Relationship between training load and match running performance in men's soccer

Abstract

Objectives: The main aim of this study was to test the relationship of volume and weekly training intensities with match-running demands of professional male soccer players. Methods: The training volume and intensity load and match demands of 18 professional soccer players (age: 20.7 ± 1.8 years) were monitored daily for 15 weeks. Results: Match high-speed running (mHSR) and match accelerations (mACC) were found to be moderately positively correlated with weekly HSR (wtHSR) and weekly ACC volume (wtACC) (r = 0.497; p < 0.01; r = 0.367; p < 0.01), respectively. Moderate positive correlations were also found between mHSR, mACC and mHSR and mean training intensity of ACC (mtACC) (r = 0.366; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Weekly HSR and ACC training volume and intensity have moderate associations with match HSR and ACC loads. Coaches should prioritize weekly HSR and ACC during the training process, for ensuring that players perform more HSR and ACC actions during the subsequent match.