26 Jul Effects of Age on Match-related Acceleration and Deceleration Efforts in Elite Soccer Players
When we talk about age in football, most coaches and analysts focus on whether older players can still run fast or cover large distances. This study takes a step further: instead of only looking at running or sprinting, it examines accelerations and decelerations — the constant stop-and-go actions that actually define modern football.
The research analyzed more than 5,000 match performances in LaLiga during the 2018/19 season, tracking players between 17 and 38 years old. The results are clear: after the age of 30, players tend to perform fewer accelerations and decelerations per game. Importantly, this drop does not affect their maximum acceleration or deceleration capacity — meaning they can still hit high values, but struggle to repeat them frequently.
From a practical standpoint, this matters a lot for training load management. Central defenders, central midfielders, and forwards are the positions most affected by this age-related decline, while external defenders and wingers tend to maintain their acceleration/deceleration workload for longer.
What does this mean for daily practice?
- Training individualization: Older central players (CBs, CMs, Fs) may need specific conditioning to sustain repeated accelerations and decelerations, not just sprint training.
- Microcycle management: For players over 30, controlling acceleration-related load between matches becomes key to prevent fatigue and injury.
- Tactical planning: Understanding that wide players can maintain high acceleration profiles longer may influence how coaches structure pressing or transition strategies.
In short: speed peaks don’t vanish with age, but the ability to repeat explosive actions declines. Smart training and role management can extend careers and maximize performance in players over 30.
Read the full paper here: https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1337-2961