Analysis of repeated high-intensity running performance in professional soccer

Figures & data

Table I. Frequency of recovery periods based on the time elapsed between consecutive high-intensity actions in relation to positional role (mean ± s)

Recovery duration (s)	All Players (n = 353)	Fullback (FB) (n = 80)	Central-defender (CD) (n = 73)	Central-midfielder (CM) (n = 70)	Wide-midfielder (WM) (n = 80)	Centre-forward (CF) (n = 50)	Bonferroni Post-hoc analysis
Mean recovery time (s)	139.0 ± 42.6	115.8 ± 18.6	194.6 ± 48.4	134.7 ± 28.5	120.5 ± 24.1	129.3 ± 27.6	CD > FB^a, CM^a, WM^a, CF^a; CM > FB^b
% < 20s	14.3 ± 6.0	16.1 ± 5.6	10.8 ± 5.3	16.4 ± 5.6	15.3 ± 5.7	12.4 ± 6.3	FB > CD^a, CF^b; CM > CD^a, CF^b; WM > CD^a
% <30s	18.9 ± 7.0	21.6 ± 6.3	14.0 ± 6.5	21.0 ± 6.4	20.2 ± 6.1	16.9 ± 6.6	FB > CD^a, CF^b; CM > CD^a, CF^c; WM > CD^a
%31–60s	14.1 ± 6.0	16.6 ± 5.6	9.5 ± 5.2	14.2 ± 5.5	15.2 ± 5.0	15.1 ± 6.0	FB > CD^a; CF > CD^a; CM > CD^a; WM > CD^a
% > 61s	67.0 ± 9.6	61.8 ± 7.6	76.5 ± 8.4	64.8 ± 8.1	64.6 ± 8.0	68.0 ± 8.2	CD > FB^a, CM^a, WM^a, CF^a; CF > FB^a
Post-hoc analysis: ^aP < 0.001, ^bP < 0.01, ^cP < 0.05.

Table II. Characteristics of running activities during recovery periods in between consecutive high-intensity actions in relation to positional role (mean ± s)

Running activity	All Players (n = 353)	Fullback (FB) (n = 80)	Central-defender (CD) (n = 73)	Central-midfielder (CM) (n = 70)	Wide-midfielder (WM) (n = 80)	Centre-forward (CF) (n = 50)	Bonferroni Post-hoc analysis
% Standing	1.7 ± 0.9	1.6 ± 0.8	2.0 ± 0.9	1.6 ± 1.0	1.7 ± 1.0	1.6 ± 0.9
% Walking	61.3 ± 4.3	61.3 ± 3.6	62.7 ± 2.7	56.9 ± 3.0	62.2 ± 4.9	64.3 ± 2.4	CD > FB^b, CM^a; CF > FB^a, CD^b, CM^a, WM^a
% Jogging	30.3 ± 3.4	30.2 ± 3.2	30 ± 2.4	32.7 ± 2.3	29.4 ± 4.4	28.9 ± 2.3	FB > CF^c; CM > FB^a, CD^a, CM^a, CF^a
% Running	6.7 ± 1.7	6.9 ± 1.1	5.3 ± 0.9	8.9 ± 1.5	6.7 ± 1.2	5.2 ± 0.8	FB > CD^b, CF^b; CM > FB^a, CD^a, WM^a, CF^a; WM > CD^b, CF^b
Note: % = percentage of recovery time spent in each running activity.
Post-hoc analysis: ^aP < 0.001, ^bP < 0.01, ^cP < 0.05.

Table III. Frequency of repeated high-intensity bouts and characteristics of high-intensity actions within these bouts in relation to positional role (mean ± s)

Repeated high-intensity bouts	All Players (n = 353)	Fullback (FB) (n = 80)	Central-defender (CD) (n = 73)	Central-midfielder (CM) (n = 70)	Wide-midfielder (WM) (n = 80)	Centre-forward (CF) (n = 50)	Bonferroni Post-hoc analysis
No. of bouts	1.1 ± 1.1	1.6 ± 0.8	0.4 ± 1.1	1.3 ± 0.6	1.4 ± 1.1	0.6 ± 0.8	FB > CD^a, CF^a; CM > CD^a, CF^b; WM > CD^a, CF^a
No. of HIA per bout	3.3 ± 0.5	3.4 ± 0.6	3.3 ± 0.5	3.2 ± 0.4	3.2 ± 0.4	3.3 ± 0.6
HIA duration (s)	2.7 ± 0.7	2.9 ± 0.7	2.5 ± 0.8	2.5 ± 0.7	2.6 ± 0.6	2.8 ± 0.7	FB > CD^c
HIA distance (m)	16.5 ± 4.9	18.2 ± 4.6	15.0 ± 5.6	14.9 ± 5.0	16.2 ± 3.9	17.4 ± 4.4	FB > CD^b, CM^b
HIA recovery time (s)	13.6 ± 4.4	14.4 ± 5.2	11.4 ± 3.7	13.7 ± 4.7	13.6 ± 4.4	13.9 ± 4.4	FB > CD^c
Note: HIA = high-intensity actions.
Post-hoc analysis: ^aP < 0.001, ^bP < 0.01, ^cP < 0.05.

Figure 1. Descriptive characteristics of the most intense repeated high-intensity activity bout represented by the peak number of high-intensity actions performed by a centre-forward. Movement classification: HI = high-intensity, R = running, J = jogging, and SW = standing/walking.

Table IV. Comparison of mean and maximal running velocity of consecutive high-intensity actions in repeated high-intensity bouts characterized according to the number of consecutive actions observed within bouts

Number of consecutive HIA	Repeated high-intensity bouts
	HIA 1	HIA 2	HIA 3	HIA 4	HIA 5	HIA 6
Maximum velocity (km · h^−1)
3 consecutive actions	24.9	24.7	24.9
4 consecutive actions	24.7	24.8	24.4	24.5
5 consecutive actions	25.0	24.9	24.8	25.8	24.4
6 consecutive actions	24.9	25.1	24.5	25.0	27.3	25.1
Mean velocity (km · h^−1)
3 consecutive actions	22.1	22.0	22.1
4 consecutive actions	21.9	21.9	22.0	21.9
5 consecutive actions	22.0	22.3	21.9	22.0	21.5
6 consecutive actions	21.8	21.4	21.4	22.2	22.9	22.2
Note: HIA = high-intensity actions.

Table V. Competitive high-intensity running activity profiles in two groups of professional soccer players (highest and lowest ranked performers) ranked according to performance measures of repeated sprint ability determined during a non-motorized treadmill test (mean ± s)

RSA treadmill test performance	Mean velocity (km · h^−1)		Highest mean velocity (km · h^−1)		Peak velocity (km · h^−1)		Performance decrement (%)
Match performance	Lowest ranked	Highest ranked	Lowest ranked	Highest ranked	Lowest ranked	Highest ranked	Lowest ranked	Highest ranked
High-intensity actions
% Total distance covered	7.1 ± 1.5	6.4 ± 1.2	7.1 ± 1.5	6.4 ± 1.2	6.8 ± 1.5	6.7 ± 1.4	6.5 ± 1.5	7.0 ± 1.3
Mean number	40.0 ± 5.2	40.2 ± 6.6	40.0 ± 5.2	40.2 ± 6.6	40.7 ± 5.4	39.6 ± 6.3	39.0 ± 6.4	41.2 ± 5.1
Mean recovery time (s)	141.6 ± 20.5	147.0 ± 29.3	141.6 ± 20.5	147.0 ± 29.3	141.1 ± 20.8	147.4 ± 29.0	148.7 ± 28.3	139.7 ± 20.5
% Recovery time < 20 s	15.3 ± 4.2	13.6 ± 5.3	15.3 ± 4.2	13.6 ± 5.3	15.6 ± 4.2	13.3 ± 5.1	11.2 ± 3.7	17.7 ± 3.0*
% Recovery time < 30 s	18.6 ± 4.9	17.9 ± 6.1	18.6 ± 4.9	17.9 ± 6.1	19.0 ± 4.8	17.5 ± 6.1	15.1 ± 4.7	21.5 ± 3.8^#
Repeated high-intensity bouts
Mean number	1.1 ± 0.9	1.1 ± 0.9	1.1 ± 0.9	1.1 ± 0.9	0.9 ± 0.9	1.4 ± 0.9	1.0 ± 1.0	1.3 ± 0.7
Mean velocity	21.9 ± 0.1	21.9 ± 0.2	21.9 ± 0.1	21.9 ± 0.2	21.9 ± 0.1	21.9 ± 0.2	22.0 ± 0.1	21.9 ± 0.1
Maximum velocity	27.2 ± 2.2	27.2 ± 2.1	27.2 ± 2.2	27.2 ± 2.1	27.4 ± 2.3	27.0 ± 1.9	27.9 ± 0.5	26.8 ± 2.5
Note: RSA = repeated sprint ability.
*P < 0.01: difference between lowest and highest ranked group. ^# P < 0.05: difference between lowest and highest ranked group.