The Effect of Game Strategies on the Physiological, Physical, and Technical Loads of Soccer Players

Background. The study aims to determine position-specific loads by different tactical strategies. Eighty Turkish Super League U21 players (19.35 ± 1.6 years, 179.4 ± 2.3 cm, 75.6 ± 4.1 kg; M ± SD) were involved in this study. Objectives. The players completed eight different 11v11 training games. While one team practiced the ball possession and “defense as a team” strategy, the other team implemented the counterattacking strategy. Methods. The formation was kept as “4-2-3-1”. The games were played for 2x20 minutes by using two-thirds of the field. Blood lactate, heart rate, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and physical and technical performance were analyzed. Compared to tactical strategy, player load (PL) values were found to be different in all positions (P<0.05). Results. The position-specific loads of wingbacks, wingers, and strikers are the positions affected mainly by the strategy. Center-backs demonstrated low values in physical and physiological loads; however, their PL values caused fatigue. Players’ high-intensity running and sprint numbers are highly correlated with PL values (P<0.05). Conclusion. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates the effectiveness of tactical strategy on the position-specific load. Therefore, coaches should consider the game strategy to select the accurate player for the position and specify their training plan.