External load transition practices from pre-season to in-season. A case study in elite female professional soccer players.

The study aim was to compare the external load during varying microcycles (M1-M4 during pre-season and M5 during the in-season) in elite female Portuguese soccer players and to describe external load variations between differing Ms. Fourteen first-team players participated in the study (age 23.29 ±...

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Main Authors: Rafael Oliveira, Ryland Morgans, Renato Fernandes, João Paulo Brito, Mário C Espada, Fernando J Santos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2024-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314076
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author Rafael Oliveira
Ryland Morgans
Renato Fernandes
João Paulo Brito
Mário C Espada
Fernando J Santos
author_facet Rafael Oliveira
Ryland Morgans
Renato Fernandes
João Paulo Brito
Mário C Espada
Fernando J Santos
author_sort Rafael Oliveira
collection DOAJ
description The study aim was to compare the external load during varying microcycles (M1-M4 during pre-season and M5 during the in-season) in elite female Portuguese soccer players and to describe external load variations between differing Ms. 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). Load measures included total distance, high-speed running (HSR) distance (≥15 km/h), number of accelerations and decelerations [acceleration 1 (ACC1), >1-2 m/s; acceleration 2 (ACC2), >2-3 m/s; acceleration 3 (ACC3), >3-4 m/s; acceleration 4 (ACC4), >4 m/s] and decelerations [deceleration 1 (DEC1), <1-2 m/s; deceleration 2 (DEC2), <2-3 m/s; deceleration 3 (DEC3), <3-4 m/s; deceleration 4 (DEC4), <4 m/s]. M1 showed higher values of total distance, ACC1, ACC2, ACC3, DEC2, DEC3 and DEC4 than M2 (p = <0.001-0.04), although HSR was higher in M2 (p < 0.001). M2 showed lower values of HSR, ACC1, DEC1, DEC2, DEC3 than M3 (p = 0.001-0.04). M3 reported higher values of total distance, ACC1, ACC2, DEC1, DEC2 than M4 (p = <0.001-0.03), while M4 only found higher values of ACC4 and DEC4 than M5 (both, p = 0.01). The highest values occurred in M3 for the majority of external load metrics (except ACC3, ACC4, and DEC4 which were higher in M4). However, during the transition from M4 to M5, only ACC4 and DEC4 decreased with all other measures maintained, thus supporting the notion to maintain similar loading patterns during official competition.
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spelling doaj-art-4f85cb8e79424c7eacec1d5b4535b6cf2025-01-08T05:32:49ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032024-01-011912e031407610.1371/journal.pone.0314076External load transition practices from pre-season to in-season. A case study in elite female professional soccer players.Rafael OliveiraRyland MorgansRenato FernandesJoão Paulo BritoMário C EspadaFernando J SantosThe study aim was to compare the external load during varying microcycles (M1-M4 during pre-season and M5 during the in-season) in elite female Portuguese soccer players and to describe external load variations between differing Ms. 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). Load measures included total distance, high-speed running (HSR) distance (≥15 km/h), number of accelerations and decelerations [acceleration 1 (ACC1), >1-2 m/s; acceleration 2 (ACC2), >2-3 m/s; acceleration 3 (ACC3), >3-4 m/s; acceleration 4 (ACC4), >4 m/s] and decelerations [deceleration 1 (DEC1), <1-2 m/s; deceleration 2 (DEC2), <2-3 m/s; deceleration 3 (DEC3), <3-4 m/s; deceleration 4 (DEC4), <4 m/s]. M1 showed higher values of total distance, ACC1, ACC2, ACC3, DEC2, DEC3 and DEC4 than M2 (p = <0.001-0.04), although HSR was higher in M2 (p < 0.001). M2 showed lower values of HSR, ACC1, DEC1, DEC2, DEC3 than M3 (p = 0.001-0.04). M3 reported higher values of total distance, ACC1, ACC2, DEC1, DEC2 than M4 (p = <0.001-0.03), while M4 only found higher values of ACC4 and DEC4 than M5 (both, p = 0.01). The highest values occurred in M3 for the majority of external load metrics (except ACC3, ACC4, and DEC4 which were higher in M4). However, during the transition from M4 to M5, only ACC4 and DEC4 decreased with all other measures maintained, thus supporting the notion to maintain similar loading patterns during official competition.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314076
spellingShingle Rafael Oliveira
Ryland Morgans
Renato Fernandes
João Paulo Brito
Mário C Espada
Fernando J Santos
External load transition practices from pre-season to in-season. A case study in elite female professional soccer players.
PLoS ONE
title External load transition practices from pre-season to in-season. A case study in elite female professional soccer players.
title_full External load transition practices from pre-season to in-season. A case study in elite female professional soccer players.
title_fullStr External load transition practices from pre-season to in-season. A case study in elite female professional soccer players.
title_full_unstemmed External load transition practices from pre-season to in-season. A case study in elite female professional soccer players.
title_short External load transition practices from pre-season to in-season. A case study in elite female professional soccer players.
title_sort external load transition practices from pre season to in season a case study in elite female professional soccer players
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314076
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