External Load Between Floater Types and Regular Players in Different Inferiority Game Formats in Professional Men's Soccer.

Purpose: This study examined the external load of different floater types and regular players (RPs) in small-sided games, as well as the effects of low and high inferiority on RPs in professional men's soccer.

Methods: Twenty-four male soccer players from the Greek top-tier league participated in small-sided games over an 8-week in-season period. The games were played without goalkeepers on 4 minigoals, with a 2-touch restriction for inside floaters and a 1-touch restriction for outside floaters. GPS units measured external-load metrics including total distance, high-intensity running distances across speed zones, number and distance covered in sprints, and acceleration/deceleration metrics. Linear mixed-effects models were used to identify differences in external load between floater types and RPs and between games played under low- and high-inferiority conditions for RPs.

Results: RPs showed significant differences in most variables (P < .05) compared with both types of floaters, except for the number of high accelerations and running in the highest velocity band. Inside floaters exhibited higher external load in half of the variables, although these effects diminished in zones of high locomotor and mechanical intensity. External load was higher in low-inferiority games compared with high-inferiority games across all variables (P < .05), except for the number of high decelerations (P = .241).

Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that external load differs between playing roles and inferiority configurations. This information can be utilized by practitioners to optimize training strategies and enhance player performance.