Effects of a 10-week Athletic Performance Program (APP) on match performance variables in professional football players

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an Athletic Performance Program (APP), carried out as a complement to the usual training routines of the teams, on match performance variables in professional soccer players. A prospective quasi-experimental study was conducted with a control group (CG) and an experimental group (EG) to determine the effect of a 10-week APP. Fifty-four professional soccer players (n=29 EG and n=25 CG) from the Spanish Primera División (LaLiga) underwent a 10-week training program. The CG underwent an extra program of general content. On the other hand, the EG carried out the APP which focused on the development of mobility, stability, strength, multidirectional and sprint skills. The APP included 5 weekly indoor track sessions and micro-doses of on-field stimuli in addition to the usual training practices. Before and after the intervention, GPS variables were measured during official games and vertical jumping ability. APP increased maximum running speed in EG (31.1±1.3 vs. 32.1±1.0 km/h, P<0.001), number of sprints (0.14±0.03 vs. 0.16±0. 03 sprint/min, P<0.001), total running distance (117.5±5.20 vs. 123. 1±3.5 m/min, P<0.001) the number of sprints (0.14±0.03 vs. 0.16±0.03 sprint/min, P<0.001), total running distance (117.5±5.20 vs. 123. 1±3.5 m/min, P<0.001) and sprint distance (6.45±1.43 vs. 8.35±1.22 m/min P<0.001) during the matches, while the performance of the control group decreased significantly after the intervention.