Variability of professional soccer players' perceived match load after successive matches.

This study analyses the differential perceived match load accumulated by professional soccer players depending on their: (a) participation in several consecutive official matches within the same week (Pre_Cup, Cup, and Post_Cup), and (b) total match participation time (i.e. 90 min, 70-90 min and < 70 min). Participants were 21 Spanish Second Division professional soccer players (M age = 27.1, SD = 3.3 years; M body height = 182.1, SD = 3.9 cm; M body mass = 75.8, SD = 5.14 kg). There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in dRPE-ML among Pre_Cup, Cup and Post_Cup matches or in dRPE-ML between teams that took part in two or three official matches within the same week or three official matches in 2-4 consecutive weeks. The results suggest that participating in several matches in the same week does not increase accumulated perceived exertion for professional soccer players.

Are acceleration and cardiovascular capacities related to perceived load in professional soccer players?

This study aims at assessing physical fitness performance and its relationship with the differential ratings of perceived exertion of training load (dRPE TL) and match load (dRPE ML) in a Spanish professional soccer team at the beginning of several in-season periods: 1-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 1-8 weeks. Performance and mechanical variables over the acceleration phase, as well as cardiovascular performance variables were evaluated in 20 male professional soccer players of a team competing in the Spanish Second Division League. Moreover, dRPE TL and dRPE ML were quantified. The dRPE TL showed negative and large associations between both maximal aerobic speed (MAS) and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) (from r = -0.53; ± 0.06 to r = -0.53; ± 0.05 95% CL, p = 0.035 to 0.036) and RPEres TL values throughout the 5-8 and 1-8 week periods. Furthermore, dRPE ML positive and large associations were found between players initial MAS or VO2max (from r = 0.50; ± 0.17 to r = 0.56; ± 0.11 95% CL, p = 0.026 to 0.049) and RPEmus ML in 1-4 and 1-8 week periods. The current study suggests that a better cardiovascular capacity could be connected with a lower RPEres TL and higher RPEmus ML.