26 Jun Locomotor characteristics of intense accelerations according to the playing position in top Spanish football teams during competition
Not every high-intensity action in football is a sprint.
Some of the most demanding movements in elite competition occur over 8 or 9 metres. They last barely two seconds. And yet they may define performance.
This study analysed 271,535 intense relative accelerations performed by 102 players from the top four teams in LaLiga during the 2023–2024 season. Instead of using absolute acceleration thresholds, the authors applied an individualised approach: only accelerations exceeding 50% of each player’s maximal acceleration–speed profile were included.
This methodological decision changes how we understand match demands.
Because acceleration intensity depends on initial speed.
As speed increases, the capacity to produce acceleration decreases. Ignoring this relationship can overestimate or underestimate the real mechanical demand of short explosive actions.
On average, players performed 1.88 intense accelerations per minute during competition.
Each acceleration:
– Covered approximately 8–9 metres
– Lasted around 2 seconds
– Reached peak acceleration values between 2.8 and 3.2 m·s⁻²
– Started at 6.5–7.5 km·h⁻¹
– Reached peak speeds of 18–20 km·h⁻¹
These are not maximal sprints.
They are short, repeated, mechanically demanding bursts that shape the intermittent nature of football.
And they vary significantly by playing position.
Central defenders (CD) performed the lowest number of intense accelerations per minute (1.59 ± 0.25), significantly fewer than midfielders and wingers.
Central midfielders (CM) and attacking midfielders (AM) registered the highest acceleration frequency.
But frequency alone does not describe the real picture.
Wingers (W) emerged as the position with the most demanding acceleration profile.
They covered the greatest distance per acceleration (estimated mean ≈ 9.08 m), had the longest acceleration duration (≈ 2.18 s), reached the highest peak speed during acceleration (≈ 19.5 km·h⁻¹), and exhibited the highest speed at the moment of maximal acceleration (≈ 12.8 km·h⁻¹).
In simple terms, wingers accelerate further and faster than any other position.
Forwards (FW), however, showed the highest peak acceleration per action (≈ 3.14 m·s⁻²) and the highest average acceleration during each effort.
This suggests a different mechanical profile.
Wingers dominate in speed and distance.
Forwards dominate in explosive acceleration intensity.
Midfielders show another pattern.
CM and AM initiated accelerations at higher initial speeds compared to other positions. However, they displayed the lowest peak acceleration and average acceleration values.
This reflects their role.
Midfielders operate continuously at moderate speeds and accelerate from already elevated velocity states. As a consequence, their capacity to produce very high acceleration values is mechanically limited.
Central defenders showed the shortest distances and lowest speeds in acceleration actions.
Interestingly, spatial orientation revealed further positional specificity.
CD, FB and CM frequently accelerated toward their own goal, reflecting defensive repositioning demands.
In contrast, AM, W and FW exhibited positive distance gained values, meaning their accelerations were predominantly forward-oriented.
Full backs (FB) showed a dual profile.
Despite their offensive role in modern football, they performed a substantial number of backward accelerations, highlighting the constant transition between defensive and attacking phases.
Context also mattered.
When facing lower-ranked opponents, players showed reduced initial speed and shorter acceleration distances. However, distance gained increased, particularly in home matches.
This may reflect more forward-oriented tactical behaviour and pressing strategies in favourable contexts.
The key applied message is clear.
Acceleration demands are position-specific and mechanically distinct.
Training based only on sprint distance or high-speed running thresholds ignores a large part of match load.
Midfielders should train accelerations from higher initial speeds.
Wingers should develop longer acceleration phases reaching high peak speeds.
Forwards should emphasize explosive acceleration from low starting speeds.
Central defenders should rehearse short, intense accelerations in defensive orientation.
Most importantly, practitioners must consider initial speed when evaluating acceleration intensity. Absolute thresholds in m·s⁻² may underestimate high-demand actions when players accelerate from already elevated velocities.
This study reinforces the idea that football is not only about how fast you run.
It is about how you accelerate.
And how you accelerate depends on where you play.