The Most Demanding Match Periods: Should GPS Data be Normalized

NCT07321496 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: MDP_01
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

To date, the characterization of Most Demanding Periods (MDPs) in soccer has relied almost exclusively on absolute metrics, suggesting that the peak demands currently reported in the scientific literature are inherently shaped by these fixed thresholds. This reliance on such absolute metrics may lead to an under- or overestimation of the true relative intensity experienced by each player, thus limiting the accuracy of MDPs interpretation. Therefore, exploring whether normalized thresholds alter the magnitude of MDPs across a range of time windows (1, 3 and 5 minutes) is crucial to better understand how the most demanding passages of match play manifest when player-specific capacities are considered. Consequently, the aim of the present study was to compare the MDPs derived from absolute and normalized thresholds for HSR and sprinting.

Conditions

Most Demanding Periods; Sport

Keywords

soccer; intensity; training load

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Distance covered

  1 minute, 3 minute, 5 minute

Study Arms (1)

Soccer Players

Soccer players enrolled in the research project

Other: Assessment of most demanding periods in soccer

Interventions

Assessment of most demanding periods in soccer OTHER

The most demanding periods will be compared over 3 different time windows: 1, 3 and 5 minutes. Both High speed running and sprint distances will be observed.

Soccer Players

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Male Soccer players competing at the highest national level, free from injuries during the period of data analysis.

You may qualify if:

• Soccer players competing at the highest national level

You may not qualify if:

• Injured athletes

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Maia: lead

Study Sites (1)

Universidade da Maia

Maia, Portugal

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 20, 2025
• First Posted: January 7, 2026
• Study Start: September 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: December 30, 2025
• Study Completion: January 30, 2026
• Last Updated: January 7, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Locations

PT (1)