Internal workload in elite female football players during the whole in-season: starters vs non-starters

Is Match Playing Time a Potential Tool for Managing Load in Women's Handball?

ABSTRACT

García-Sánchez, C, Navarro, RM, Nieto-Acevedo, R, and de la Rubia, A. Is match playing time a potential tool for managing load in women's handball? J Strength Cond Res 38(12): e769-e775, 2024-The aim of this study was to explore the external load experienced by female handball players according to the time played in official matches (≥40, <40, and ≤20 minutes) and in relation to playing positions (backs, pivots, and wings). Twenty-two female players from the Spanish second Division were monitored across 13 matches. Total distance covered, high-speed running distance (HSR), accelerations, decelerations, and PlayerLoad were collected in absolute and relative values using a local positioning system (WIMU PRO, Realtrack Systems SL, Almería, Spain). One-way ANOVA with partial eta-squared and Cohen's d were used to determine the differences between playing time groups and between playing positions. This study revealed that players with more match playing time had a higher absolute values in all external load variables ( p < 0.001; very large effects), except in HSR where only wings showed higher values according to the time played ( p < 0.001; very large effects). However, these differences between playing time groups disappear when the external load values were normalized according to the effective playing time ( p > 0.05). In relation to playing positions, wings covered more HSR/minutes than the other playing positions regardless of the playing time ( p < 0.05; large effects). In addition, backs performed more ACC/minutes than wings in the high playing time group and more than pivots in the low playing time group ( p < 0.05, moderate effects). In addition, backs performed more DEC/minutes than wings in the low playing time group ( p < 0.05, moderate effects). Therefore, handball coaches should consider the playing time as an effective tool to optimize the weekly load distribution.

Balancing the load: A narrative review with methodological implications of compensatory training strategies for non-starting soccer players

New training approaches have emerged advocating for the implementation of compensatory physical training. This approach aims to provide additional training that balances the load typically experienced by non-starters during a match. This may help maintain their readiness and ensures that their physical fitness is not compromised by the reduced exposure to match loads. Thus, this narrative review aims to describe the differences in external loads between starting and non-starting players and describe the studies conducted in compensatory training. Studies examining external load metrics such as total distances covered, high-speed running, and sprinting suggest that, adjusted for playing time, values are often higher in non-starting players. Although not standardized, there is an obvious decrease in exposure for these critical variables in non-starters. Additionally, internal load parameters such as perceived exertion and heart rate tend to be higher in starting players. Regarding the physical fitness impacts, evidence suggests differences observed between starters and non-starters in some aspects of physical performance, although the extent and significance of these differences can vary. The studies on compensatory training are limited, and the typical approach usually centres on running-based exercises and small-sided games, offering differing approaches to address the physical needs. The gap in research underscores the necessity for improved study designs that can shed light on the real impact of compensatory training. Presently, the practice of compensatory training has been adopted, yet a definitive understanding of its genuine influence, particularly in terms of enhancing physical fitness and mitigating injury risks, remains elusive.

Match demands of female team sports: a scoping review

This scoping review aimed to characterize and quantify the external load demands of professional female team sports, in terms of total distance [TD], moderate-speed [MSR] and high-speed running [HSR], sprint, accelerations [ACC], and decelerations [DEC]. A search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science until 15/04/2023. The Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Nonrandomized Studies (RoBANS) was used. Eighty-six articles were eligible for inclusion in this review, with 40 in soccer, 23 in rugby (6 rugby union, 3 rugby league, and 14 rugby sevens), 8 in field hockey, 8 in basketball, 6 in handball, and 1 in futsal. Soccer is the most investigated sport, and players perform ~9500 m TD, of which ~580 m is performed in HSR, and with a great number of ACC, DEC, and sprints. Rugby league and union players cover a greater distance (~5450 m) when compared to rugby sevens (~1550 m); however, rugby sevens is more demanding in terms of high-intensity actions. Field hockey players perform ~5400 m TD with high-intensity and sprint actions. Women's indoor sports are less studied, and basketball players cover ~5300 m TD, of which 7% is performed in MSR. Handball players perform ~3500 m TD and cover ~423 m in MSR and ~141 m in HSR, and futsal players perform ~5 m × min-1 in HSR and they do a great number of high-intensity activities (HSR, ACC, and DEC). Considering the high physical demands experienced by female athletes, professionals could use the present results for training and return to competition schedules.

The Effects of Pre-Season and Relationships with Physical, Physiological, Body Composition, and Load Markers: A Case Study Comparing Starters versus Non-Starters from an Elite Female Professional Soccer Team

Background and Objectives: Research on female soccer players that analyzes playing status is scarce and has previously only examined load monitoring, while other markers, such as physical (i.e., strength, power, and agility), physiological (i.e., maximal oxygen uptake), and body composition (i.e., body fat mass, fat-free mass, body water, and phase angle) markers, warrant further investigation. Thus, the study aims were to (a) compare physical, physiological, body composition, and load markers between starters and non-starters; (b) compare measurements pre- and post-training intervention (five weeks); and (c) analyze any relationships between physical, physiological, body composition, and load markers in an elite female soccer team. Materials and Methods: Fourteen first-team players participated in the study (age 23.29 ± 3.19 years, weight 59.14 ± 6.87 kg, height 1.66 ± 0.08 m). Several physical (n = 15), physiological (n = 1), body composition (n = 11), and load markers (n = 14) were collected. In addition, participants were sub-divided into starters (n = 7) and non-starters (n = 7). Results: No differences were revealed between starters and non-starters in any of the examined variables. Moreover, following the training intervention, a significantly lower value was found for total body water/fat-free mass ratio (p = 0.043; ES = 0.582). In addition, there were several correlations detected between load and physical/physiological markers (n = 28); load and body composition markers (n = 6); physical/physiological and body composition markers (n = 34); and physical and physiological markers (n = 42). Conclusions: In conclusion, only a slight tendency of higher load values for starters than non-starters was observed. In addition, no differences in physical, physiological, and body composition markers were found between starters and non-starters, possibly suggesting that five weeks were not enough to improve such variables. Finally, the present results provide novel information assessing the effects of the pre-season in elite female Portuguese soccer players and contribute to a better understanding of the associations between different types of measurements.