title: Analysis of repeated high-intensity running performance in professional soccer.
abstract: The aims of this study were twofold: (1) to characterize repeated high-intensity movement activity profiles of a professional soccer team in official match-play; and (2) to inform and verify the construct validity of tests commonly used to determine repeated-sprint ability in soccer by investigating the relationship between the results from a test of repeated-sprint ability and repeated high-intensity performance in competition. High-intensity running performance (movement at velocities >19.8 km · h(-1) for a minimum of 1 s duration) was measured in 20 players using computerized time-motion analysis. Performance in 80 French League 1 matches was analysed. In addition, 12 of the 20 players performed a repeated-sprint test on a non-motorized treadmill consisting of six consecutive 6 s sprints separated by 20 s passive recovery intervals. In all players, most consecutive high-intensity actions in competition were performed after recovery durations ≥61 s, recovery activity separating these efforts was generally active in nature with the major part of this spent walking, and players performed 1.1 ± 1.1 repeated high-intensity bouts (a minimum of three consecutive high-intensity bouts with a mean recovery time ≤20 s separating efforts) per game. Players reporting lowest performance decrements in the repeated-sprint ability test performed more high-intensity actions interspersed by short recovery times (≤20 s, P < 0.01 and ≤30 s, P < 0.05) compared with those with higher decrements. Across positional roles, central-midfielders performed more high-intensity actions separated by short recovery times (≤20 s) and spent a larger proportion of time running at higher intensities during recovery periods, while fullbacks performed the most repeated high-intensity bouts (statistical differences across positional roles from P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). These findings have implications for repeated high-intensity testing and physical conditioning regimens.
authors.affiliation: LOSC Lille Métropole Football Club, Camphin-en-Pévèle, France. chris.carling@free.fr
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carling
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Le Gall
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dupont
mesh_terms: D054874:Athletic Performance; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000592:standards*; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D010809:Physical Fitness; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D016138:Walking