Does player age influence match physical performance? A longitudinal four-season analysis in Spanish Soccer LaLiga
This study aims to analyse the evolution of match running performance in relation to the age distribution of professional soccer players using a large-scale analysis. An explorational-longitudinal and retrospective study was designed and a total of 36,883 individual match observations were collected...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Termedia Publishing House
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Biology of Sport |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.termedia.pl/Does-player-age-influence-match-physical-performance-A-longitudinal-four-season-analysis-in-Spanish-Soccer-LaLiga,78,50093,1,1.html |
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| author | Tomás García-Calvo Florentino Huertas José Carlos Ponce-Bordón Roberto López del Campo Ricardo Resta Rafael Ballester |
| author_facet | Tomás García-Calvo Florentino Huertas José Carlos Ponce-Bordón Roberto López del Campo Ricardo Resta Rafael Ballester |
| author_sort | Tomás García-Calvo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study aims to analyse the evolution of match running performance in relation to the age distribution of professional soccer players using a large-scale analysis. An explorational-longitudinal and retrospective study was designed and a total of 36,883 individual match observations were collected on outfield players competing across four consecutive Spanish LaLiga seasons (from 2015/16 to 2018/19), using an optical tracking system (ChyronHego). Soccer players were divided into 3 age groups: young (18–24 years old), middleaged (25–30 years old), and seniors (31–41 years old). Relative total distance (TD/min), distance covered at 21–24 km· h−1 (HIRD/min), and > 24 km· h−1 per minute (VHIRD/min) were analysed; also, the number of efforts at 21–24 km·h−1 (Sp21) and > 24 km·h−1 (Sp24) were taken into consideration. Seasons were divided into four phases (P): P1 (matches 1–10), P2 (11–19), P3 (20–29), and P4 (30–38). The results showed that young players covered significantly greater TD, HIRD and VHIRD than the rest of the players (p < .05) in all season phases. In addition, TD significantly decreased along season phases in all player age group (p < .01). Crucially, young players performed significantly greater numbers of Sp21 and Sp24 than the rest of the players (p < .05) in all season phases. In addition, Sp21 and SP24 significantly decreased in middle-aged (p < .01) and senior players (p < .05) across the seasons. This study demonstrated that players’ match running performance decreases with increasing years, especially in high-intensity running distances. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:45:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a1a6221c2dc140ac865adf2401f625dc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0860-021X 2083-1862 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:45:42Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Termedia Publishing House |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biology of Sport |
| spelling | doaj.art-a1a6221c2dc140ac865adf2401f625dc2023-12-01T10:45:23ZengTermedia Publishing HouseBiology of Sport0860-021X2083-18622023-03-014041097110610.5114/biolsport.2023.12484450093Does player age influence match physical performance? A longitudinal four-season analysis in Spanish Soccer LaLigaTomás García-CalvoFlorentino HuertasJosé Carlos Ponce-BordónRoberto López del CampoRicardo RestaRafael BallesterThis study aims to analyse the evolution of match running performance in relation to the age distribution of professional soccer players using a large-scale analysis. An explorational-longitudinal and retrospective study was designed and a total of 36,883 individual match observations were collected on outfield players competing across four consecutive Spanish LaLiga seasons (from 2015/16 to 2018/19), using an optical tracking system (ChyronHego). Soccer players were divided into 3 age groups: young (18–24 years old), middleaged (25–30 years old), and seniors (31–41 years old). Relative total distance (TD/min), distance covered at 21–24 km· h−1 (HIRD/min), and > 24 km· h−1 per minute (VHIRD/min) were analysed; also, the number of efforts at 21–24 km·h−1 (Sp21) and > 24 km·h−1 (Sp24) were taken into consideration. Seasons were divided into four phases (P): P1 (matches 1–10), P2 (11–19), P3 (20–29), and P4 (30–38). The results showed that young players covered significantly greater TD, HIRD and VHIRD than the rest of the players (p < .05) in all season phases. In addition, TD significantly decreased along season phases in all player age group (p < .01). Crucially, young players performed significantly greater numbers of Sp21 and Sp24 than the rest of the players (p < .05) in all season phases. In addition, Sp21 and SP24 significantly decreased in middle-aged (p < .01) and senior players (p < .05) across the seasons. This study demonstrated that players’ match running performance decreases with increasing years, especially in high-intensity running distances.https://www.termedia.pl/Does-player-age-influence-match-physical-performance-A-longitudinal-four-season-analysis-in-Spanish-Soccer-LaLiga,78,50093,1,1.htmlage group aging football longitudinal analysis match running performance |
| spellingShingle | Tomás García-Calvo Florentino Huertas José Carlos Ponce-Bordón Roberto López del Campo Ricardo Resta Rafael Ballester Does player age influence match physical performance? A longitudinal four-season analysis in Spanish Soccer LaLiga Biology of Sport age group aging football longitudinal analysis match running performance |
| title | Does player age influence match physical performance? A longitudinal four-season analysis in Spanish Soccer LaLiga |
| title_full | Does player age influence match physical performance? A longitudinal four-season analysis in Spanish Soccer LaLiga |
| title_fullStr | Does player age influence match physical performance? A longitudinal four-season analysis in Spanish Soccer LaLiga |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does player age influence match physical performance? A longitudinal four-season analysis in Spanish Soccer LaLiga |
| title_short | Does player age influence match physical performance? A longitudinal four-season analysis in Spanish Soccer LaLiga |
| title_sort | does player age influence match physical performance a longitudinal four season analysis in spanish soccer laliga |
| topic | age group aging football longitudinal analysis match running performance |
| url | https://www.termedia.pl/Does-player-age-influence-match-physical-performance-A-longitudinal-four-season-analysis-in-Spanish-Soccer-LaLiga,78,50093,1,1.html |
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