Locomotor activities and subjective load differences between professional youth soccer players and professional development loans: a comparative analysis.

Craig, Thomas P.; Swinton, Paul; Barrett, Steve; Maughan, Patrick

Abstract

This study quantified and compared the weekly locomotor activity and subjective load between elite and development loan youth soccer players registered to a primary club. Development loan players were loaned to a lower-league club and trained part-time with their loan club whilst being available for development fixtures and training with the primary club. Data were collected in 16 squad players and 4 development loan players at loan clubs across a 41 week competitive phase of the 2018/2019 season. Analysis was completed on total distance (m), PlayerLoadTM (au), low intensity running (<14.4 km·h−1, m), running (19.8–24.98 km·h−1, m), sprinting (>24.98 km·h−1, m), accelerations (>2 m·s−2 count) and decelerations (<−2 m·s−2, count). Point estimates for the development loan players consistently showed lower weekly values than squad players for all variables ranging from 5.2% (weekly sRPE) to 16.8% (weekly sprint distance covered). Differences, however, were not found to be statistically significant (p ≥ 0.07). Variance ranged from 23.6% (weekly distance) to 37.7% (weekly high-intensity accelerations). Although the goals of a development loan are likely to be multifactorial, this is the first study to quantify and compare locomotor activities and subjective loading of players within the development loan environment.

Citation

CRAIG, T.P., SWINTON, P., BARRETT, S. and MAUGHAN, P. 2024. Locomotor activities and subjective load differences between professional youth soccer players and professional development loans: a comparative analysis. International journal of sports science and coaching [online], 19(1), pages 214-220. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541221141145

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 5, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Dec 5, 2022
• Publication Date: Feb 29, 2024
• Deposit Date: Dec 12, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 12, 2022
• Journal: International journal of sports science and coaching
• Print ISSN: 1747-9541
• Electronic ISSN: 2048-397X
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 19
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 214-220
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541221141145
• Keywords: Association football; Global positioning system; Performance analysis; Rating of perceived exertion; Sprinting; Talent development
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1832122