Abstract. Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the physical and technical activities of elite soccer players from the French First League, according to ...
Characteristics of French high-level soccer International SportMed Journal, Vol.11 No.2, 2010, pp. 278-290. Available at URL: http://www.ismj.com
ISMJ International SportMed Journal Physical and technical activity of soccer players in the French First League – with special reference to their playing position *1, 2, 3
Dr Alexandre Dellal, PhD, 4Mr Del P. Wong, MPhil, 2Dr Wassim Moalla, PhD, 2 Dr Karim Chamari, PhD
1
Psychophysiology of the Motor Behaviour and Sports Laboratory, University of Sports Science and Exercise, Strasbourg, France 2 National Centre of Medicine and Science in Sport (CNMSS), El Menzah, Tunisia 3 Ivory Coast National Football Team 4 Department of Health and Physical Education, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong *Corresponding author. Address at the end of text
Abstract Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the physical and technical activities of elite soccer players from the French First League, according to their playing positions. Methods: During the 2005-2006 season, 3540 professional soccer players’ activities were recorded and analysed during competitive matches played by means of a semi-automatic video system (Amisco ©). Physical and technical variables were analyzed according to their specific playing positions. The players were classified into 6 positional roles: central defenders (CD), full-backs (FB), central defensive midfielders (CDM), wide midfielders (WM), central attacking midfielders (CAM), and forwards (FW). Match performance variables analysed included: (a) physical activity: total distance covered, distances covered at high-intensities both with and without possession of the ball; (b) technical actions: heading and ground duels, passing, time in possession and ball touches. Results: The total distances covered ranged from 10425.9m to 12029.5m, with especially 235.4m to 290.4m in sprinting. In the offensive phase, FW covered ~4 times greater total distances in sprinting than CD and FB (p 25.2kmh ) decreased during the second half, with the highest values recorded for the wide midfielder (WM) and FW. Independent of the playing position, the total distance covered at high intensity in the last 15min of a match played was ~20% lower than that recorded 11 during the first 15min period . The high intensity runs and sprinting activities have been shown to be the determining factors of the soccer player’s performance in the 11, 12 . Nevertheless, all English Premier League of these studies using the semi-automatic analysis video system was based on a small sample, and/or examined players from a few teams in one specific league. It is therefore difficult to compare these different data because of the differences in the thresholds used to evaluate the distances run at high intensities. Moreover, to these authors’ knowledge, there have been no studies that have combined the physical analysis with the technical and tactical activities. Therefore the present study will assist in clarifying and specifying the profile and characteristics of a large sample of soccer players from a similar league, with special reference to the playing position that constitutes a key factor for individualising the training loads. Consequently, the aim of the present investigation was to examine both the technical and physical activities of a large sample of players from the French First League, with special reference to their playing positions. The results will provide the coach and scientist with the physical and technical requirements for French elite soccer. These findings could
Official Journal of FIMS (International Federation of Sports Medicine)
Characteristics of French high-level soccer International SportMed Journal, Vol.11 No.2, 2010, pp. 278-290. Available at URL: http://www.ismj.com
constitute a useful tool for both for the individualisation of training according to playing position in professional soccer, and provide a model for the planning of training in amateur soccer.
Methods
WM, CAM and FW) and the distances covered at two threshold intensities with two levels (21-1 -1 24kmh and >24kmh ). With regard to the technical performance, a one-way ANOVA was used to compare the technical aspects according to playing position with six levels (CD, FB, CDM, WM, CAM and FW).
Subjects A total of 5938 observations of players in the French First League for the 2005/2006 season who had participated in all the matches played were analysed. The players were classified into 6 positional roles: central defenders (CD, n=1000), full-backs (FB, n=756), central defensive midfielders (CDM, n=952), wide midfielders (WM, n=202), central attacking midfielders (CAM, n=166), and forwards (FW, n=464).
The significant main effects of each factor were followed up with the post hoc Bonferronicorrected multiple comparisons test. The level of significance was set at p 24kmh ), the total distance covered in high intensity runs -1 (HIR, 21-24kmh ) and the percentage of ground duels or heading duels won. The technical parameters monitored included: the percentage of successful passes, total duration of individual ball possession, and the number of ball touches per individual possession. Statistical analyses All values were expressed as mean values ± standard deviation (mean ± SD). The normal distribution of the data was checked using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and the statistical analysis of variance between groups was verified by Hartley’s test (or the Fmax test). A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures was used to compare the distance covered according to two factors: playing positions with six levels (CD, FB, CDM, 280
Official Journal of FIMS (International Federation of Sports Medicine)
Characteristics of French high-level soccer International SportMed Journal, Vol.11 No.2, 2010, pp. 278-290. Available at URL: http://www.ismj.com
Table 1: Physical and technical demands of elite soccer players during the 2005-2006 season of the French First League Total distance covered (m)
Percentage of duels won
Total
In sprinting -1 >24kmh
Central defenders 1000 (CD)
10425,9 ± 808,4
199,4 ± 65,6
230,2 ± 55,9
Full-backs (FB)
756
10655,5 ± 860,0
241,3 ± 69,9
274,1 ± 62,9
Central defensive midfielders (CDM)
952
11501,3*** ± 901,2
220,9 ± 76,2
Wide midfielders (WM)
202
12029,5*** ± 977,5
235,4 ± 85,0
335,7***
Central attacking midfielders (CAM)
234,6
334,6***
166
11726,4*** ± 984,4
± 71,7
± 62,3
Forwards (FW)
464
10942,7* ± 978,5
290,4*** ± 75,2
300,1 ± 57,1
N=
$$$
In HIR 21-24 -1 kmh
On the In the air ground
$$$
% of successful dribbles
$$$
$$$
1,87
$$$
41,1 ± 9,6
0,21 ± 0,10
57,1 ± 15,5
78%**
1,92
$$$
51,4
0,23
61,4
± 9,3
± 0,11
± 16,8
61,1%***
56,0%***
58,0%
50,8%
51,2%
58,7%
$$$
46,9%
$$$
41,1%
49,6%
48,0%
52,8%
55,1%
55,1
0,27
73,6***
± 7,7
± 0,11
± 15,8
56,5
0,27
74,3***
± 8,7
± 0,11
± 19,0
0,34*** ± 0,13
55,5 ± 13,8
$$$
$$$
38,1%
$$$
46,2%
50,5%
-1
***
: significant greater values than the others playing positions **** p < 0.01 ; p < 0.001 $: significant lower values than the others playing positions $ $$ $$$ p ≤ 0.05 ; p < 0.01 ; p < 0.001 **
Official Journal of FIMS (International Federation of Sports Medicine)
$$$
63%
38,3 ± 9,2
± 68,9
Number of ball touches per individual ball possession
44,6 ± 14,7
65,5%***
302,3
% successful passes
0,21 ± 0,13
57,3%***
*HIR: High intensity runs (21-24kmh )
281
Total Total Ratio loose number of possession / number of ball duration possession possession (sec)
***
62,6%
$$
± 64,0
Ball possession
42,8 ± 7,1
78%**
2,07
75%*
2,21***
76%*
2,23***
71%
2,17***
Characteristics of French high-level soccer International SportMed Journal, Vol.11 No.2, 2010, pp. 278-290. Available at URL: http://www.ismj.com
Figure 1: Total distance covered in sprinting and in high intensity runs by the elite French soccer players -1
HIR: High intensity runs (21-24kmh ) ***: significant greater values than the others playing positions **p
