Absolute vs Normalized Acceleration and Deceleration Load in Football Microcycles

NCT07451041 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: ACCDEC-NORM-U23-2024
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 27
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This observational repeated-measures study investigates differences between absolute and individualized normalized acceleration and deceleration thresholds across the football microcycle. Match-derived locomotor metrics are commonly used to guide training prescription, although match performance may not reflect each player's maximal physical capacity. Therefore, this study monitored under-23 male football players across a full competitive season using 10-Hz GPS technology during training sessions and matches. High-intensity normalized thresholds were defined as 75-100% of individual maximum acceleration and deceleration, and were compared with conventional absolute thresholds (\>3 m/s² and \<-3 m/s²). The study aims to determine whether normalized approaches provide a more accurate representation of high-intensity locomotor demands across microcycle sessions relative to match load.

Conditions

Athletic Performance; Soccer; Training Load Monitoring

Keywords

Soccer; External Load; GPS Monitoring; Acceleration; Deceleration; Microcycle; Normalization; Sports Science

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Counts of High-Intensity Accelerations and Decelerations (Absolute vs Normalized Thresholds)

  Number of acceleration and deceleration efforts performed at high intensity using absolute thresholds (\>3 m/s² and \<-3 m/s²) and individualized normalized thresholds (75-100% of individual maximum) across microcycle sessions relative to match load.

  Across one competitive season (approximately 10 months)

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Distance Covered in High-Intensity Accelerations and Decelerations

  Across one competitive season (approximately 10 months)

• Training-to-Match Load Ratios

  Across one competitive season (approximately 10 months)

Study Arms (1)

U23 Football Players

Male under-23 football players competing at national level monitored across one competitive season using GPS technology during training sessions and matches.

Other: External Load Monitoring

Interventions

External Load Monitoring OTHER

Observational monitoring of locomotor demands using GPS technology during routine training sessions and matches. No experimental intervention was applied.

U23 Football Players

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Male under-23 outfield football players from a Portuguese national-level team monitored across one competitive season using GPS technology during routine training sessions and official matches.

You may qualify if:

• Male under-23 outfield football players competing at national level and participating in regular training sessions and official matches with valid GPS data.

You may not qualify if:

• Goalkeepers, players with long-term injury preventing participation, or sessions with missing or invalid GPS data.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Maia: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Maia

Maia, Porto District, 4475-690, Portugal

Location

Study Officials

• Ricado Lemos Pimenta, PhD

  University of Maia

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 27, 2026
• First Posted: March 5, 2026
• Study Start: July 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: July 31, 2025
• Study Completion: July 31, 2025
• Last Updated: March 5, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PT (1)