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Int J Sports Med 2023; 44(08): 535-544
DOI: 10.1055/a-2013-1661
Review

High-intensity Actions in Elite Soccer: Current Status and Future Perspectives

Alberto Filter 
1   FSI Lab, Football Science Institute, Granada, Spain
2   Research Group Physical Activity, Health and Sport CTS-948, Pablo de Olavide University, Sevilla, Spain
,
Jesús Olivares-Jabalera
1   FSI Lab, Football Science Institute, Granada, Spain
3   Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), Department of Physical and Sports Education, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
,
Thomas Dos'Santos
4   Department of Sport and Exercise, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
5   Manchester Institute of Sport, Manchester, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Marc Madruga
6   Physical Therapy Department, International University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
7   Sport Performance Area, Barcelona Football Club, Barcelona, Spain
8   Return to Play and Sports Training Center, reQ, Barcelona, Spain
,
JoséMaríaOliva Lozano
9   Health Research Centre, Universidad de Almeria, Almeria, Spain
,
Alejandro Molina
10   Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
11   Campus Universitario, University of San Jorge Faculty of Health Sciences, Villanueva de Gallego, Spain
,
Alfredo Santalla
1   FSI Lab, Football Science Institute, Granada, Spain
2   Research Group Physical Activity, Health and Sport CTS-948, Pablo de Olavide University, Sevilla, Spain
,
Bernardo Requena
1   FSI Lab, Football Science Institute, Granada, Spain
,
Irineu Loturco
12   Sport Science, NAR – Nucleus of High Performance in Sport, São Paulo, Brazil
13   Department of Human Movement Sciences, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
14   Sport and Exercise Science, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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Abstract

Over the years, soccer has become more physically demanding; the number and frequency of high-intensity actions have increased, and these activities are decisive in determining the match outcome. Importantly, the reductionist approach commonly used to analyze high-intensity actions does not contemplate a more contextualized perspective on soccer performance. Traditionally, most investigations have only provided quantitative data regarding sprints (i. e. time, distances, frequency) without examining “how” (e. g. type of trajectory or starting position) and “why” (e. g. tactical role) soccer players sprint. In fact, other high-intensity actions, apart from running, are not even mentioned (i. e. curve sprints, change of direction, and specific-jump tasks). This has led to the use of tests and interventions that do not accurately reflect real game actions. Given the true technical-tactical-physical demands of each playing position, this narrative review collected a wide-spectrum of current soccer-related articles and provided a discussion regarding high-intensity actions, with a positional-based approach. In this narrative review, practitioners are encouraged to contemplate and consider the different elements that characterize high-intensity actions in soccer, in order to assess and train soccer players under a more sport-specific and integrative perspective.

Key words

physical performance - football - team sports - physical testing - athletic performance


Publication History

Received: 18 March 2022

Accepted: 23 December 2022

Article published online:
02 May 2023

© 2023. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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