Match running performance on three different competitive standards in Norwegian soccer
Sæterbakken, Atle Hole; Haug, Vebjørn; Fransson, Dan; Grendstad, Halvard; Gundersen, Hilde; Moe, Vegard Fusche; Ylvisåker, Einar; Shaw, Matthew; Riiser, Amund; Andersen, Vidar
Peer reviewed, Journal article
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Date
2019Metadata
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Original version
Sæterbakken, A., Haug, V., Fransson, D., Grendstad, H. N., Gundersen, H. S., Moe, V. F., … Andersen, V. (2019). Match running performance on three different competitive standards in Norwegian soccer. Sports Medicine International Open, 3(3), E82-E88. 10.1055/a-0943-3682Abstract
The aim of the study was to compare running performance of three competitive standards and to examine the effects of being promoted to a higher league in Norwegian football. One clubʼs first and second team were included. The first team consisted of professional soccer players playing at Level 2 (2015 season) and Level 1 (2016 season). The second team consisted of amateurs playing at Level 4. A fully automatic tracking system was used to examine running performance, divided into different running-speed categories and playing position. Forty-one matches were included containing 278 observations. Level 1 performed 61 and 51% sprinting compared to Level 2 and Level 4 but similar high-speed running. Similar high-speed running distances were observed only for the different playing positions at Level 1 compared to Level 2 and 4. The sprinting distance was greater for the central defender and attacker, and the number of accelerations was greater for central midfielders and wide midfielders’ playing at Level 1 compared to lower competitive standards. In conclusion, better competitive standards resulted in greater high-intensity actions than lower leagues in Norwegian soccer. Furthermore, only central defenders and attackers increased their high-intensity locomotions when the team was promoted.