Performance on Team Success in Professional Soccer. Research in Sport Education and Sciences. 2026;28(1):69-78. doi:10.62425/rses.1877792
Chicago
Tokul, Erdi, Olcay Mülazımoğlu, Abdullah Bora Özkara, et al. 2026. “The Effect of Match Running Performance on Team Success in Professional Soccer”. Research in Sport Education and Sciences 28 (1): 69-78. https://doi.org/10.62425/rses.1877792.
EndNote
Tokul E, Mülazımoğlu O, Özkara AB, Özçilingir ÖM, Somoğlu MB, Turan Ç, Başkaya G, Erdem K (March 1, 2026) The Effect of Match Running Performance on Team Success in Professional Soccer. Research in Sport Education and Sciences 28 1 69–78.
IEEE
[1]E. Tokul et al., “The Effect of Match Running Performance on Team Success in Professional Soccer”, Research in Sport Education and Sciences, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 69–78, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.62425/rses.1877792.
ISNAD
Tokul, Erdi - Mülazımoğlu, Olcay - Özkara, Abdullah Bora - Özçilingir, Özgün Miraç - Somoğlu, Mustafa Barış - Turan, Çağatay - Başkaya, Gizem - Erdem, Kamil. “The Effect of Match Running Performance on Team Success in Professional Soccer”. Research in Sport Education and Sciences 28/1 (March 1, 2026): 69-78. https://doi.org/10.62425/rses.1877792.
JAMA
1.Tokul E, Mülazımoğlu O, Özkara AB, Özçilingir ÖM, Somoğlu MB, Turan Ç, Başkaya G, Erdem K. The Effect of Match Running Performance on Team Success in Professional Soccer. Research in Sport Education and Sciences. 2026;28:69–78.
MLA
Tokul, Erdi, et al. “The Effect of Match Running Performance on Team Success in Professional Soccer”. Research in Sport Education and Sciences, vol. 28, no. 1, Mar. 2026, pp. 69-78, doi:10.62425/rses.1877792.
Vancouver
1.Erdi Tokul, Olcay Mülazımoğlu, Abdullah Bora Özkara, Özgün Miraç Özçilingir, Mustafa Barış Somoğlu, Çağatay Turan, Gizem Başkaya, Kamil Erdem. The Effect of Match Running Performance on Team Success in Professional Soccer. Research in Sport Education and Sciences. 2026 Mar. 1;28(1):69-78. doi:10.62425/rses.1877792

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