This study aimed to examine physical match performance and the effects of opponent ranking and positional differences in both the English Championship League (ECL) and the English Premier League (EPL) over five consecutive seasons. Fifty-four professional outfield soccer players (average age 24.6±5.4 years, weight 76.6±6.9 kg, height 1.79±0.09 m) from an English club were involved. Physical data obtained with t...
To identify a relationship between the 1200 m shuttle test and 40 m sprint test performance with distances covered at varying intensities in English Premier League (EPL) matches. A squad (n = 21) of full-time professional 1st team male football players (age 29.8±3.4 years; height 183.7±5.2 cm; weight 83.7±6.9 kg) participated in this study. League match data from the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons were recorded an...
The aims of this study were to: compare training loads between the English Premier League (EPL) and English Championship League (ECL) and examine differences between playing positions. Forty-six 1st team players from the same club participated in the study. GPS metrics were obtained during all EPL and ECL training sessions across four consecutive seasons, 2019–20 to 2022–23. The study team was promoted from the...
The aims of the present study were to: (i) quantify accelerations and decelerations of soccer players during match-play acrosstwo consecutive seasonsfrom the English PremierLeague (EPL) and Ligue 1 (L1); and (ii) compare any positional differences between the two leagues. Fifty-eight male professional soccer players were monitored during all league matches (n = 144) across seasons 2020/21 and 2021/22. The absol...
This study aimed to examine the influence of different scores in the first and second half on running and explosive-based performance of elite male soccer players. Thirty-three professional players from one English Premier League team participated in the study across two consecutive seasons, 2021/22 and 2022/23. Matches were divided into half (first versus second) and nine phases; WIN-WIN; WIN-DRAW; WIN-LOSS; D...
This study aimed to compare high-speed running (HSR) and sprint distances (SD) when in- (IP) and out-of-possession (OP) during official English Premier League (EPL) match-play over three consecutive seasons considering playing position, match location and opponent ranking. Match data from 31 male professional soccer players was obtained via an optical tracking system. Results showed that during the IP phase, pl...
Background A small number of reviews have explored lower‑ versus higher‑volume training in non‑athletes, but the growing challenge of congested schedules in team sports highlights the need to synthesize evidence specific to team sport athletes. Thus, the objectives of this systematic review with meta‑analysis are twofold: (i) to summarize the primary physiological and physical fitness outcomes of lower‑volume v...
This study investigated the relationship between acute and chronic training load metrics and non-contact muscle injuries in elite soccer players employing a novel statistical approach. A retrospective analysis was conducted during the 2020/21 season on 30 senior outfield players from an English Premier League club. Global Positioning System (GPS) technology monitored total distance, high-speed running (HSR) dis...
This study aimed to: (i) compare the accumulated load between three and four training sessions per week plus a match across two consecutive seasons in elite female soccer players, and (ii) compare the training/match ratio (TMr) of external load. Data from 10 players in each season were analysed during the study period. The microcycle structure of the first season included three training sessions (3dW) and a mat...
This study aimed to compare accelerations (ACC) and decelerations (DEC) when in- (IP) and out of-possession (OP) during official English Premier League (EPL) match-play over three consecutive seasons considering playing position, match location and opponent ranking. Match data from 31 male professional soccer players was obtained via an optical tracking system. Playing position significantly influenced ACCIP, D...