Loading or Unloading? This Is the Question! A Multi-Season Study in Professional Football Players

Author:

Mandorino Mauro12ORCID,Tessitore Antonio2ORCID,Lacome Mathieu13

Affiliation:

1. Performance and Analytics Department, Parma Calcio 1913, 43121 Parma, Italy

2. Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, 00135 Rome, Italy

3. Sport Expertise and Performance Laboratory, French National Institute of Sports (INSEP), 75012 Paris, France

Abstract

This study examined the impact of training load periodization on neuromuscular readiness in elite football players using the Locomotor Efficiency Index (LEI) as a measure of performance optimization. Throughout the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons, 106 elite male players (age: 19.5 ± 3.9 years) from an Italian professional football club were monitored using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) external load data. The LEI was derived from a machine learning model, specifically random forest regression, which compared predicted and actual PlayerLoad™ values to evaluate neuromuscular efficiency. Players were categorized by weekly LEI into three readiness states: bad, normal, and good. Analysis focused on the variation in weekly LEI relative to weekly load percentage variation (large decrease, moderate decrease, no variation, moderate increase, large increase), which included total distance, high-speed distance (above 25.2 km/h), and mechanical load, defined as the sum of accelerations and decelerations. Statistical analysis showed significant differences only with variations in total distance and mechanical load. Specifically, reducing weekly loads improved LEI in players in lower readiness states, while maintaining or slightly increasing loads promoted optimal readiness. This approach enables coaches to tailor training prescriptions more effectively, optimizing workload and recovery to sustain player performance throughout a demanding season.

Publisher

MDPI AG

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