To train or not to train (on match day)? Influence of a priming session on match performance in competitive elite-level soccer

ABSTRACT

This study examined the effect of a morning priming session consisted of stretching, mobility, core and lower-body resistance, and reactive agility exercises on match performance in elite-level soccer players. Information on physical and technical performance was collected during competitive matches (n = 32) and subsequently classified as those preceded or not preceded by a priming session. Results showed significantly increased (i) distance covered overall (Cohen’s d (d) = 0.34, p = 0.011), in moderate-intensity (d = 0.52, p = 0.001) and high-intensity running (d = 0.30, p = 0.024), and (ii) frequency of duels (d = 0.26, p = 0.050) in matches preceded by a priming session compared to those not preceded by a priming session. These findings show that players’ physical performance was notably enhanced due to the pre-match routines that the team implemented on match day, while technical performance was in general similar irrespective of whether a priming session was implemented or not before the match. Therefore, morning priming session implemented on match day can be recommended as an effective pre-match strategy to increase players’ physical performance in soccer without negative consequences on technical performance.

KEYWORDS:

• Match-day training
• physical performance
• technical performance
• football

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the football club Riga FC for authorising the use of a data set for this research. Support of the Croatian Science Foundation is gratefully acknowledged (grant number DOK-2020-01-9298).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The authors did not receive support from any organisation for the submitted work.