Comparisons of new body load and metabolic power average workload indices between starters and non-starters: A full-season study in professional soccer players

The aim of this study was to compare the weekly average training monotony new body load (wTM(NBL)) and strain (wTS(NBL)), as well as the weekly average training monotony metabolic power average (wTM(MPA)) and strain (wTS(MPA)) between four periods of a season (preseason, early-season, mid-season, and end-season), considering starters and non-starters. Twenty-one professional soccer players (age: 28.27 +/- 3.78 years) were monitored throughout a season in the highest level of professional football Premier League in Iran. Data were captured by Global Positioning System (GPS) devices. Independent samples T-tests were applied to analyze the between-group differences for all dependent derived-GPS variables for the full season and its different periods (preseason, early-season, mid-season, and end-season). Based on the amount of time attending in match and training, players were divided into two groups (starters and non-starters) each week. The magnitude of the between-group difference revealed a very large significant greater weekly average TMNBL (p<0.001, d = -2.42), TSNBL (pd = -2.74), TMMPA (pd =-2.79) and TSMPA (pd = -3.27) for starters when compared to non-starters during the early-season. The findings also revealed a very large significant difference when starters were compared to non-starters during the mid-season (TMNBL: p<0.001, d = -2.89; TSNBL: p<0.001, d = -2.99; TMMPA: p<0.001, d = -3.28; and TSMPA: p<0.001, d = -3.25) and end-season (TMNBL: p<0.001, d = -2.89; TSNBL: p<0.001, d = -3.07; TMMPA: p<0.001, d = -3.16; and TSMPA: p<0.001, d = -3.58). In summary, the results of this study revealed that starters present regularly higher values of NBL, MPA-based weekly training monotony, and training strain than non-starters. This result must be taken into account when planning weekly workloads for these groups. Specifically, starters might experience high values of external workloads because of match-related demands. Therefore, weekly adjustments in their training workload are required to reduce injury risk.

Automated summary

The study found that starters generally have higher levels of load and strain in training compared to non-starters. When planning weekly workloads for these groups, this result should be taken into consideration. Starters might experience high workload levels due to match-related demands, hence requiring weekly adjustments in their training workload to reduce injury risks.