match running performance Archives - Football Innovation Hub

23 Sep Hamstring Return to Play: Can a Player Look Recovered While Still Being Underexposed to Sprinting?

Posted at 10:52h in Research

A player can return to competition with apparently normal high-speed running yet remain markedly underexposed to speeds close to his own maximum. Our new study in professional LALIGA footballers shows how absolute thresholds can conceal sprint reductions for up to 14 matches after hamstring injury—and...

12 Jun Sprinting More Than the Opponent: Physical Dominance or Tactical Context?

Posted at 13:19h in Research

Why the same physical metric can tell completely different stories across teams At first glance, this metric looks almost useless. Across the full LALIGA EA SPORTS 2025/26 season, teams that made more sprints than their opponents won 41% of their matches. Teams that made fewer sprints won 35%. Only...

13 Abr Match running performance upon return to play in professional male LaLiga football players following anterior cruciate ligament rupture

Posted at 13:27h in Paper

Returning to play after an anterior cruciate ligament rupture is not the same as returning to performance. That is the main message for coaches from this study. A player may be medically cleared, back in the squad and already playing official minutes, but still not have...

20 Mar Do the Competitions Played During Congested Weeks Influence the External Load of Spanish Soccer Teams? Analysis by Match Playing Time

Posted at 12:08h in Paper

Congested weeks change everything. Not just how much players run. But how they run. And why. This study shows a simple idea with big consequences. Not all congested weeks are the same. A Champions League week is not a Cup week. And a starter is not...

20 Feb Effective Playing Time and Its Impact on Match Running Performance

Posted at 12:31h in Research

https://youtu.be/HXnI-9HUsGs Effective playing time changes how we interpret physical performance in elite football. Most match reports describe performance per 90 minutes.Total distance.High-speed running.Sprint count. But football is not 90 minutes of continuous exposure. In LALIGA, the ball is in play for roughly 55% of total match time. The rest...

20 Ene When the Game Demands More, Maximum Speed Declines

Posted at 13:31h in Research

A consistent second-half pattern in professional football There is a widespread assumption in football. As matches progress and results are on the line, players are expected to reach their highest physical levels. More intensity. More effort. More speed. From a tactical and emotional perspective, this assumption is logical.From...

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