AUTHOR=Augusto Diêgo , Brito João , Aquino Rodrigo , Figueiredo Pedro , Eiras Fabio , Tannure Márcio , Veiga Bruno , Vasconcellos Fabrício 

TITLE=Contextual Variables Affect Running Performance in Professional Soccer Players: A Brief Report

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sports and Active Living

VOLUME=Volume 3 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2021.778813

DOI=10.3389/fspor.2021.778813

ISSN=2624-9367

ABSTRACT=This study aimed to investigate the effects of contextual variables on running performance in Brazilian professional soccer players. Twenty male players from one club participating in the 1st Division of the Brazilian soccer championship were analyzed during 35 matches. Global Positioning System was used to determine total distance covered, distance covered and actions in high intensity and sprinting, and the number of accelerations and decelerations. The independent variables used were match location, match outcome, opposition ranking, change of head coach and distance traveled to play the matches. Total distance was higher in away than home matches (9712 vs 9533 m; p≤0.05), and losses than draws and wins (9846 vs. 9400 vs. 9551 m; p≤0.05), whereas distance in sprinting was higher in draws than losses (203 vs. 175 m; p≤0.01). Changing the head coach during the season resulted in overall lower distance covered in high intensity, sprinting, high intensity actions (p≤0.01) and decelerations (p≤0.05). Higher values for distance covered in sprinting and high intensity were found in matches without travel when compared to matches with long travel (p≤0.05). Overall, running performance was affected by the location, match outcome, change of head coach and distance traveled during the season.