High-Speed Running and Recovery Dynamics in Professional Soccer Match Play: A Comparison Between Starters and Substitutes.

PURPOSE: This study compared the temporal structure of high-speed running (HSR) efforts and subsequent recovery profiles between starters and substitutes, and across playing positions, in professional soccer.

METHODS

Sixty-one male professional players (26.9 [5.2] y) from 2 teams were monitored across 24 official matches, resulting in 215 match observations (148 starters and 67 substitutes). Match running performance was monitored using 10-Hz global navigation satellite system units. Episode-level variables included HSR duration, recovery duration, HSR-recovery intervals, and intervals between consecutive HSR efforts. Linear mixed-effects models were used to compare playing roles, while recovery durations were categorized into <60 s, 60-120 s, and >120 s bands and analyzed using χ2 tests.

RESULTS

Mean HSR duration did not differ between starters and substitutes (2.37 [1.64] vs 2.40 [1.75] s), nor were differences for HSR-recovery intervals (3.86 [3.59] vs 3.75 [3.55] s), HSR-HSR intervals (3.51 [3.48] vs 3.57 [3.16] s), or the HSR/recovery ratio (1.05 [1.53] vs 1.00 [1.66]) (all P > .05). However, starters displayed significantly shorter recovery durations than substitutes (13.34 [33.51] vs 16.72 [39.50] s; P = .017). Recovery-band distributions differed by playing role (P < .001), with starters completing a greater proportion (97% vs 93%) of short recoveries (<60 s), whereas substitutes exhibited relatively higher proportions of moderate (6%) and long (1%) recoveries. Playing position influenced temporal intervals and the HSR/recovery ratio, but not HSR or recovery duration.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite longer recovery durations in substitutes, the overall temporal structure of HSR efforts was largely consistent between playing roles, with HSR and recovery periods predominantly occurring within short-time windows.