Are there differences in elite youth soccer player work rate profiles in congested versus regular match schedules?

Abstract

Official international tournaments in which youth soccer players participate can involve very congested schedules. Yet no information regarding physical and technical match performance during congested versus regular (non-congested) cycles is available. In this study, accelerations, decelerations, mean metabolic power, and technical performance (offensive and defensive variables) were compared across very congested (VCM; 10 international matches played over 3 successive days, including 2 days with 2 consecutive matches separated by a 4-5 hr interval) and 10 regular (non-congested) match periods (NCM) in elite male Under 15 (U15, n=11) and Under 17 (U17, n=13) soccer players. Players wore a 15-Hz GPS unit with a 100-Hz tri-axial accelerometer. The session-RPE was assessed 30 min post-match. Results showed a higher number of accelerations/min observed in VCM vs NCM (U15; 2.27±0.35 vs 2.12±0.23; effect size [ES]=0.49; U17; 2.27±0.41 vs 2.01±0.31; ES=0.69). Decelerations/min were higher during VCM (U15; 1.99±0.27 vs 1.84±0.25; ES=0.55; and U17; 1.98±0.35 vs 1.80±0.27; ES=0.56). Mean metabolic power was higher in the VCM (U15; 0.42±0.06 vs 0.37±0.02; ES=1.08; U17; 0.46±0.03 vs 0.30±0.03; ES=1.94). Technical actions/min were higher in the VCM for U17 (ES=1.60 and 1.37, for offensive and defensive performance, respectively); but lower (during VCM) for U15 (ES=3.59 and 0.28, for offensive and defensive performance). U15 reported a higher session-RPE in the VCM (7.9±0.5 AU vs 6.9±0.5 AU). The findings suggest that running activity in these youth players was unaffected overall in tournaments with congested schedules and that the intensity of match-play was actually greater than in regular match schedules.