Analyzing Positional and Temporal Variations in Worst-Case Scenario Demands in Professional Spanish Soccer

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the worst-case scenario (WCS; i.e., 1-min) demands, in terms of distance covered and the number of times exceeding 85% of WCS demands, across soccer playing positions and match periods. Methods: A total of 67,518 records from 380 soccer matches during the 2023...

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Main Authors: David Lobo-Triviño, Tomás García-Calvo, Jorge Polo-Tejada, Borja Sanabria-Pino, Roberto López del Campo, Fabio Nevado-Garrosa, Javier Raya-González
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/2/172
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author David Lobo-Triviño
Tomás García-Calvo
Jorge Polo-Tejada
Borja Sanabria-Pino
Roberto López del Campo
Fabio Nevado-Garrosa
Javier Raya-González
author_facet David Lobo-Triviño
Tomás García-Calvo
Jorge Polo-Tejada
Borja Sanabria-Pino
Roberto López del Campo
Fabio Nevado-Garrosa
Javier Raya-González
author_sort David Lobo-Triviño
collection DOAJ
description Objectives: This study aimed to compare the worst-case scenario (WCS; i.e., 1-min) demands, in terms of distance covered and the number of times exceeding 85% of WCS demands, across soccer playing positions and match periods. Methods: A total of 67,518 records from 380 soccer matches during the 2023/24 season of the First Spanish Division were collected. Match events were tracked using the optical tracking system ChyronHego<sup>®</sup> (TRACAB Gen5, NY, USA) and synchronized with Mediacoach software (LaLiga, Madrid, Spain). Total distance (TD), very high-speed running (VHSR), and sprint distance were considered, and all analyses were performed using linear mixed models (LMM). Results: Center-backs (CBs) exhibited significant differences (<i>p</i> < 0.001) in TD compared to all other positions. Regarding actions exceeding 85% of the 1-min WCS for TD, full-backs (FBs) showed significant differences compared to CBs (<i>p</i> < 0.001), midfielders (MDs; <i>p</i> < 0.001), and attacking midfielders (AMs; <i>p</i> < 0.001). In terms of VHSR, significant differences were observed between MDs and wingers (Ws; <i>p</i> < 0.05). In relation to match periods, during 15–30, CBs demonstrated significant differences compared to all other positions for actions exceeding 85% of the 1-min WCS in TD. Conclusions: These findings suggest that training protocols could be adjusted to account for specific positional demands, particularly focusing on high-speed running and sprint actions.
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spelling doaj-art-cce420d60f3345708e081e8b448e85982025-08-20T02:21:10ZengMDPI AGJournal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology2411-51422025-05-0110217210.3390/jfmk10020172Analyzing Positional and Temporal Variations in Worst-Case Scenario Demands in Professional Spanish SoccerDavid Lobo-Triviño0Tomás García-Calvo1Jorge Polo-Tejada2Borja Sanabria-Pino3Roberto López del Campo4Fabio Nevado-Garrosa5Javier Raya-González6Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, SpainFaculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, SpainFaculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, SpainFaculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, SpainDeparment of Competitions and Mediacoach, LaLiga, 28043 Madrid, SpainDeparment of Competitions and Mediacoach, LaLiga, 28043 Madrid, SpainResearch Group on Sport and Physical Education for Personal and Social Development (GIDEPSO), Department of Specific Didactics, Faculty of Education Sciences and Psychology, University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, SpainObjectives: This study aimed to compare the worst-case scenario (WCS; i.e., 1-min) demands, in terms of distance covered and the number of times exceeding 85% of WCS demands, across soccer playing positions and match periods. Methods: A total of 67,518 records from 380 soccer matches during the 2023/24 season of the First Spanish Division were collected. Match events were tracked using the optical tracking system ChyronHego<sup>®</sup> (TRACAB Gen5, NY, USA) and synchronized with Mediacoach software (LaLiga, Madrid, Spain). Total distance (TD), very high-speed running (VHSR), and sprint distance were considered, and all analyses were performed using linear mixed models (LMM). Results: Center-backs (CBs) exhibited significant differences (<i>p</i> < 0.001) in TD compared to all other positions. Regarding actions exceeding 85% of the 1-min WCS for TD, full-backs (FBs) showed significant differences compared to CBs (<i>p</i> < 0.001), midfielders (MDs; <i>p</i> < 0.001), and attacking midfielders (AMs; <i>p</i> < 0.001). In terms of VHSR, significant differences were observed between MDs and wingers (Ws; <i>p</i> < 0.05). In relation to match periods, during 15–30, CBs demonstrated significant differences compared to all other positions for actions exceeding 85% of the 1-min WCS in TD. Conclusions: These findings suggest that training protocols could be adjusted to account for specific positional demands, particularly focusing on high-speed running and sprint actions.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/2/172match analysisphysical performancefootballtracking systemmost demanding passages
spellingShingle David Lobo-Triviño
Tomás García-Calvo
Jorge Polo-Tejada
Borja Sanabria-Pino
Roberto López del Campo
Fabio Nevado-Garrosa
Javier Raya-González
Analyzing Positional and Temporal Variations in Worst-Case Scenario Demands in Professional Spanish Soccer
Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
match analysis
physical performance
football
tracking system
most demanding passages
title Analyzing Positional and Temporal Variations in Worst-Case Scenario Demands in Professional Spanish Soccer
title_full Analyzing Positional and Temporal Variations in Worst-Case Scenario Demands in Professional Spanish Soccer
title_fullStr Analyzing Positional and Temporal Variations in Worst-Case Scenario Demands in Professional Spanish Soccer
title_full_unstemmed Analyzing Positional and Temporal Variations in Worst-Case Scenario Demands in Professional Spanish Soccer
title_short Analyzing Positional and Temporal Variations in Worst-Case Scenario Demands in Professional Spanish Soccer
title_sort analyzing positional and temporal variations in worst case scenario demands in professional spanish soccer
topic match analysis
physical performance
football
tracking system
most demanding passages
url https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/2/172
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