Comparison of acceleration-speed profiles from training and competition to individual maximal sprint efforts.

This study aimed to (1) compare "in-situ" monitored acceleration-speed (AS) profile metrics from training/competition data in elite female soccer players to similar metrics from profiles developed from isolated maximal sprint efforts (AS) and; (2) compare the confidence interval (CI) and a Tukey boxplot (BP) outlier removal technique on the training/competition data to derive AS profiles. Fifteen national team soccer players participated in a 4-week camp while wearing 10 Hz GNSS units. Towards the middle of the camp, 2 × 40 m isolated maximal sprints were performed. AS profiles (theoretical maximum acceleration A in m∙s and speed S in m∙s) were computed using the CI and BP techniques with training/competition data. The sprint data were modelled separately to construct horizontal force-velocity (FV) profiles, from which AS profiles were derived. Bland-Altman analysis was used to assess agreement between the CI- and BP-derived AS profiles to the AS profiles, as well as regression analysis for systematic and proportional bias. Additionally, 1-way ANOVAs with Tukey posthoc compared the metrics between each method of analysis. Using the BP method, good agreement of the AS with AS profile metrics A/S was displayed, whereas good to moderate agreement was shown for the CI. The CI technique showed a proportional bias for A/S. Good to excellent intertrial reliability was demonstrated for isolated sprint metrics. Both BP and CI techniques provided comparable AS profiles to AS profiles. This current research demonstrated that AS profiling is applicable in elite women's soccer and will have further application in many team sports.