Quantification of in-season training load relative to match load in professional Dutch Eredivisie football players

Figures & data

Table 1. Descriptive statistics of training load variables of match, regular training, and nonstarters training (mean ± SD).

		Regular training (starters and nonstarters)				Nonstarters training (MD+1)
	Match	MD-4	MD-3	MD-2	MD-1	MD-4	MD-3	MD-2
# sessions	3	6	9	14	15	11	12	9
# players per session		18 ± 6	19 ± 2	19 ± 3	18 ± 2	8 ± 3	8 ± 3	10 ± 2
N total (time-motion/HR)	38 (37/33)	92 (91/72)	152 (143/131)	242 (231/210)	257 (253/215)	69 (67/54)	88 (86/65)	78 (78/64)
Duration (min)	90 ± 0 ^a	88 ± 11	82 ± 7	77 ± 12	59 ± 7	85 ± 13	82 ± 8	82 ± 11
Total distance (m)	10927 ± 619	7267 ± 913	6120 ± 1188	5219 ± 881	3848 ± 454	6022 ± 993	5775 ± 986	5455 ± 825
EE (kJ · kg^−1)	58 ± 3	40 ± 6	33 ± 6	29 ± 5	21 ± 2	33 ± 5	32 ± 4	30 ± 4
Time >90%HRmax (min)	22 ± 18	17 ± 10	4 ± 6	4 ± 5	3 ± 4	9 ± 9	6 ± 6	4 ± 4
RUN (m)	1614 ± 320	834 ± 169	692 ± 219	510 ± 156	328 ± 101	372 ± 137	349 ± 129	383 ± 148
HSR (m)	738 ± 244	249 ± 85	281 ± 134	175 ± 108	106 ± 53	291 ± 267	105 ± 115	75 ± 47
# medium ACC	165 ± 25	131 ± 31	82 ± 25	81 ± 21	55 ± 13	88 ± 19	79 ± 18	84 ± 15
# high ACC	61 ± 14	66 ± 18	44 ± 13	45 ± 15	26 ± 8	38 ± 12	35 ± 12	40 ± 14
# medium DEC	111 ± 19	98 ± 23	64 ± 18	65 ± 17	44 ± 10	69 ± 15	65 ± 15	67 ± 14
# high DEC	58 ± 14	49 ± 16	30 ± 11	29 ± 11	23 ± 8	26 ± 11	27 ± 11	27 ± 8
HP (m)	2472 ± 315	1363 ± 266	1066 ± 335	854 ± 242	565 ± 124	951 ± 297	750 ± 181	741 ± 173

^amatch values have been recalculated to 90 min; mean ± SD values are based on all included samples, including repeated measures of individual players; note that the nonstarters MD-4 training also includes training sessions with more than 4 days to the next match.

MD-4: training session 4 days before Match Day (MD); HR: heart rate; EE: estimated energy expenditure; RUN: running (14.4–19.8 km · h⁻¹); HSR: high-speed running (>19.8 km · h⁻¹); ACC: accelerations (medium: 1.5–3.0 m · s⁻²; high: >3.0 m · s⁻²); DEC: decelerations (medium: -1.5 to -3.0 m · s⁻²; high: <-3.0 m · s⁻²); HP: high power (>20 W · kg⁻¹).

Figure 1. Estimated training load variables of typical training days expressed as a percentage of estimated match values.

Values above the horizontal line represent the estimated full match values for each variable (=100%); error bars of training days indicate 95% confidence interval of the mean difference between each estimated training day and estimated match, expressed as a relative match value. Error bars of the match indicate 95% confidence interval of the estimated match value, expressed as a relative match value.Abbreviations: MD-4 = training session 4 days before match day (MD); EE = estimated energy expenditure; HR = heart rate; RUN = running (14.4–19.8 km · h⁻¹); HSR = high-speed running (>19.8 km · h⁻¹); ACC = accelerations (medium: 1.5–3.0 m · s⁻²; high: >3.0 m · s⁻²); DEC = decelerations (medium: -1.5 to -3.0 m · s⁻²; high: <-3.0 m · s⁻²); HP = high power (>20 W · kg⁻¹).Estimated match and training session means are different from each other unless indicated by: a = not different from match, b = not different from MD-4, c = not different from MD-3, d = not different from MD-2, e = not different from MD-1.

Figure 2. Cumulative weekly training load of a typical week with 1 match and 4 subsequent training sessions (MD-4, MD-3, MD-2 and MD-1) expressed as number of matches per variable.

A typical week with 1 match was considered to be a week with a recovery training (day after the match; not recorded), a day off, 4 subsequent training sessions (MD-4, MD-3, MD-2 and MD-1) and a match.Abbreviations: MD-4 = training session 4 days before match day (MD); EE = estimated energy expenditure; HR = heart rate; RUN = running (14.4–19.8 km · h⁻¹); HSR = high-speed running (>19.8 km · h⁻¹); ACC = accelerations (medium: 1.5–3.0 m · s⁻²; high: >3.0 m · s⁻²); DEC = decelerations (medium: -1.5 to -3.0 m · s⁻²; high: <-3.0 m · s⁻²); HP = high power (>20 W · kg⁻¹).

Figure 3. Estimated training load variables of regular and nonstarters training days expressed as a percentage of estimated match values.

Values above the horizontal line represent the estimated full match values for each variable (=100%); note that the nonstarters MD-4 training also includes training sessions with more than 4 days to the next match.Abbreviations: Regular = regular training session; non-start = nonstarters training session 1 day after match day (MD); MD-4 = training session 4 days before MD; EE = estimated energy expenditure; HR = heart rate; RUN = running (14.4–19.8 km · h⁻¹); HSR = high-speed running (>19.8 km · h⁻¹); ACC = accelerations (medium: 1.5–3.0 m · s⁻²; high: >3.0 m · s⁻²); DEC = decelerations (medium: -1.5 to -3.0 m · s⁻²; high: <-3.0 m · s⁻²); HP = high power (>20 W · kg⁻¹).Regular and nonstarters training are different from each other when indicated by * (P < 0.05) or ** (P < 0.001).

Figure 4. Cumulative weekly load for starters and nonstarters during a typical week with 1 match (A) and 2 matches (B) expressed as number of matches per variable.

A typical week with 1 match (A) was considered to be a week starting with a recovery training for the starters (not recorded) and a nonstarters training session for the nonstarters (MD+1), followed by a day off, 4 subsequent training sessions (MD-4, MD-3, MD-2 and MD-1) and a match (only for starters). A typical week with 2 matches (B) consisted of 2 recovery sessions (starters) or 2 MD+1 sessions (nonstarters), 2 MD‒1 sessions, 2 matches (only for starters) and a day off.

Abbreviations: Regular = regular training session; non-start = nonstarters training session 1 day after match day (MD); MD‒4 = training session 4 days before MD; EE = estimated energy expenditure; HR = heart rate; RUN = running (14.4‒19.8 km · h‒1); HSR = high‒speed running (>19.8 km · h‒1); ACC = accelerations (medium: 1.5‒3.0 m · s^‒2; high: >3.0 m · s^‒2); DEC = decelerations (medium: ‒1.5 to ‒3.0 m · s‒2; high: <‒3.0 m · s‒2); HP = high power (>20 W · kg^‒1).