Abstract

The aims of this study were twofold: (1) to characterize repeated high-intensity movement activity profiles of a professional soccer team in official match-play; and (2) to inform and verify the construct validity of tests commonly used to determine
repeated-sprint ability in soccer by investigating the relationship between the results from a test of repeated-sprint ability and repeated high-intensity performance in competition. High-intensity running performance (movement at velocities 419.8 km h71 for a minimum of 1 s duration) was measured in 20 players using computerized time–motion analysis. Performance in 80 French League 1 matches was analysed. In addition, 12 of the 20 players performed a repeated-sprint test
on a non-motorized treadmill consisting of six consecutive 6 s sprints separated by 20 s passive recovery intervals. In all players, most consecutive high-intensity actions in competition were performed after recovery durations 61 s, recovery
activity separating these efforts was generally active in nature with the major part of this spent walking, and players performed 1.1+1.1 repeated high-intensity bouts (a minimum of three consecutive high-intensity bouts with a mean recovery time
20 s separating efforts) per game. Players reporting lowest performance decrements in the repeated-sprint ability test performed more high-intensity actions interspersed by short recovery times (20 s, P50.01 and 30 s, P50.05) compared
with those with higher decrements. Across positional roles, central-midfielders performed more high-intensity actions separated by short recovery times (20 s) and spent a larger proportion of time running at higher intensities during recovery periods, while fullbacks performed the most repeated high-intensity bouts (statistical differences across positional roles from P50.05 to P50.001). These findings have implications for repeated high-intensity testing and physical conditioning regimens. Verf.-Referat