Non-starters vs. starters

Objective: The main aim of the present study was to compare accumulative match and training load rates and the corresponding training/match ratio (TMr) between non-starters and starters players of an Argentine professional soccer team during two in-season periods (regular competition period vs. match congested period).

Methods: Ten players were considered starters if they started the match and completed at least 60 min in three consecutive matches while the other 10 were classified as non-starters (most of the matches played as substitute players) over two 8-week periods. The external load of each player during typical practice sessions and official matches was monitored by GPS. Data on total distance (TD), high-intensity load rate (distance covered at speed > 14.9 km/h per minute, HILR) and high-speed load rate (distance covered at speed > 19.9 km/h per minute, HSLR), number of runs during the load rates (#HILR and #HSLR), high-intensity accelerations and decelerations (> 2.5 m/s2, HIA; < -2.5 m/s2, HID) and high metabolic load distance (HMLD) were monitored. An individual TMr was calculated for each external load measure.

Results: There were no significant differences in accumulative match and training load rates between non-starters and starters. Regarding TMr, non-starters presented a lower value in HILR (-12.9%, p = .039), #HILR (-7.7%, p = .032), and HMLD (-9.8%, p = .024).

Conclusions: The main finding of this study showed that non-starters did not present an improvement or deterioration in physical performance in the main physical metrics analysed, compared to starter players in both periods. In addition, non-starters presented lower values of TMr for high-intensity patterns during the regular period. This could be attributed to the fact that non-starting players have achieved higher performance in various physical metrics, compared to players who were substituted or completed the entire match.