Are Physiological, Physical, Wellness and Load Decisive Markers of Starting Players?

These findings suggest that factors beyond physical and physiological capabilities, such as tactical and technical skills, may play a more prominent role in determining starting status in this specific cohort.

Are Physiological, Physical, Wellness and Load Decisive Markers of Starting Players?

Summary

The research aimed to compare various physiological, physical, accumulated wellness, and load markers between starting and non-starting players in a European professional football team. The research hypothesised that starters would exhibit higher physical and physiological capacities, accumulated load, and lower wellness levels due to greater match exposure compared to non-starting players.

Methodology

  • Participants: The research involved 18 professional male football players from a national first division in a European league, with 10 classified as starters and 8 as non-starters.
  • Data Collection: Data was collected over 20 weeks during the 2022/23 season (July to November), encompassing 75 training sessions and 15 official matches.
  • Assessments: A range of assessments were conducted:
    • Anthropometric and Body Composition: Height, body mass, and fat mass.
    • Physical: Single leg squat jump (SJ), single leg broad jump (SLBJ), Y-Balance Test (YBT), and isokinetic tests for peak torque of both legs (extension and flexion at 60°/s and 180°/s).
    • Physiological: 1200m shuttle Maximal Aerobic Speed (MAS) test.
    • Wellness: Daily self-reported measures of fatigue, quality of sleep, muscle soreness, stress, and mood using a validated Google form.
    • Internal Load: Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) collected post-training and matches using the CR-10 Borg's scale. Session-RPE was calculated by multiplying session duration by RPE.
    • External Load: Data collected using a 10 Hz GPS unit (Catapult Vector S7) during training and matches, including high-speed running (HSR), sprinting, number of accelerations, and number of decelerations.
  • Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistics were used to present the data. Non-parametric Mann-Whitney U tests were used for variables that did not meet normality assumptions, while independent t-tests were used for the remaining measures. Effect sizes (ES) were also calculated and interpreted according to established criteria.
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Results

Anthropometric and Body Composition: No significant differences were observed between starters and non-starters in height, body mass, or body fat percentage.