Training Tasks vs. Match Demands: Do Football Drills Replicate Worst-Case Scenarios?

This study analyses the physical performance variables involved in different training tasks aimed at replicating the worst-case scenarios (WCSs) observed during official matches in professional football, with a focus on playing positions and occurrences within a 1 min period. Data were collected from 188 training sessions and 42 matches of a Spanish Second Division team during the 2021/2022 season. All data were reported on a per-player basis. GPS tracking devices were used to record physical variables such as total distance, high-speed running (HSR), sprints, accelerations, decelerations, and high metabolic load distance (HMLD). Players were grouped according to their match positions: central defenders, wide players, midfielders and forwards. The results showed that none of the training tasks fully replicated the physical demands of match play. However, task TYPEs 11 (Large-Sided Games) and 9 (small-sided games with orientation and transition) were the closest to match demands, particularly in terms of accelerations and decelerations. Although differences were observed across all variables, the most pronounced discrepancies were observed in sprint and HSR variables, where training tasksfailed to reach 60% of match demands. These findings highlight the need to design more specific drills that simulate the intensity of WCS, allowing for more accurate weekly training load planning. This study offers valuable contributions for optimising performance and reducing injury risk in professional footballers during the competitive period.