Match performance and physical capacity of players in the top three competitive standards of English professional soccer
Introduction
Time-motion analysis is a valuable data collection technique used to quantify the match running performance of elite soccer players (Carling, Bloomfield, Nelsen, & Reilly, 2008). Interest has grown in this area of study over the last five decades as it enables sports scientists to identify the current demands placed on players in competition and apply data to training and testing protocols (Bradley et al., 2011a). Studies have examined match running performance in an array of Leagues around the world (Andersson et al., 2008, Bangsbo et al., 1991, Di Mascio and Bradley, 2013, Di Salvo et al., 2007, Mayhew and Wenger, 1985, Rampinini et al., 2007, van Gool et al., 1988, Withers et al., 1982). Despite a plethora of research, no criterion measure to distinguish physical performance in elite soccer matches has been identified but the total distance covered and particularly that run at high-intensities seem to be useful indicators (Krustrup et al., 2003).
Indeed, research has shown that players at a higher standard of play perform more high-intensity running than peers at lower standards (Andersson et al., 2010, Bangsbo et al., 1991, Ekblom, 1986, Mohr et al., 2008). For instance, Mohr, Krustrup, and Bangsbo (2003) found that elite Italian League players performed 28% more high-intensity running than sub-elite Danish League peers. However, this study quantified match running performance in only 18 elite and 24 sub-elite players and no technical profiles were reported. Moreover, the data were captured from two separate European Leagues of vastly different standards. Similarly, Ingebrigtsen et al. (2012) reported that distance covered in high-intensity running was ∼30–40% greater in players in top versus middle and bottom ranking Danish teams. Yet, there is limited information as to what extent match running performance and technical profiles differ in players across various standards within any of the recognised major European soccer-playing nations. To our knowledge, only one study has attempted to compare match running performances across two standards of elite soccer within a single country (Di Salvo, Pigozzi, Gonzalez-Haro, Laughlin, & De Witt, 2013). Match running performance was analyzed in players from the English Premier League and Championship. Results showed that Championship players covered greater distances in jogging, running, high-speed running, and sprinting than Premier League players, although the differences were considered negligible in practical terms. However, additional research is arguably necessary to provide an even more valid expression of the distinguishing characteristics of play between competitive standards within the same country. For example, the inclusion of additional professional Leagues (e.g., third tier) and the monitoring of running performance in the same players who have moved up and down Leagues would enable a greater understanding of the influence of standard on match-play physical performance. In addition, none of the aforementioned studies have provided information on technical indicators across competitive standards and their potential association with differences in running performance. It is also unclear to what extent the physical capacity of players differs between elite soccer standards in the same country, although recent data from elite and sub-elite Norwegian and Danish Leagues indicate markedly higher intermittent exercise performance at the elite standard (Ingebrigtsen et al., 2012). Moreover, Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test scores were higher in players in a top compared to a medium ranked European League (Mohr et al., 2003). Researchers have observed large magnitude relationships between high-intensity running during matches and physical capacity in elite players (Bradley et al., 2011b, Bradley et al., 2012; Krustrup et al., 2005, Krustrup et al., 2003), but no study has compared if this association also differs from one standard of play to another within the same country. This is especially important as the relationship between physical capacity and match running performance is complex and not always evident as a myriad of factors influence the distances covered in matches. While a high physical capacity might be advantageous for physical performance in soccer it is important to acknowledge that the tactical role and situational effects associated with individual playing positions and/or competitive standards could alter this relationship (Bradley et al., 2011a, Castellano et al., 2011, Lago et al., 2010). Nevertheless, the extent to which players in different standards tax their physical capacity during elite matches could possibly be assessed by correlating scores from physical tests with match running performance parameters.
The aims of this study were to: (1) compare match running performance and technical profiles of players in the top three competitive standards of English soccer; (2) quantify the effect of moving up and down standards on match running performance and (3) establish the physical capacity of players across standards and correlate with measures of match running performance.
Section snippets
Participants and match analysis data
With institutional ethical approval, match performance data were collected from players in the English FA Premier League (n = 190; observations = 947), Championship (n = 155; observations = 261) and League 1 (n = 366: observations = 867) using a multiple-camera computerized tracking system (Prozone Sports Ltd®, Leeds, UK). Data were collected from players completing an entire match allowing performance in five playing positions to be profiled (central defenders n = 34, 36, 77; fullbacks n = 41, 35, 83; central
Match running performance
Players covered more (p < .01) total distance in League 1 compared to the Championship and Premier League (ES: 0.2–1.0), with greater distances (p < .01) also covered in the Championship versus Premier League (Table 1). All positions in League 1 and the Championship covered greater (p < .01) total distances than those in the Premier League, while League 1 players in central positions (defenders and midfielders) also covered more total distance (p < .05) than their Championship counterparts (ES:
Discussion
The main findings are: (1) less total and high-intensity running distance was covered in the Premier League compared to lower standards in English soccer, (2) players covered more high-intensity running when moving down from the Premier League to the Championship but not when moving up standards, (3) technical indicators in the Premier League were superior to lower standards and (4) physical capacity did not differ between a subsample of players in each standard but correlated with
Conclusions
To our knowledge this is the only study to date that compares the match performance and physical capacity of players across all three competitive standards in one of the most recognized European soccer-playing nations. The data provide new insight into the possible impact technical characteristics have on match running performances and highlights that players at lower standards could tax their physical capacity to a greater extent. The data demonstrate less distance covered in high-intensity
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge Will Jones and Paul Boanas from Prozone Sports Ltd® for providing access to the various data sets and benchmark statistics used in this study. We would also like to thank the various clubs in the Premier League, Championship and League 1 for access to the first team squads to enable the completion of physical capacity testing. There is no conflict of interest for any of the authors named in this manuscript.
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