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Analysis of Motor Activities of Professional.5
Analysis of Motor Activities of Professional.5
SOCCER PLAYERS
MARCIN ANDRZEJEWSKI,1,2 JAN CHMURA,3 BEATA PLUTA,1 AND ANDRZEJ KASPRZAK2
1
Faculty of Methodology and Recreation, University School of Physical Education, Poznan, Poland;
2
KKS Lech Poznan´ S.A, Football Club, Poznan´, Poznan´, Poland; and 3Faculty of Players’
Motor Activity, University School of Physical Education, Wrocław, Poland
S
occer is one of the most complex and demanding
sports. The most remarkable achievements in formation. It should be emphasized that, because of very
soccer depend on many closely interrelated factors. frequent changes in physical activities during a match, the
It is a very dynamic game characterized by a large covered distance does not only represent the form of work
number of direct duels that require excellent motor, technical, performed by a player. Carling (7) indicates that in profes-
sional soccer only 1.2–2.4% of the total distance during
Address correspondence to Marcin Andrzejewski, and rzejewski@awf. a match is covered by players in possession of the ball,
poznan.pl. with particular players’ distances dependent on their pitch
26(6)/1481–1488 positions. In comparison, Bangsbo (2) notes that the average
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research time of ball possession of world-class footballers is from 18 to
Ó 2012 National Strength and Conditioning Association 170 seconds. Apparently, team play effectiveness must
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Distances Covered by Soccer Players
depend on the players’ performance without the ball during there can be statistically significant differences for 3 variables:
the remaining 60 minutes of a match. Players’ endurance player’s position on the pitch, activity intensity range, and
training serves the dominant role during that time. Because of match period.
the football game time, that is, 90 minutes, and a player’s
Subjects
physical intensity level during a game (;70% V_ O2max),
The study sample comprised 31 players in 3 outfield positions:
a proper level of aerobic endurance enables a footballer to use
defenders (D, n = 15), midfielders (M, n = 10), and forwards
aerobic energy resources to a greater extent during a match.
(F, n = 6). Four European Football Association (UEFA) Cup
Bangsbo (1) proves that 98% of energy used during a soccer
matches from the 2008 to 2009 season were recorded.
match is covered by aerobic metabolic processes, which
The analysis involved the motor activities of the players
supply energy indispensable for running at a low and average
participating in the entire match, excluding the goalkeepers.
pace. A player also shows tolerance for cumulative fatigue
All analyzed UEFA Cup matches ended in a draw (4 matches
process arising because of physical exertion of high (above LT)
in total; 2 matches with a 2–2 score and 2 with a 1–1 score).
and very-high (sprints) intensities. A high level of endurance
The study constituted an introductory stage of research into
capacity enables a player to develop a quicker playing pace,
the development of a player’s complete motor profile.
which may be sustained during the entire game time.
The authors have received a written consent from the
The requirements for playing soccer with regard to
authorities of FC KKS Lech Poznan to use the figures
efficiency may be assessed on the basis of an analysis of
(provided by the club). The players were fully informed of all
players’ motor behaviors during the match. In the last several
experimental procedures before giving their informed consent
dozen years, the interest in monitoring and analysis of
to participate in the study. To ensure team and player
match events in soccer has increased significantly (5,6,9,11,14,
confidentiality, all performance data were anonymized before
18,24,28,31,33). Two pioneers who addressed the issue
analysis. The study was conducted in compliance with the
related to players’ motion analysis were Reilly and Thomas
Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the local ethics
(24). The method they proposed consisted of defining the
committee (No. 339/02). The study protocol was also
number of steps performed by a player for each type of motor
approved by the Board of Ethics of University School of
activity (standing, walking, jogging, and sprinting), deter-
Physical Education in Poznań.
mining the average length of those steps, and then converting
the information into the distance covered by a player during Procedures
a match. Newer methods used to record players’ motor The study used one of the latest and most versatile computer
activity were proposed by Hennig and Briehle (15) using a systems for match performance analysis, Amisco ProÒ. This
global positioning system (GPS). This system allows the multiple-camera system tracked the movements of each
recording of signals emitted by GPS transmitters located on player over the course of the matches. The system provided
the Earth’s surface to a satellite in orbit. Currently, 2 information on running speeds, covered distances, and the
computerized systems for match analysis are used: ProZoneÒ occurrence rate for each player’s activity. Players’ movements
(Leeds, United Kingdom), and Amisco ProÒ (Nice, France). were tracked at a sampling rate of 25.0 Hz providing
These systems analyze the course of sports rivalry at the level approximately 2.5 million data points per match (8).
of players’ motor activity and at their technical and tactical Simultaneously, a trained operator coded each technical
levels. The practical value of such a sport competition action with the ball. The workings of the AMISCO Pro
analysis is that it allows the user to determine the proper system have been described in more detail elsewhere (7,8,11).
choices for a particular player’s physical load, customized to Zubillaga et al. (34), and Randers et al. (20) have recently
their nature, volume, and intensity (5,11). The system evaluated the reliability and validity of AMISCO Pro for
produces the information necessary to shape specific motor quantifying displacement velocities during match-related
abilities of each player to meet the requirements of soccer activities relative to data obtained using timing gates.
playing. Lack of such information may lead to overloading The present analysis was carried out by using 8
or underloading of athletes’ bodies. synchronized cameras placed on the roof of Municipal
Stadium in Poznań, Poland. These cameras recorded the
METHODS game in different pitch sectors as illustrated in Figure 1.
Experimental Approach to the Problem Signals gathered by the cameras were converted to digital
The main assumption of the experiment is that the use data and then fed into 4 computers used to conduct a match’s
of the Amisco ProÒ system allows an objective assessment performance analysis. Using the specially developed program
of the total distance covered by professional soccer players Amisco ProÒ in Athletic Mode, the collected data helped
in the analyzed matches. The player’s position on the pitch determine the distance covered by the players and the
during the game determines his distance coverage in different frequency of each form of motor activity from players in
intensity ranges. The analysis of professional soccer players’ different positions. The match analysis system also allowed
kinematic parameters must also account for the situational users to determine the distance covered by the players during
variable, that is, match period. It can be thus assumed that the match in 6 different motor activity intensity ranges:
the TM
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RESULTS
The empirical data concerning
the distances covered by the
players of different tactical for-
mations in the assumed activity
intensity ranges in the first and
second halves of the match are
presented in Table 1. Table 2
shows significant differences in
the results of the ANOVA test
Figure 1. The recording ranges of the pitch parts by each of the 8 cameras. and post hoc Tukey’s HSD test.
The graphic characteristics of
the total distance covered by
0 # V1 , 11 kmh21 (standing, walking), 11 # V2 , the players participating in UEFA Cup competitions (n = 31)
14 kmh21 (jogging), 14 # V3 , 17 kmh21 (running), 17 # based on their position on the pitch, intensity range, and
V4 , 21 kmh21 (fast running), 21 # V5 , 24 kmh21 match period are presented in Figures 2–4.
(high-speed running), and V6 $ 24 kmh21 (sprinting). Statistically significant differences were found for all 3
variables: position on the pitch (F = 5.034, p = 0.0136),
Statistical Analyses intensity range (F = 3848.10, p = 0.0000), and match period
All the parameters were checked to verify their conformity to (F = 6.63, p = 0.0152). Statistically significant differences were
a normal distribution. The conformity evaluation was carried found between intensity range and position on the pitch
out with the Lilliefors test (p , 0.01). For all the parameters, (F = 4.23, p = 0.0000) and match period (F = 3.40,
the following descriptive statistics were calculated: arithmetic p = 0.0059). A nonsignificant relationship was found between
mean, median, interquartile range, and SD. The figures show the player’s position on the pitch and the match period
the distances covered by the examined players depending on (F = 1.55, p = 0.2293).
their position on the pitch, activity intensity range, and match The results of statistical analysis showed that the average
period by means of chosen descriptive statistics. total distance covered by all the examined players (n = 31)
A multifactorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to amounted to 11,288 6 734 m (Table 1). The longest
compare the average covered distance for 3 variables: player’s distance was covered by the players in the V1 intensity
position on the pitch (D, M, and F), intensity ranges (V1, V2, range (62%), followed by V2 (15%), V3 (10%), V4 (8%), V5
V3, V4, V5, and V6) and match period (first or second half ). (3%), and V6 (2%).
Initially, the full model was used to examine all interactions. With regard to the player’s position on the pitch, the
Statistically nonsignificant differences were removed from the longest distance was covered by the midfielders at 11,770 6
model, and the remaining differences were recalculated by 554 m, that is, 3% longer than the distance achieved by the
means of an ANOVA test. In the case of significant differences forwards (11,377 6 584 m) and 7% longer than the defenders
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1484
TABLE 1. Mean distances covered by UEFA cup players (n = 31) according to playing positions (defenders, D, n = 15; midfielders, M, n = 10; and forwards, F, n = 6),
ranges of velocities (V1 to V6) and game period (first and second halves).*†
Distances covered in different ranges of velocities in the first and second halves
Total Total
0 # V1 11 # V2 14 # V3 17 # V4 21 # V5 V6 $ IND IND
, 11 kmh21 , 14 kmh21 , 17 kmh21 , 21 kmh–1 , 24 kmh21 24 kmh21 VEL PER
TM
Positions First Second First Second First Second First Second First Second First Second First Second
D 3,434 3,547 742 793 496 536 414 416 142 155 133 125 5,360 5,572 10,932
(117) (144) (100) (154) (145) (188) (143) (154) (71) (80) (77) (88) (346) (448) (728)
M 3,415 3,471 942 962 636 770 531 544 166 156 85 93 5,774 5,996 11,770
(138) (91) (206) (151) (116) (181) (156) (124) (68) (42) (52) (59) (364) (309) (554)
F 3,449 3,623 800 694 596 505 496 469 178 191 200 177 5,719 5,659 11,377
(130) (127) (108) (168) (137) (160) (184) (91) (38) (45) (117) (27) (331) (325) (584)
Total 3,430 3,537 817 828 560 605 467 467 156 162 130 124 5,562 5,725
IND (122) (133) (165) (181) (145) (209) (159) (142) (64) (64) (86) (75) (392) (420)
POS
Total 6,968 1,646 1,166 935 319 255 11,288
IND (217) (310) (325) (268) (106) (138) (734)
PER
*IND VEL = independent of velocities; IND PER = independent of period; IND POS = independent of positions.
†Distances given in meters as mean (SD).
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Copyright © National Strength and Conditioning Association Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
Distances Covered by Soccer Players
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intensity (sprint). Because of the acyclic and intermittent and tactical skills during a game. Even soccer players at the
character of the game, short periods are played at the highest technical level can make errors if the level of their
maximum intensity level (18). physical preparation is inadequate. The structure of training
The current state of knowledge is reaffirmed by the results loads in soccer must be closely related to the specificity of the
of this study. Characteristics of the distance covered in 6 game. The profile of soccer players’ physical activities clearly
separate intensity ranges explicitly showed that the longest indicates the volume of their training loads and physical
distance, regardless of the player’s position on the pitch, was efforts in real matches.
covered in V1 (standing, walking) at 6,968 6 217 m. The use of The data on the total distances covered by soccer players
this intensity level constitutes 62% of the total distance during a championship match are crucial for soccer training
covered during the match. In each subsequent intensity range, practice. Such data should be accounted for in the process of
the players covered shorter distances (Table 2). planning of individual training units in an annual training
During soccer competitions, high-intensity efforts in the cycle.
form of sprints occur on average every 90 seconds and last from During a 90-minute match, elite-level players cover
2 to 4 seconds. Sprints constitute from 1 to 11% of the total a distance of .10 km with an average intensity similar to
distance covered by the players during the match, which covers that of the blood LT. These data clearly emphasize the
from 0.5 to 3% of effective playing time (26,30,32). In our importance of aerobic endurance in the physical preparation
research, the players sprinted (V6 $ 24 kmh21) a distance of of soccer players. In this case, the coaches of physical
255 6 138 m, which was only 2.3% of the total distance preparation receive credible information connected with the
covered during the game. A similar result, approximately 3%, emphasis on the formation of aerobic capacity as a crucial
was achieved in a study of Di Salvo et al. (11). motor component of a soccer player. These presumptions are
As for the relationship between the player’s position on the largely possible to complete during the preparation periods at
pitch and activity intensity range, this study demonstrates that each level of training with dominant loads of comprehensive
the midfield players covered a longer distance at lower speeds. nature. The most frequently used means of all-round
However, forward players predominate in sprint efforts in the preparation that could be applied in principle are overall
V5 and V6 intensity ranges. A slightly different observation developing warm-ups, supplementary sports, and constant
was made by Di Salvo et al. (11), who found that the longest and variable runs. Simplistic and task games directed among
distance at the speed above 23 kmh21 at 446 6 161 m was other things at the formation of overall endurance through
covered by external midfielders. The result for the forwards the adequately suited technical and tactical presumptions of
was nearly 69 m longer than the result presented in our study. a game are also of great importance. The range of intensity
When analyzing the distance covered by the players at during the training activities should oscillate within the limits
most speeds, it was found that the players cover similar of individual physical loads of soccer players. The research
distances in both halves of the match. A statistically significant conducted indicates that these recommendations should
distance was noted only for V1 (standing, walking), where particularly relate to midfielders who cover the longest
the distance covered by the players in the second half was distance of V2, V3, and V4 (Table 1) during a match.
greater than that in the first half. Therefore, from the standpoint of the energy processes, the
This study presents the characteristics of motor activities of workout should be interpreted as loads applied in the range
31 players participating in UEFA Cup competitions and of supporting aerobic and mixed intensity.
compares them with those of similar research conducted by In soccer, the anaerobic intensity plays an extremely
other authors. The research results were presented using important role in the efforts of high and very-high intensities.
Amisco ProÒ, a modern computerized system for match The most common mistake made by coaches during the
analysis. This particular tool, which provides valuable data soccer players’ preparation process is the application of the
about players’ performance, becomes an important compo- same speed load for all players during training. The results
nent in the process of players’ preparation. presented in the article clearly demonstrate that the most
significant contribution to this type of efforts (V5 and V6)
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS occurs by forwards. In the analyzed matches, the attack
The results of observation of different physical activity forms players cover twice the distance in sprints than do the
of elite soccer players during championship matches reveal midfielders (V6 = 377 m for F and V6 = 178 m for M). This
a number of endurance and speed demands facing modern information gives coaches the concrete and practical
soccer players and important training guidelines. The knowledge in the field of programming the magnitude and
knowledge of structure of players’ physical efforts during volume of loads for soccer players of different tactical
matches can have a significant impact on the programming of formations in the training unity aimed at the creation of motor
training loads and general improvement of the training speed abilities.
process. One of the most significant factors determining The development of physical load profiles of soccer players
the sports level of modern soccer players is their motor during a match is highly useful for training individualization
preparation, which, in turn, profoundly affects their technical because it facilitates the planning and registration of training
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Distances Covered by Soccer Players
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the TM
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