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Abstract: Brown, G, Massard, T, Wignell, T, McCall, A, and Duffield, R. Match exposure, consecutive match number, and recovery days affect match running during international women's soccer tournaments. J Strength Cond Res 38(3): 577-583, 2024-To determine the influence of tournament-specific factors (match exposure, consecutive matches, and days between matches) on match running in women's international soccer players (footballers), 28 players from 1 national team were observed over 4 international tournaments using 10 Hz global positioning system units. Linear mixed models with a forward selection approach were used to analyze the collective effect of tournament-specific factors of match exposure (playing time), consecutive matches (count), days between matches (count) and time on pitch on relative (min -1 ) match running metrics (total distance, high-speed running, very high-speed running, accelerations, and decelerations), and the change in these metrics between halves. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. Days between matches were included in the final models for total distance ( p < 0.0001), high-speed running ( p = 0.002), very high-speed running ( p = 0.025), and change in accelerations ( p < 0.0001) and decelerations ( p = 0.002). Prior match exposure was included in the models for total distance ( p = 0.021), change in total distance ( p < 0.0001), and change in high-speed running ( p = 0.0008). Consecutive match number was included in the model for deceleration ( p = 0.030), change in very high-speed running ( p = 0.016), change in acceleration ( p < 0.0001), and change in deceleration ( p < 0.0001). Time on pitch was included in the final total distance ( p = 0.044), high-speed running ( p < 0.0001), acceleration ( p < 0.0001), and deceleration ( p = 0.0003) models. Overall, reduced match running throughout tournaments was associated with increased time on pitch and ≤3 days between matches. Increasing match exposure and more time between matches minimizes reductions in match running between halves. Practitioners can use these variables to inform player monitoring during international soccer tournaments and on return to clubs., (Copyright © 2023 National Strength and Conditioning Association.)

Abstract: Brown, GA, Massard, T, Wignell, T, McCall, A, and Duffield, R. Monitoring training load and wellness of female footballers transitioning between club and national teams. J Strength Cond Res 37(11): 2235-2240, 2023-This study described the change in training and match internal loads, plus perceptual wellness during the transition between club and national teams (NTs) for female international footballers (soccer). Session count, session rating of perceived exertion (s-RPE), and perceptual wellness data were collected from 42 players from 1 NT between 2019 and 2021 for 7 NT tournaments. Data were collated into 7-day (1 week) microcycles to compare the 2 weeks before the first week of NT (transition in: NT-2, NT-1, NT1); and separately from the final NT week to the next 2 weeks in clubs (transition out: NTFinal, NT+1, NT+2). Data were analyzed using linear mixed-models, with session count, s-RPE or wellness as the outcome variable, week as the fixed effect, player name, and tournament as random effects. Tukey's adjusted post-hoc comparisons and Cohen's d effect sizes (ES) were compared between weeks. Significance level was set at p < 0.05. During the transition into NT, training and total session counts increased (p < 0.0001, ES > 0.67), training s-RPE increased (p = 0.012, ES = 0.35), whereas match count and s-RPE decreased (p < 0.05, ES < -0.34). During the transition out of NT, there were decreases in training session count (p < 0.05, ES < -0.37), match count, and total session count (p < 0.0001, ES < -0.86), and match and total s-RPE (p < 0.0001, ES < -0.63). Perceived wellness was not significantly different throughout (p > 0.05, ES = -0.34 to 0.35). Thus, training and match exposures differ between club and NTs, demonstrating these unique transitional periods require simple and effective load monitoring to inform training and recovery prescription when changing between club and NTs., (Copyright © 2023 National Strength and Conditioning Association.)