Characterizing the sprint threshold (25.2 km/h): a case study analysis on how soccer players reach sprint speeds and what relative intensity the threshold represents

This study investigated how soccer players reach sprint speeds (> 25.2 km⋅h⁻¹) and what that fixed threshold represents to each player regarding their individual match peak speeds registered during competition.

Twenty professional players (n = 20) from a team competing in the Brazilian first division were monitored with a global navigation satellite system during six matches. All efforts with final speeds > 25.2 km⋅h⁻¹ were analyzed according to starting speed, and accelerations’ duration and magnitude. Peak speeds for each player were also retrieved and compared to the sprint threshold.

Most efforts > 25.2 km⋅h⁻¹ (> 91%) start with very short accelerations (< 0.5 s). Efforts started predominately from high starting speeds (20–25 and > 25 km⋅h⁻¹) than low starting speeds (< 5 and 5–10 km⋅h⁻¹) with huge effect sizes (p < 0.001). Most accelerations had magnitudes between 1 and 3 m⋅s⁻² (p < 0.05). The 25.2 km⋅h⁻¹ threshold represented an intensity of 71–91% of players’ match peak speed.

The inclusion of accelerations and peak speeds associated to the sprinting events that occur > 25.2 km⋅h⁻¹ was shown to be useful for further characterization of soccer sprinting performance. In addition, the fixed threshold fails to individualize players’ capabilities and performances, misleading load demands performed by players.