The aim of this study was to examine physical, physiological, and motor responses and perceived exertion during different soccer drills. In small-sided games, the individual playing area (∼275 m², ∼175 m², and ∼75 m²) was varied while the number of players per team was kept constant: 5 vs. 5 plus goalkeepers. Participants were ten male youth soccer players. Each session comprised three small-sided game formats, which lasted 8 min each with a 5-min passive rest period between them. A range of variables was recorded and analysed for the three drills performed over three training sessions: (a) physiological, measured using Polar Team devices; (b) physical, using GPS SPI elite devices; (c) perceived exertion, rated using the CR-10 scale; and (d) motor response, evaluated using an observational tool that was specially designed for this study. Significant differences were observed for most of the variables studied. When the individual playing area was larger, the effective playing time, the physical (total distance covered; distances covered in low-intensity running, medium-intensity running, and high-intensity running; distance covered per minute; maximum speed; work-to-rest ratio; sprint frequency) and physiological workload (percent maximum heart rate; percent mean heart rate; time spent above 90% maximum heart rate), and the rating of perceived exertion were all higher, while certain motor behaviours were observed less frequently (interception, control and dribble, control and shoot, clearance, and putting the ball in play). The results show that the size of the pitch should be taken into account when planning training drills, as it influences the intensity of the task and the motor response of players.

Using a multi-camera computerised tracking system the present study aimed to provide a detailed analysis of the work-rate profile of a team of elite soccer players during official matches of the Spanish Premier League. Observation-based performance measures were obtained from 434 individual samples. 6 physical parameters involving the distance covered by players were analysed: standing intensity (0–11 km·h⁻¹), low-intensity running (11.1–14 km·h⁻¹), moderate-intensity running (14.1–17 km·h⁻¹), high-intensity running (17.1–21 km·h⁻¹), very high-intensity running (21.1–24 km·h⁻¹) and sprinting (>24 km·h⁻¹). These intensity thresholds were considered with respect to 4 contextual variables: match status, match location, opponent level and match half, which were analysed in relation to the effective playing time. A descriptive analysis and a multivariate mixed model were employed for the analysis of change processes in soccer. The distance total covered (m) by players at different work intensities during the effective playing time was greater when playing at home (3 931 vs. 3 887 away), when the reference team was losing (3 975 vs. 3 837 drawing and 3 921 winning) and when the level of the opposing team was higher (4 032 vs. 3 938 medium and 3 736 bottom). By contrast, their physical performance decreased during the 2^ndhalf of matches (3 822 vs. 3 985 1^st half).

The Use of Match Statistics that Discriminate Between Successful and Unsuccessful Soccer Teams: Three soccer World Cups were analysed with the aim of identifying the match statistics which best discriminated between winning, drawing and losing teams. The analysis was based on 177 matches played during the three most recent World Cup tournaments: Korea/Japan 2002 (59), Germany 2006 (59) and South Africa 2010 (59). Two categories of variables were studied: 1) those related to attacking play: goals scored, total shots, shots on target, shots off target, ball possession, number of off-sides committed, fouls received and corners; and 2) those related to defence: total shots received, shots on target received, shots off target received, off-sides received, fouls committed, corners against, yellow cards and red cards. Discriminant analysis of these matches revealed the following: (a) the variables related to attacking play that best differentiated between winning, drawing and losing teams were total shots, shots on target and ball possession; and (b) the most discriminating variables related to defence were total shots received and shots on target received. These results suggest that winning, drawing and losing national teams may be discriminated from one another on the basis of variables such as ball possession and the effectiveness of their attacking play. This information may be of benefit to both coaches and players, adding to their knowledge about soccer performance indicators and helping to guide the training process.

In soccer. The participants were 28 semiprofessional male soccer players age 22.9 ± 4.2 years, height 177 ± 5 cm, body mass 73.6 ± 4.4 kg. Players' physical and physiological work load was monitored over 44 training sessions using global positioning system devices (10 Hz) and heart rate, respectively. After each training session, players' training perceived-exertion (rating of perceived exertion [RPE]) was assessed using the Borg CR-10 scale. Players' internal training load was assessed using the session-RPE and the Edwards methods. Total distance, distances covered at arbitrary selected high-intensity speed zones (≥18 and 21 km·h−1), bout frequency at speed >18 and 21 km·h−1, and work:rest ratio during training drills were considered as signs of physical work load. Furthermore, player load assumed as reflection of total center-of-mass acceleration was considered as representative of players' external load. Very-large association of player load with Edwards and session-RPE methods was found. Total distance covered was large to very large associated with Player Load, Session-RPE, and Edwards methods. The findings of this study provided evidence for the safe use of session-RPE, Edwards methods, and Players Load as valid indicators of training responses in soccer....