Aerobic fitness of elite soccer players linked to player positions

Returning to in-person experiences in February: for more information. New study findings can help coaches regulate individual training loads based on player position Researchers have linked the fitness of elite soccer players to the positions they play. The ability to make this assessment can help coaches regulate individual training loads based on player position, according to a recent study. The study found that all positions on a soccer pitch except centre backs showed a strong association between aerobic power training and high-intensity performance. "It is perhaps not surprising because centre backs cover less distance and perform fewer power events than other field positions," said Matteo Masucci, a PhD candidate in Kinesiology and Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo. "Centre backs face the pitch and control the situation. They have a slower pace and play more of a mental or tactical game.