2021, Volume 13, Issue 3

Evolution of physical performance in professional soccer across four consecutive seasons



Łukasz Radzimiński1, Zbigniew Jastrzębski1

1Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport


Author for correspondence: Łukasz Radzimiński; Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport; email: lukasz.radziminski@awf.gda.pl


DOI: 10.29359/BJHPA.13.3.10

Full text

Abstract

Background: Main purpose of this research was to investigate the changes of physical match performance in Polish Ekstraklasa across four consecutive seasons.

Material and methods: A total of 949 official matches from season 2017/2018 to 2020/2021 were analyzed. Such match running performance variables as total distance, high-speed running, sprinting, and number of high-intensity runs were involved. Each season data were divided into two rounds (spring round and autumn round). Due to the pandemic of COVID-19 additional post-lockdown round (Spring I 2019/2020) occurred.

Results: Comparison in the results between Spring 2017/2018 and Spring 2020/2021 indicated significant increases in total distance (2.1%, p<0.001), high-speed running (11.9%, p<0.001), sprinting distance (7.7%, p<0.01) and number of high-intensity runs (9.7%, p<0.001). Moreover, within season analysis exhibited that during spring rounds Ekstraklasa teams covered significantly longer (p<0.01) distances in high-speed running than during autumn rounds. Reduction in physical match performance was reported after the 12-week pandemic lockdown.

Conclusions: The results of this study confirmed the growing importance of such match activities as high-speed running, sprinting and number of high intensity runs which increased in Polish Ekstraklasa by 8-12% within last 4 years. This growing tendency was disrupted by unexpected off-season period caused by COVID-19 lockdown.


Key words: soccer, match performance, time-motion analysis, Polish Ekstraklasa


Cite this article as:

AMA:

Radzimiński , Jastrzębski Z. Evolution of physical performance in professional soccer across four consecutive seasons. Balt J Health Phys Activ. 2021;13(3):79-85. doi:10.29359/BJHPA.13.3.10

APA:

Radzimiński, ., & Jastrzębski, Z. (2021). Evolution of physical performance in professional soccer across four consecutive seasons. Balt J Health Phys Activ, 13(3), 79-85. https://doi.org/10.29359/BJHPA.13.3.10

Chicago:

Radzimiński, Łukasz, Jastrzębski Zbigniew. 2021. "Evolution of physical performance in professional soccer across four consecutive seasons". Balt J Health Phys Activ 13 (3): 79-85. doi:10.29359/BJHPA.13.3.10

Harvard:

Radzimiński, ., and Jastrzębski, Z. (2021). Evolution of physical performance in professional soccer across four consecutive seasons. Balt J Health Phys Activ, 13(3), pp.79-85. https://doi.org/10.29359/BJHPA.13.3.10

MLA:

Radzimiński, ., and Jastrzębski, Z. "Evolution of physical performance in professional soccer across four consecutive seasons." Balt J Health Phys Activ, vol. 13, no. 3, 2021, pp. 79-85. doi:10.29359/BJHPA.13.3.10

Vancouver:

Radzimiński , Jastrzębski Z. Evolution of physical performance in professional soccer across four consecutive seasons. Balt J Health Phys Activ 2021; 13(3): 79-85. Available from: doi:10.29359/BJHPA.13.3.10