Background

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between performance test parameters and match-related physical performance in professional soccer players.

Methods

To determine physical capacity, 28 male soccer players underwent several performance tests at the start of the seasons 2013/2014, 2014/2015, and 2015/2016. The following parameters were assessed: maximum running velocity (v_max), fixed (v_4mmol/l) and individual anaerobic threshold (v_IAS) during an incremental treadmill test; 30-m sprint time in a linear sprint test (LS_30m); in a repeated-sprint test, the 30-m sprint time (RST_30m) and performance decrement (RST_decr); and countermovement jump height (CMJ). Match physical performance was quantified during the first ten official matches of each season using a computerized, camera-based tracking system. The following measures of match physical performance were considered: top running speed (TS), mean running speed (v_Ø), total distance covered (TD), number of sprints (SP), number of high-intensity running (HIR), and aerial duels won (AD+). Pearson correlation coefficients were used for statistical analysis.

Results

Moderate to very large correlations were found between the majority of performance test parameters and match performance variables, with a variability of correlations across the three seasons. Large relationships across all three seasons were only observed between v_max and TD, v_max and v_Ø, LS_30m and TS as well as RST_30m and TS.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the relationship between several performance test parameters and match-related physical performance in professional soccer players, thereby supporting the test parameters’ criterion validity. v_max, LS_30m, and RST_30m seem to be the most consistent parameters.