Load Measures in Training/Match Monitoring in Soccer: A Systematic Review

Mauro Miguel, Rafael Oliveira, Nuno Loureiro, Javier García-Rubio and Sergio J. Ibáñez
Additional contact information
Mauro Miguel: Training Optimization and Sports Performance Research Group (GOERD), Sport Science Faculty, University of Extremadura, 10005 Caceres, Spain
Rafael Oliveira: Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior, 2040-413 Rio Maior, Portugal
Nuno Loureiro: Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior, 2040-413 Rio Maior, Portugal
Javier García-Rubio: Training Optimization and Sports Performance Research Group (GOERD), Sport Science Faculty, University of Extremadura, 10005 Caceres, Spain
Sergio J. Ibáñez: Training Optimization and Sports Performance Research Group (GOERD), Sport Science Faculty, University of Extremadura, 10005 Caceres, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 5, 1-25

Abstract: In soccer, the assessment of the load imposed by training and a match is recognized as a fundamental task at any competitive level. The objective of this study is to carry out a systematic review on internal and external load monitoring during training and/or a match, identifying the measures used. In addition, we wish to make recommendations that make it possible to standardize the classification and use of the different measures. The systematic review was carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The search was conducted through the electronic database Web of Science, using the keywords “soccer” and “football”, each one with the terms “internal load”, “external load”, and “workload”. Of the 1223 studies initially identified, 82 were thoroughly analyzed and are part of this systematic review. Of these, 25 articles only report internal load data, 20 report only external load data, and 37 studies report both internal and external load measures. There is a huge number of load measures, which requires that soccer coaches select and focus their attention on the most useful and specific measures. Standardizing the classification of the different measures is vital in the organization of this task, as well as when it is intended to compare the results obtained in different investigations.

Keywords: soccer; training; match; internal load; external load (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/5/2721/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/5/2721/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:5:p:2721-:d:512735

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().