Effects of congested match periods on acceleration and deceleration profiles in professional soccer

Léo Djaoui; Adam Owen; Matt Newton; Pantelis Theodoros Nikolaidis; Alexandre Dellal; Karim Chamari

doi:10.5114/biolsport.2022.103725

eISSN: 2083-1862
ISSN: 0860-021X

Biology of Sport

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2/2022
vol. 39

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abstract:

Original paper

Effects of congested match periods on acceleration and deceleration profiles in professional soccer

Léo Djaoui

¹

,

Adam Owen

^{1, 2}

,

Matt Newton

³

,

Pantelis Theodoros Nikolaidis

⁴

,

Alexandre Dellal

^{1, 5}

,

Karim Chamari

⁶

Inter-university Laboratory of Human Movement Biology, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
Seattle Sounders FC, Seattle, Washington, USA
Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
School of Health and Caring Sciences, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece
FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, Centre orthopédique Santy, Sport Science and Research Department, Lyon, France
ASPETAR, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar

Biol Sport. 2022;39(2):307–317.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2022.103725

Online publish date: 2021/04/09

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The aim of the present study was to analyse the influence of congested periods of matches on the acceleration (Acc) and deceleration (Dec) profiles of elite soccer players. Twenty-three elite male professional soccer players participated in the study across 31 official matches. Assessed periods included: (i) congested periods (three to four days between games), and (ii) non-congested periods (more than four days between games). Physical activity during matches was recorded during games using a 10Hz global positioning system device, coupled with a 100 Hz accelerometer, and was analysed according to the periods. Maximal Acc- (73.2 ± 20.3 vs. 84.918.5 m), high Acc- (244.0 ± 49.5 vs. 267.0 ± 37.8 m), maximal Dec- (139.0 ± 44.8 vs. 152.039.3 m) and the total decelerating- distance (5132 ± 690 vs. 5245 ± 552 m) were lower in congested than in non-congested periods (p < 0.05, effect size 0.31–0.70). Neither a main effect of playing position nor a period*playing position interaction on Acc and Dec were observed (p > 0.05). It was concluded that Acc and Dec match activities were significantly affected during congested periods compared to non-congested highlighting a possible fatigue accumulation being responsible for the observed decrement in physical activity. Monitoring Acc and Dec metrics throughout particular periods of congested fixtures amongst professional soccer teams is advised and may be a way to assess physical and fatigue status.

keywords:

Effects of congested match periods on acceleration and deceleration profiles in professional soccer

Léo Djaoui 1 , Adam Owen 1, 2 , Matt Newton 3 , Pantelis Theodoros Nikolaidis 4 , Alexandre Dellal 1, 5 , Karim Chamari 6

GPS, Fatigue, Football, Directional changes, Match performance

Léo Djaoui

¹

,

Adam Owen

^{1, 2}

,

Matt Newton

³

,

Pantelis Theodoros Nikolaidis

⁴

,

Alexandre Dellal

^{1, 5}

,

Karim Chamari

⁶