TY  -  JOUR
AU  -  Şen, Miraç
AU  -  Akşit, Tolga
T1  -  The effect of contextual factors on ınternal and external load in professional football players: a microcycle analysis
PY  -  2025
Y1  -  2025-09-01
JO  -  Medicina dello Sport
JA  -  Med Sport
VL  -  78
IS  -  4
SP  -  299
EP  -  309
PB  -  Il Pensiero Scientifico Editore
SN  -  1827-1863
Y2  -  2026/04/28
N2  -  Summary. Background. Contextual factors such as match location, opponent quality, and match outcome are known to influence performance in professional football. However, limited evidence exists regarding their impact on both internal and external load within a microcycle. Methods. Twenty-two professional players (age 26.45 ± 3.35 years) were monitored over 15 competitive weeks. External load was measured using 10 Hz GPS devices, including total distance, high-speed running distance and sprint distance and number of sprints (≥25.2 km·h⁻¹), accelerations/decelerations and zonal distances Internal load was assessed via session-RPE. Repeated-measures ANOVA and paired t-tests were used to examine the effects of contextual factors. Results. Training loads were significantly higher before matches against medium-level opponents in terms of high-speed running distance (p<0.01) and number (p=0.006). Match performance did not differ significantly across opponent quality. Away matches imposed greater external load than home matches, with higher high-speed running (p=0.016), number of high-speed runs (p=0.006), and decelerations (p=0.042). In training, the number of sprints was significantly higher in weeks that ended in a draw (p<0.003). Zonal analysis showed significant differences in zone-3 distances while zone-1 and 2 were unaffected. Conclusıons. Contextual factors, particularly match location and opponent quality, significantly shape weekly training and match demands in professional football. Coaches should adjust training loads and recovery strategies in anticipation of increased demands in away matches and matches against medium-level opponents.
ER  -