Comparison of the external load of professional goalkeepers in different weekly training sessions

The aim of this study was to compare the external load of professional goalkeepers (GKs) in different training sessions of the microcycle. Three professional GKs (age: 28.1±6.9 years; stature: 190.1±1.9 cm; body mass: 84.8±1.1 kg) were monitored by GPS devices during different training sessions according to the days since/until the match day (MD) at MD+1, MD-4, MD-3, MD-2 and MD-1. Different external load measures were calculated: total distance, distance covered at > 14 km· h⁻¹, acceleration load, player load, number of dives, dive load, number of explosive efforts of displacement, number of low intensity (< 0.3 m), medium intensity (0.3–0.4 m), high intensity (> 0.4 m) and medium-high intensity jumps (> 0.3 m). The results showed that there is a decrease in the external load as the GKs’ training sessions approach the match, with the lowest value of external load observed at MD-1, and the highest external loads at MD+1 and MD-4. This analysis of the external load demands of professional soccer GKs provides new information that will be useful to inform professionals when planning and implementing training and/or recovery strategies for soccer GKs during the microcycle.