title: High-intensity efforts in elite soccer matches and associated movement patterns, technical skills and tactical actions. Information for position-specific training drills.
abstract: This study aimed to translate movement patterns, technical skills and tactical actions associated with high-intensity efforts into metrics that could potentially be used to construct position-specific conditioning drills. A total of 20 individual English Premier League players' high-intensity running profiles were observed multiple times (n = 100) using a computerised tracking system. Data were analysed using a novel high-intensity movement programme across five positions (centre back [CB], full-back [FB], central midfielder [CM], wide midfielder [WM] and centre forward [CF]). High-intensity efforts in contact with the ball and the average speed of efforts were greater in WMs than CBs, CMs and CFs (effect sizes [ES]: 0.9-2.1, P < 0.05). WMs produced more repeated efforts than CBs and CMs (ES: 0.6-1.3, P < 0.05). In possession, WMs executed more tricks post effort than CBs and CMs (ES: 1.2-1.3, P < 0.01). FBs and WMs performed more crosses post effort than other positions (ES: 1.1-2.0, P < 0.01). Out of possession, CFs completed more efforts closing down the opposition (ES: 1.4-5.0, P < 0.01) but less tracking opposition runners than other positions (ES: 1.5-1.8, P < 0.01). CFs performed more arc runs before efforts compared to CBs, FBs and WMs (ES: 0.9-1.4, P < 0.05), however, CBs completed more 0-90° turns compared to FBs, CMs and WMs (ES: 0.9-1.1, P < 0.01). The data demonstrate unique high-intensity trends in and out of possession that could assist practitioners when devising position-specific drills.
authors.affiliation: a Medical Department , Newcastle United Football Club , Newcastle Upon Tyne , UK.|b Carnegie School of Sport , Leeds Beckett University , Leeds , UK.
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ade
authors.affiliation: a Medical Department , Newcastle United Football Club , Newcastle Upon Tyne , UK.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
authors.affiliation: b Carnegie School of Sport , Leeds Beckett University , Leeds , UK.
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Bradley
mesh_terms: D054874:Athletic Performance; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D006801:Humans; D009048:Motor Skills; D009068:Movement; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D010807:Physical Endurance; D012420:Running; D012916:Soccer; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
keywords: Football; time-motion analysis; training prescription