Análise longitudinal dos indicadores de intensidade do jogo de futebol relacionados aos deslocamentos dos jogadores nos jogos

Abstract

This doctoral thesis investigates the dynamics of soccer through a longitudinal analysis of players’ movements during matches. The main objective is to understand how these movements influence game dynamics, team strategies, and individual athlete performance over a full season, encompassing national and international competitions.The research comprises four articles that explore different aspects of the relationship between player movements and game intensity. The first article conducts a systematic review of the influence of contextual variables on movement and intensity parameters obtained via GPS devices in professional soccer players. Following PRISMA recommendations, the systematic search identified 34 relevant studies, totaling 1,039 professional players analyzed across 1,154 matches. The findings indicate that variables such as player position, match outcome, tactical formation, match location, opponent level, and competition stage significantly affect movement patterns and game intensity. The second article investigates the influence of contextual factors, focusing on opponent level, on the physical performance of an elite Brazilian team over a year. Using a 10Hz GPS device, the analysis covers 54 matches from national and international competitions during the 2022 season. The results show that the team performed better against mid-level opponents, suggesting strategic adaptation and increased physical effort in response to such opposition. The third article compares game intensity between national and international competitions within the same club. The data reveal that state-level competitions impose lower physical intensity demands, while international competitions require a higher volume of intense actions, particularly for fullbacks and the team as a whole. These findings have direct implications for training periodization, emphasizing the need to develop abilities such as power and repeated sprints for more demanding competitions. The fourth article examines game intensity between the first and second half of the season, as well as the impact of playing time on athlete performance. At the beginning of the season, maximum acceleration was higher, without reaching peak velocity, due to a focus on physical preparation. As the season progressed, maximum velocity increased while acceleration decreased. Additionally, players with less than 15 minutes of playing time struggled to reach their maximum speed and acceleration capacities, suggesting the need for more targeted warm-ups. In summary, this thesis contributes to understanding the physical and tactical demands of high-performance soccer, highlighting the impact of contextual variables on player movements. The findings provide practical insights for coaches and physical trainers, assisting in training planning and the development of efficient game strategies. The adopted longitudinal approach reinforces the necessity of future studies to further explore the interaction between movement patterns, intensity, and performance in professional soccer