INTRODUCTION: A substitution is when a player is brought on to the pitch during a match in exchange for an existing player, during a stoppage in play. The soccer player who has been substituted takes no further part in a match. Research has showed that total distance, high-intensity running distance covered and the number of sprints were greater for non-starter compared to starter players (Lorenzo-Martínez et al., 2020; Padrón-Cabo et al., 2018). The aim of this study was to investigate the match physical demands differences between players who completed the entire match, players who were replaced (i.e., starters, =75 minutes played) and those that were substituted into (i.e., non-starter) soccer matches. METHODS: The sample included the team match observations of all the matches played over four consecutive seasons (from 2015/16 to 2018/19) in the first (Liga Santander; n = 2,950) Spanish soccer leagues. Match physical demands data were obtained using an optical tracking system called ChyronHego® (TRACAB, New York, US). Relative total distance (TD/min.) and distance covered > 24 km·h-1 per minute (VHIRD/min.) were analyzed. The players were divided into three different groups: players who completed the entire match, players who were replaced, and substitute players. Linear Mixed Models (LMM) were applied to analyze the differences in match physical demands (i.e., distances covered) between players that started and those that were substituted. In addition, the effect of age and playing position soccer players were considering. RESULTS: Results showed that TD covered per minute was greater in substitutes players (114.79 m/min.) than players who completed the entire match (111 m/min.) and players who were replaced (113.59 m/min.). Also, distance covered at more than 24 km·h-1 was greater in substitutes players (12.91 m/min.) than players who completed the entire match (3.11 m/min.) and players who were replaced (4.34 m/min.). In addition, there was a significant difference between playing position and age soccer players. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that significant physical performance differences during soccer matches in Spanish LaLiga exist between starters and non-starters soccer players.
© Copyright 2022 27th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Sevilla, 30. Aug - 2. Sep 2022. Julkaistu Tekijä Faculty of Sport Science - Universidad Pablo de Olavide. Kaikki oikeudet pidätetään. / Kääntänyt https://www.DeepL.com/Translator