Impact of Starting Status and Match Outcome on Peak Match Demands in Semiprofessional Soccer Players

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the peak locomotor match demands between starters and non-starting soccer players according to playing position and match outcome. Twenty-two young outfield soccer players were observed over 17 official matches. Locomotor performance during the matches was recorded per minute: total distance (TD), high-speed running distance (HSD, >19.8 km/h), sprint distance (SPD, >25.2 km/h), high metabolic load distance (HMLD, 25.5 W·kg⁻¹), number of high-intensity accelerations (ACC, >3 m/s²) and decelerations (DCC, >-3 m/s²), and Player Load (PL). Rolling moving averages were used to calculate the peak match demands as worst-case scenarios (PMD) in 1 (PMD_1m) and 3 (PMD_3m) minutes. Players were classified based on their playing position, as well as the match outcome at the time of substitution. The results demonstrate that when the non-starter plays the same position, peak match demands are generally similar, except HSD and SPD in PMD_1m, which are higher in starters. Position-based analysis shows that starting central defender and central midfielder cover a significantly longer TD during PMD_1m and PMD_3m compared to their respective non-starters. Moreover, starting players cover a greater TD, HSD, SPD, and HMLD in PMD_1m when the substitution occurs while winning compared to their respective non-starting players.