Do contextual factors influence running and accelerometry GPS based variables in professional women soccer players? A case study about the effect of match location and result

Abstract

The aims of this study were to compare external match load between home and away matches as well as the result of the match (win, draw, and loss). The secondary aim was to quantify external training load that preceded the next match taking into account both match location and result. Ten elite women soccer players participated in the study (age 24.6 ± 2.3 years). Seven home and seven away matches in which four wins, three draws, and seven losses occurred. The following global positioning system (GPS) metrics were analyzed: duration, total distance, high-speed running distance (HSR, ≥15 km h⁻¹), number of accelerations (ACC) and decelerations (DEC), average speed, and player load. There were no significant differences between match results and match locations. Regarding comparisons of training data preceding different match results, only duration and player load did not differ while HSR, number of ACC and DEC showed to be higher when the next match was a loss (p < 0.05, moderate to very large effect). Regarding comparisons of training data preceding different match locations, only duration, total distance, and player load did not differ while HSR, average speed, number of ACC and DEC in all zones were higher when the next match was at home (p < 0.05, moderate to very large effect). In conclusion, this study showed that match result and location did not have a significant effect on GPS metrics exhibited during match-day. However, training data influenced the contextual factors of the next match which should be considered when planning training sessions.