Characterization of the External Load of Soccer Goalkeepers Depending on the Category and Sports Context.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Studies focused on the soccer goalkeeper position in training and official matches are scarce. The present study aimed to analyze the external load during training sessions and official matches in semi-professional goalkeepers.

METHODS

Data from goalkeepers (n = 6) from the youth ranks of a professional team belonging to the first Spanish soccer league have been used. The sample is made up of a total of 758 data collected during all the training and competitions carried out by the analyzed teams that made up the squad during the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 seasons. A descriptive and inferential analysis was carried out based on the category (Youth B or Youth C) and the sports context (training or competition).

RESULTS

The results showed significant differences depending on the category (average time to feet left, average time to feet right, total jumps, total dives, total left dives, total right dives, high metabolic load distance (HMLD), and high metabolic power efforts (HMPE)), and the sport context (average time to feet right, total jumps, total dives, total left dives, total right dives, total distance, distance 18-21 km/h, distance 21-24 km/h, Dec 2-3, efforts, and HMLD).

CONCLUSIONS

The EL of the GKs shows differences regarding the category and the context. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze and determine the threshold of each player considering different variables related to the external and internal load to individualize the training tasks and prevent injuries due to overload.