Weekly external load distribution in football teams of different
competitive levels

Diogo Coutinho; Diogo Oliveira; Pedro Lisboa; Fábio Campos; Fábio Yuzo Nakamura; Jorge Baptista; Eduardo Abade

doi:10.5114/biolsport.2024.133668

eISSN: 2083-1862
ISSN: 0860-021X

Biology of Sport

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4/2024
vol. 41

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abstract:

Original paper

Weekly external load distribution in football teams of different competitive levels

Diogo Coutinho

^{1, 2}

,

Diogo Oliveira

¹

,

Pedro Lisboa

³

,

Fábio Campos

⁴

,

Fábio Yuzo Nakamura

^{1, 2}

,

Jorge Baptista

^{1, 2}

,

Eduardo Abade

^{2, 5, 6}

Department of Sports Sciences and Physical Education, University of Maia, Maia, Portugal
Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, CIDESD, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Catapult Sports, Melbourne, Australia
Performance Department, Futebol clube Famalicão SAD, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Braga, Portugal
Portugal Football School, Portuguese Football Federation, Oeiras, Portugal
Department of Sports Sciences, Exercise and Health, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal

Biol Sport. 2024;41(4):155–164

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2024.133668

Online publish date: 2024/04/25

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This study aimed to compare the microcycle load distribution between teams from different competitive levels. A total of 22 microcycles from one team of each competitive level (first division, 1^st DIV, n = 32 players; second division, 2^nd DIV, n = 23 players; third division, 3^rd DIV, n = 23 players) were monitored using GPS (10 Hz, Catapult). During the match, a higher number of high accelerations (i.e., > 3 m/s, per min) were found in the 3^rd DIV team compared to the 1^st and 2^nd DIV teams. On match day (MD) +1&+2, the 1^st DIV team covered more total (per min, p < 0.001) and high-speed running distance (HSR per min, p < 0.001 and p = 0.042, respectively) than both the 2^nd and 3^rd DIV teams. The 2^nd DIV team showed lower values in most distance-related variables (total distance covered per min, p < 0.001; running distance per min, p < 0.001; HSR per min, p < 0.001; and sprinting distance per min, p < 0.001) for both MD-4 and MD-3 compared to the 1^st and 3^rd DIV teams. In contrast, it showed higher sprinting distance per min (p < 0.001) on MD-2. In general, the 3^rd DIV team showed higher values in the number of high accelerations (per min, p < 0.001) across all sessions. These results suggest that distance-related variables may be a priority when planning microcycles for the 1^st DIV team, while accelerations are relevant for the 3^rd DIV team. A higher emphasis on external load during MD-2 by the 2^nd DIV team may explain the lower external loads across the microcycle

keywords:

Weekly external load distribution in football teams of different competitive levels

Diogo Coutinho 1, 2 , Diogo Oliveira 1 , Pedro Lisboa 3 , Fábio Campos 4 , Fábio Yuzo Nakamura 1, 2 , Jorge Baptista 1, 2 , Eduardo Abade 2, 5, 6

Periodization, Distance-related variables, Acceleration and deceleration, Training load, Time-motion analyses

Diogo Coutinho

^{1, 2}

,

Diogo Oliveira

¹

,

Pedro Lisboa

³

,

Fábio Campos

⁴

,

Fábio Yuzo Nakamura

^{1, 2}

,

Jorge Baptista

^{1, 2}

,

Eduardo Abade

^{2, 5, 6}