In-season training load quantification of one-, two- and three-game week schedules in a top European professional soccer team.

In-season training load quantification of one-, two- and three-game week schedules in a top European professional soccer team.

Physiol Behav. 2018 Dec 06;:

Authors: Oliveira R, Brito J, Martins A, Mendes B, Calvete F, Carriço S, Ferraz R, Marques M

Abstract
Top European soccer teams that play in UEFA competitions often participate in one, two- or three-games per week. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the variations in training load (TL) according to each team's competitive schedule. The aim of this study was to quantify internal and external TLs within five microcycles: M4 and M5 - one-game weeks; M1 and M3 - two-game weeks; M2 - three-game week). The sample consisted of thirteen elite soccer players. A global positioning system (GPS) was used to measure the total distance covered and distances of different exercise training zones (1-5), the session ratings of perceived exertion (s-RPE) scores and the amount of creatine kinase (CK) created during daily training sessions for the 2015-2016 in-season period. The data were analysed with respect to the number of days prior to a given match. The main results indicate that there was a significant difference in training intensity for zone 1 between M5 and M3 (4010.2 ± 103.5 and 4507.6 ± 133.0 m, respectively); a significant difference in training intensity for zone 3 between M4 and M2 (686.1 ± 42.8 and 801.2 ± 61.2 m, respectively); a significant difference in the duration of the training sessions and matches between M5 and M2 (69.2 ± 2.1 and 79.6 ± 2.3) and M1 and M2 (69.7 ± 1.0 and 79.6 ± 2.3); and finally, there was a significant difference in CK between M1 and M5 (325.5 ± 155.0 and 194.4 ± 48.9). Moreover, there was a significant decrease in TL in the last day prior to a match, for all microcycles and all variables. There was no significant difference with respect to s-RPE. This study provides the first report of daily external and internal TLs and weekly accumulated load (training sessions and match demands) during one, two, and three-game week schedules in a group of elite soccer players. Expected significant differences are found in daily and accumulated loads for within- and between-game schedules. A similar pattern is exhibited for one- and two-game week microcycles regarding the day before the match, which exhibits a decrease in all variables.

PMID: 30529511 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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