Influence of contextual factors on match running performance of starters and non-starters in elite youth male soccer players
Luiz Guilherme Gonçalves, Hadi Nobarı, Alex Ambrosio Rites, Fábio Yuzo Nakamura, Gabriel Rodrigues Garcia, Rodrigo Aquino
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of match location, quality of opposition (classified into: strong [1st to 4th position]; intermediate [5th to 15th position]; weak [16th to 20th position]), and match outcome on the match running performance of starters and non-starters from a top elite Brazilian soccer team. Absolute measures were calculated using total distance, high-speed (19.8–25.2 km·h −1 ), sprinting (≥ 25.2 km·h −1 ), total distance high-acceleration (> 2m·s 2 ), and deceleration (< −2m·s 2 ) were recorded by GPS units from a sample of young soccer players ( N = 25) in a total of 17 matches. Relative measures were calculated by dividing absolute measures by the total duration of the matches. Non-starters covered greater total distance ( p = 0.02), sprinting ( p = 0.02), high-acceleration and deceleration ( p = 0.04), sprinting distance relative per minute played ( p = 0.005), and high-acceleration and deceleration relative per minute played ( p < 0.001) when the team plays at home, strong opponents, and wins the matches. Starters covered greater total distance in high-speed running ( p = 0.04), high-acceleration and deceleration ( p = 0.03), and high-speed running relative per minute played ( p = 0.04) when the team plays strong opponents and wins the matches. These findings highlight the impact of contextual factors during matches on the locomotor performance of young soccer players.