Running performance across weekly microcycles in amateur soccer players

Abstract

Soccer is a multifactorial sport requiring the integration of technical, tactical, and physical capacities to maintain performance throughout competition. Recent increases in match frequency, with players competing approximately every 4.3 days, have heightened the physiological and mechanical demands placed on athletes. Under such congested schedules, systematic workload monitoring is essential for ensuring optimal performance and reducing injury risk. The purpose of the present study was to examine the external load of amateur soccer players across two different microcycles: one comprising two matches and another comprising three matches within a single week. Ten male amateur players from Apollon Paralimniou, a third-division Greek soccer team, participated in the study. The players were aged 22±4.96 years, with a mean body height of 1.78±0.4 meters and body mass of 69.39±4.16 kg. All participants were injury-free and consistently engaged in training sessions and matches. External load was assessed using the Lagala Colli GPS transmitter. The variables analyzed included total distance covered, high-speed running, sprint distance, decelerations, and accelerations. Analysis indicated that the three-match microcycle imposed greater demands in terms of high-speed running and sprint distance, while the two-match microcycle allowed players to sustain higher volumes of accelerations and decelerations. These variations suggest that match frequency influences the distribution of locomotor activities and the overall external load profile of players. Fixture congestion appears to affect performance outputs even in amateur players. These findings highlight the importance of carefully adjusting training content and recovery strategies to manage fatigue, optimize readiness, and reduce injury risk. Practical applications are offered for coaches and sport scientists managing players under demanding competitive conditions.