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 2023/24 season of the First Spanish Division were collected. Match events were tracked using the optical tracking system ChyronHego (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 ( < 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 ( < 0.001), midfielders (MDs; < 0.001), and attacking midfielders (AMs; < 0.001). In terms of VHSR, significant differences were observed between MDs and wingers (Ws; < 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.