| Abstract | The main aim of this doctoral thesis was to investigate factors that have a strong theoretical basis for their relationship to running performance in soccer but have not been sufficiently investigated among professional elite-level players. Specifically, Study 1 aimed to examine possible associations that may exist between match running performance (MRP) and soccer match performance; Study 2 aimed to examine possible associations that may exist between running performance during matches (e.g., MRP) and training (e.g., the weekly external training load); Study 3 aimed to examine possible associations that may exist between the weekly external training load and match outcomes; and Study 4 aimed to examine possible associations that may exist between MRP and direct measures of aerobic performance (e.g., VO2max, AnT, and AeT). The studies were carried out on professional soccer players from a single team that competed in the highest national soccer competition in Croatia. All running performance data were collected from training sessions and official matches during the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 seasons using global positioning system technology (Optim-Eye S5 & X4, Catapult, Melbourne, Australia). Players’ performance was classified into five groups according to their playing positions in the game: central defenders (CD), fullbacks (FB), central midfielders (CM), wide midfielders (WM), and forwards (FW). The MRP included the total distance covered; distance covered in the different speed zones of walking, jogging, low-intensity running, running, high-speed running, sprinting, and high-intensity running; total number of accelerations; number of high-intensity accelerations; total number of decelerations; and number of high-intensity decelerations. The results of Study 1 indicated significant associations between MRP and soccer match performance assessed by the InStat Index for players in specific playing positions. Specifically, the InStat Index was correlated with running (r = 0.42, p = 0.03) and high intensity accelerations (r = 0.49, p = 0.01) for CDs, number of decelerations for FBs (r = −0.43, p = 0.04), and sprinting for FWs (r = 0.80, p = 0.02). The results of study 2 indicated that high-intensity accelerations (r = 0.42, p = 0.01) and high-intensity decelerations (r = 0.52, p = 0.01) during training were correlated with the corresponding match running performance for FBs. Running (r = 0.52, p = 0.01), high speed running (r = 0.56, p = 0.01), sprinting (r = 0.64, p = 0.01), high-intensity accelerations (r = 0.59, p = 0.01), and high-intensity decelerations (r = 0.52, p = 0.01) during training were correlated with the corresponding match running performance for CMs. High-intensity accelerations (r = 0.48, p = 0.02), running (r = 0.51, p = 0.02), and high-speed running (r = 0.47, p = 0.03) during training were correlated with the corresponding match running performance for CDs. The results of Study 3 indicated that match outcome was negatively related to the weekly amount of total distance (OR: 0.98; 95%CI: 0.98-0.99), low-intensity running (OR: 0.99, 95%CI: 0.97-0.99), running (OR: 0.99; 95%CI: 0.98-0.99), high-intensity running (OR: 0.98; 95%CI: 0.97-0.99), total accelerations (OR: 0.99; 95%CI: 0.98-0.99), total decelerations (OR: 0.98; 95%CI: 0.96-0.99), high-intensity accelerations (OR: 0.96; 95%CI: 0.95-0.99), and high-intensity decelerations (OR: 0.98; 95%CI: 0.97-0.99). The results of Study 4 indicated that the anaerobic threshold was correlated with high speed running (r = 0.52, p < 0.01) and sprinting (r = 0.53, p < 0.01) among side players (e.g., FBs and WMs). For central players (e.g., CDs, CMs, and FWs), the aerobic threshold was correlated with the total distance covered (r = 0.47, p < 0.05), low-intensity running (r = 0.49, p < 0.05), and running (r = 0.39, p < 0.05). The results of this doctoral thesis show that (i) increased MRP may directly provoke increased soccer match performance, (ii) an increased weekly external training load may provoke increased MRP, (iii) an increased weekly external training load may negatively affect match outcomes in subsequent matches, and (iv) increased aerobic performance may provoke increased MRP. These findings offer new knowledge on factors affecting running performance in elite-level soccer, consequently enabling soccer coaches to design soccer-specific training programs aiming to optimize the whole training process and maximize player performance. In addition, since the MRP of soccer players competing in the Croatian first division was, for the first time, analysed, this doctoral thesis ultimately provides a detailed understanding of the physical demands placed on Croatian elite-level soccer players during matches and training. |
| Abstract (croatian) | Glavni cilj ove doktorske disertacije bio je istražiti čimbenike koji imaju snažnu teorijsku pozadinu za povezanost s trkačkim performansama u nogometu, a koji nisu dovoljno istraživani među profesionalnim igračima elitne razine natjecanja. Konkretno, Studija 1 imala je za cilj ispitati moguću povezanost između trkačkih performansi i nogometnih performansi na utakmicama; Studija 2 imala je za cilj ispitati moguće povezanost između trkačkih performansi tijekom utakmica i treninga (tjedno vanjsko trenažno opterećenje); Studija 3 je imala za cilj ispitati moguću povezanost između tjednog vanjskog trenažnog opterećenje i ishoda utakmice; Studija 4 je imala za cilj ispitati moguću povezanost između različitih direktnih mjera aerobnih performansi (maksimalni primitak kisika, anaerobni i aerobni prag) i trkačkih performansi na utakmici. Istraživanja su provedena na profesionalnim igračima iz jedne momčadi koja se natjecala na najvišem rangu državnog nogometnog natjecanja u Hrvatskoj. Svi podaci o trkačkim performansama prikupljeni su s treninga i službenih utakmica u sezonama 2018/2019 i 2019/2020 koristeći tehnologiju globalnog sustava za pozicioniranje (Optim-Eye S5 & X4, Catapult, Melbourne, Australija). Trkačke performanse igrača su klasificirane u pet skupina prema njihovim pozicijama u igri: središnji braniči, bekovi, središnji vezni, krilni vezni i napadači. Trkačke performanse su uključivale: ukupnu prijeđenu udaljenost, udaljenost prijeđenu u različitim zonama trčanje: hodanje, kaskanje, nisko intenzivno trčanje, trčanje, trčanje velikom brzinom, sprint, visoko intenzivno trčanje, ukupan broj akceleracija, broj visoko intenzivnih akceleracija, ukupan broj deceleracija, broj visoko intenzivnih deceleracija. Rezultati Studije 1 pokazali da postoji značajna povezanost između trkačkih performansi i nogometnih performansi determiniranih InStat Indeksom za igrače na određenim igračkim pozicijama. Konkretno, InStat Index bio je povezan s trčanjem (r = 0.42, p = 0.03) i visoko intenzivnim akceleracijama (r = 0.49, p = 0.01) kod središnji braniča, deceleracijama kod bekova (r = −0.43, p = 0.04) i sprintom kod napadače (r = 0.80, p = 0.02). Rezultati Studije 2 pokazali su da postoji značajna povezanost između visoko intenzivnih akceleracija (r = 0.42, p = 0.01) i visoko intenzivne deceleracija (r = 0.52, p = 0.01) na treninzima i na utakmicama kod bekova. Kod središnji veznih postojala je značajna povezanost između trčanja (r = 0.52, p = 0.01), trčanja velikom brzinom (r = 0.56, p = 0.01), sprinta (r = 0.64, p = 0,01), visoko intenzivnih akceleracija (r = 0.59, p = 0.01) i visoko intenzivnih deceleracija (r = 0.52, p = 0.01) na treninzima i na utakmicama. Kod središnji braniča postojala je značajna povezanost između visoko intenzivnih akceleracija (r = 0.48, p = 0.02), trčanja (r = 0.51, p = 0.02) i trčanja velikom brzinom (r = 0.47, p = 0.03) na treninzima i na utakmicama. Rezultati Studije 3 pokazali su da je ishod utakmice bio negativno povezan s tjednom količinom: ukupnog trčanja (OR: 0.98; 95%CI: 0.98-0.99), trčanja niskim intenzitetom (OR: 0.99, 95%CI: 0.97-0.99), trčanja (OR: 0.99; 95%CI: 0.98-0.99), trčanja visokim intenzitetom (OR: 0.98; 95%CI: 0.97-0.99), akceleracija (OR: 0.99; 95%CI: 0.98-0.99), deceleracija (OR: 0.98; 95%CI: 0.96-0.99), visoko intenzivnih akceleracija (OR: 0.96; 95%CI: 0.95-0.99) i visoko intenzivnih deceleracija (OR: 0.98; 95%CI: 0.97-0.99). Rezultati Studije 4 pokazali su da postoji značajna povezanost između anaerobnog praga i trčanja velikom brzinom (r = 0.52, p < 0.01) i sprinta (r = 0.53, p < 0.01) kod igrača koji igraju na vanjskim pozicijama (bekovi i krilni vezni). Kod igrača koji igraju na centralnim pozicijama (središnji braniči, središnji vezni i napadači) postojala je značajna povezanost između aerobnog praga i ukupne prijeđene udaljenosti (r = 0.47, p < 0.05), trčanja niskim intenzitetom (r = 0.49, p < 0.05) i trčanja (r = 0.39, p < 0.05). Rezultati ove doktorske disertacije pokazuju da (i) veće trkačke performanse na utakmicama mogu potaknuti bolje nogometne performanse, (ii) veće tjedno vanjsko trenažno opterećenje može potaknuti veće trkačke performanse na utakmicama, (iii) veće tjedno vanjsko trenažno opterećenje može negativno utjecati na ishod utakmice, (iv) bolje aerobne performanse mogu potaknuti veće trkačke performanse na utakmicama. Ovi nalazi pružili su nova saznanja o faktorima koji utječu na trkačke performanse u nogometu elitne razine, što posljedično može omogućiti nogometnim trenerima kreiranje trenažnih programa koji mogu optimizirati cjelokupni proces treninga i maksimizirati učinak igrača na utakmicama. Osim toga, s obzirom da su u ovome istraživanju prvi puta analizirane trkačke performanse nogometaša najvišeg ranga natjecanja u Hrvatskoj, ova doktorska disertacija u konačnici omogućuje detaljno razumijevanje fizičkih zahtjeva s kojima se susreću elitni nogometaši tijekom utakmica i treninga u Hrvatskoj. |
