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. 2022 Feb 14;12(1):2412.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-06365-7.

Variations in the physical demands and technical performance of professional soccer teams over three consecutive seasons

Zeki Akyildiz  1 , Hadi Nobari  2   3 , Francisco Tomás González-Fernández  4 , Gibson Moreira Praça  5 , Hugo Sarmento  6 , Aytek Hikmet Guler  7 , Esat Kaan Saka  8 , Filipe Manuel Clemente  9   10 , António J Figueiredo  6
Affiliations

Variations in the physical demands and technical performance of professional soccer teams over three consecutive seasons

Zeki Akyildiz et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

The purpose of this study was twofold: (i) to analyze the seasonal variations in the physical demands of Turkish Super League teams considering their status in the final rankings and (ii) to analyze the seasonal variations in the technical performance of Turkish Super League teams considering their status in the final rankings. This study followed an observational analytic retrospective design. In the last three seasons of the Turkish Super League (2015-2016, 2016-2017 and 2017-2018), 918 football matches, 54 teams, 25,029 observations were made. The Sentio Sports optical tracking system was used to quantify the physical demands and technical execution of players in all matches. No significant differences of external load were found between seasons analyzed (p > 0.05). The number of lost balls, ball touches in the central corridor, and goals from set pieces increased from season one to the others (p < 0.05), while the number of successful dribbles reduced over time (p < 0.05). As conclusion, it seems not occurred a progressive change in external load over the seasons, while an evolutionary trends regarding technical variables were observed.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sentio Sports optical tracking system positioning.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Full field view of cameras belongs to Sentio Sports optical tracking system.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Sentio Sports optical tracking system field calibration.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Sentio Sports optical tracking system computer software screen.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Physical performance. Mean TD (± SE) as a funtion of Ranking and Season Condition.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Physical performance. Mean THID (± SE) as a funtion of Ranking and Season Condition.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Physical performance. Mean TS (± SE) as a funtion of Ranking and Season Condition.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Physical performance. Mean TSD (± SE) as a funtion of Ranking and Season Condition.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Technical performance. Mean playing the ball percentage (± SE) as a funtion of Group and Season Condition.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Technical performance. Mean correct passing per match percentage (± SE) as a funtion of Ranking and Season Condition.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Technical performance. Mean correct pass per minute (± SE) as a funtion of Ranking and Season Condition.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Technical performance. Mean throught ball per match (± SE) as a funtion of Ranking and Season Condition.
Figure 13
Figure 13
Technical performance. Mean key pass per match (± SE) as a funtion of Ranking and Season Condition.
Figure 14
Figure 14
Technical performance. Mean long pass per match (± SE) as a funtion of Ranking and Season Condition.
Figure 15
Figure 15
Technical performance. Mean passes to third zone (± SE) as a funtion of Ranking and Season Condition.
Figure 16
Figure 16
Technical performance. Mean ball loss per match (± SE) as a funtion of Ranking and Season Condition.
Figure 17
Figure 17
Technical performance. Mean mean ball win per match (± SE) as a funtion of Ranking and Season Condition.
Figure 18
Figure 18
Technical performance. Mean number of meeting with the ball in the inner hallway (± SE) as a funtion of Ranking and Season Condition.
Figure 19
Figure 19
Technical performance. Mean average goals per match (± SE) as a funtion of Ranking and Season Condition.
Figure 20
Figure 20
Technical performance. Mean total goals scored form standing balls (± SE) as a funtion of Ranking and Season Condition.
Figure 21
Figure 21
Technical performance. Mean total goal forma a corner (± SE) as a funtion of Ranking and Season Condition.
Figure 22
Figure 22
Technical performance. Mean freekick goal scored (± SE) as a funtion of Ranking and Ranking Condition.
Figure 23
Figure 23
Technical performance. Mean penalty scored (± SE) as a funtion of Ranking and Season Conditon.
Figure 24
Figure 24
Technical performance. Mean cross the ball percentage (± SE) as a funtion of Ranking and Season Condition.
Figure 25
Figure 25
Technical performance. Mean dribbling per match (± SE) as a funtion of Group and Season Condition.
Figure 26
Figure 26
Technical performance. Means dribbling per match percentage (± SE) as a funtion of Group and Season Condition.
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