Reference values for external and internal training intensity monitoring in professional male soccer players: A systematic review

Abstract

One of the possibilities for organising different studies and providing some reference values or benchmarks is to summarise all information. Such a possibility could help coaches and practitioners identify typical values based on specific conditions and eventually use benchmark values to compare players against The current systematic review was carried out to identify and summarise studies that have examined external and internal training intensity monitoring and to provide references values for the main measures in professional male soccer players. A systematic review of EBSCO, PubMed, Scielo, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science databases was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. From the 2404 studies initially identified, 25 were fully reviewed, and their outcome measures were extracted and analysed. From these, the following range intervals by overall team were found: session rated perceived exertion (s-RPE) = 26–936 AU, total distance = 2143–9540 m and distance >14 km/h = 410–1884 m, distance >18 km/h = 7–541 m, distance >24 km/h = 1–190 m, acceleration number >3 m.s⁻² = 9–195, deceleration number >-3 m.s⁻² = 10–157 and player load = 310–774 AU. Additionally, range intervals for player positions and a match-day minus approach were provided. This study provided reference values of professional male players for the main internal and external intensity measures. Altogether, they can be used by coaches, their staff, or practitioners to achieve desired competitive levels. They can replicate such values or even increase the numbers presented in training sessions.