Variations of training workload parameters between player positions in under-17 elite European soccer team: a full-season

Authors

  • Alexandre Martins Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), Departamento de Desporto e Saúde, Escola de Saúde e Desenvolvimento Humano, Universidade de Évora, Largo dos Colegiais, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1524-5601
  • Rafael Oliveira Escola Superior de Desporto de Rio Maior - Instituto Politécnico de Santarém https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6671-6229
  • João Paulo Brito Santarém Polytechnic University, School of Sport, Av. Dr. Mário Soares, 2040-413 Rio Maior, Portugal; Research Center in Sport Sciences, Health and Human Development (CIDESD), Santarém Polytechnic University, Av. Dr. Mário Soares, 2040-413 Rio Maior, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4357-4269
  • Nuno Loureiro Santarém Polytechnic University, School of Sport, Av. Dr. Mário Soares, 2040-413 Rio Maior, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6558-1956
  • Sérgio M. Querido CIPER, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, 1499-002 Cruz-Quebrada-Dafundo, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1750-5019
  • Hadi Nobari LFE Research Group, Department of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Science (INEF), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7951-8977

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6063/motricidade.41926

Keywords:

Player positions, ACWR, young soccer, training monotony, training strain

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyse variations in rating of perceived exertion (RPE), session-RPE, training duration, training monotony, training strain, and acute chronic workload ratio (ACWR) between mesocycles and within microcycles during the in-season 2017-18, across player positions in young soccer players. Seventeen young soccer players were evaluated over 50 weeks. The field positions of the players consisted of four central defenders, three wide defenders, four central midfielders, three wide midfielders, and three strikers. There were significant differences between player positions in mesocycle 6 for central defenders vs strikers (p=0.047; ES=4.02 [1.51, 7.96]) on duration of training sessions. The ACWR ratio remained similar throughout the season, between the optimum workload (0.8-1.3). In microcycle analysis, match day minus 3 was the day of the week with the highest values for all variables. The findings of the present study showed no difference between positions, but lower values were found after and before the match, while higher values were found in the middle of the microcycle.

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Published

2025-12-28

Issue

Vol. 21 (2025): Motricidade: 20 years publishing human movement

Section

Original Article

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