Analysis of external load in a professional Chilean soccer team considering playing position, opponent quality, and home advantage
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v70.111926Keywords:
home and visiting game, professional soccer player, GPS, external load metricsAbstract
Objective: To analyze the external loads of a Chilean First Division B football team, considering playing position, home advantage, and the quality of the opponent.
Methodology: Nine external load metrics were analyzed using GPS devices: total distance (TD), total distance per minute (TD/min), sprint distance (SD), number of sprints (SPR), maximum speed (MS), accelerations (ACC), decelerations (DEC), player load (PL), and power output (PO). The sample included 11 players and 14 matches from the 2019-2020 season.
Results: The team exhibited a strong correlation in six metrics when playing both home and away: SD, SPR, MS, ACC, DEC, and PO. Midfielders (MF) showed significant differences in TD/min when playing away compared to central defenders (CD), and this position also showed differences in SD when comparing home and away matches. Opponent Quality: Against higher-quality teams, playing at home highlighted differences in SD, TD/min, and DEC; while playing away showed differences in SPR.
Conclusions: Home advantage primarily affects high-intensity metrics, with midfielders registering higher intensity during away matches, whereas central defenders have lower SD values. Opponent quality also influences metrics related to high-speed actions, both at home and away. Sure, here are the translations for the given.
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