Purpose: This study investigated how soccer players reach sprint speeds (> 25.2 km⋅h⁻¹) and what that fixed threshold represents to each player regarding their individual match peak speeds registered during competition. Methods: Twenty professional players (n = 20) from a team competing in the Brazilian first division were monitored with a global navigation satellite system during six matches. All efforts with final speeds > 25.2 km⋅h⁻¹ were analyzed according to starting speed, and accelerations’ duration and magnitude. Peak speeds for each player were also retrieved and compared to the sprint threshold. Results: Most efforts > 25.2 km⋅h⁻¹ (> 91%) start with very short accelerations (< 0.5 s). Efforts started predominately from high starting speeds (20–25 and > 25 km⋅h⁻¹) than low starting speeds (< 5 and 5–10 km⋅h⁻¹) with huge effect sizes (p < 0.001). Most accelerations had magnitudes between 1 and 3 m⋅s⁻² (p < 0.05). The 25.2 km⋅h⁻¹ threshold represented an intensity of 71–91% of players’ match peak speed. Conclusion: The inclusion of accelerations and peak speeds associated to the sprinting events that occur > 25.2 km⋅h⁻¹ was shown to be useful for further characterization of soccer sprinting performance. In addition, the fixed threshold fails to individualize players’ capabilities and performances, misleading load demands performed by players.

Hamstring injuries in soccer continue to be a challenge for professionals who work with soccer players daily. Although its origin is multifactorial, the proper management of neuromuscular fatigue during the training microcycle is a very important factor to consider. There are no clear guidelines regarding the weekly distribution of certain exercises that demand the hamstrings. The main objective of this study was to describe the usual training practices of professional European soccer teams. An international observational survey design was applied to some of the strength and conditioning coaches of professional soccer teams. The survey included different neuromuscular demanding exercises for the hamstrings. For each exercise, the strength and conditioning coaches had to respond in relation to their frequency of use and timepoint depending on the day of the weekly microcycle. Although there is no strong consensus in this regard, there does seem to be a trend when applying certain exercises, especially on the days matchday-4 and matchday-3.

This study compared match peak speeds (MPS) across a full season, considering different playing positions, competitions, match outcomes, and match locations. Thirty-one elite male soccer players were monitored during matches using global navigation satellite system devices. Independent mean differences [95% confidence intervals] were calculated for the investigated variable (MPS). Fullbacks reached higher MPS than central defenders (CD) (d=0.78 [0.56, 1.00]), central midfielders (CM) (d=-0.75 [-0.93, -0.57]) and forwards (d=-0.32 [-0.55, -0.08]); wide midfielders reached higher MPS than CD (d=0.66 [0.43, 0.90]) and CM (d=0.64 [0.45, 0.84]); and forwards reached higher MPS than CD (d=0.46 [0.22, 0.71]) and CM (d=0.41 [0.21, 0.62]). Higher MPS were reached during the National League than the National Cup (d=-0.38 [-0.58, -0.19]) and the Supercup (d=-0.57 [-1.09, -0.06]); higher MPS were reached during the State Cup than the National Cup (d=-0.32 [-0.55, -0.09]) and the Supercup (d=-0.57 [-1.12, -0.05]); and higher MPS were reached during the International Cup than the National Cup (d=0.26 [0.04, 0.48]). Higher MPS were reached during matches lost than won (d=0.19 [0.03, 0.35]). Playing position was the highest differentiator of MPS across a soccer season, underlining the importance of players’ individualization when assessing MPS or when calculating normalized speed thresholds. MPS can also vary between competitions, especially if teams face lower division teams.