The impact of different warm‐up strategies on acceleration and deceleration demands in highly trained soccer players

This study compared the differences in acceleration and deceleration demands between three different warm‐up (WU) strategies ( Reaction speed [exercises with reaction to a stimulus], Run [self‐paced running], and Speed [exercises such as shuttle running or circuits]) applied to highly trained soccer players. Nineteen players were monitored for 4 weeks using a 10 Hz Global Positioning System. Accelerations and decelerations magnitudes were classified as low (25%–50%), moderate (50%–75%), and high (>75%) intensities. Additionally, efforts were analyzed according to their respective starting speeds (<5, 5–10, 10–15, 15–20, 20–25, and >25 km h −1 ). Differences between WU strategies were estimated via paired mean differences along with effect sizes. The three WU strategies led to few efforts starting >15 km h −1 and high‐intensity efforts (<1 effort per minute). Players performed more high‐intensity accelerations during Speed than Reaction Speed (ES: 0.74 [90% CI: 0.21, 1.33]); more moderate‐intensity accelerations during Reaction Speed than Run (ES: 1.29 [90% CI: 0.72, 2.00]); more moderate‐intensity decelerations during Reaction Speed than Run (ES: 0.64 [90% CI: 0.04, 1.32]) and Speed (ES: 0.89 [90% CI: 0.37, 1.50]); more decelerations started at 20–25 km h −1 during Speed than Reaction Speed (ES: 0.81 [90% CI: 0.20, 1.49]) and Run (ES: 0.76 [90% CI: 0.42, 1.18]); and more decelerations started at >25 km h −1 during Speed than Reaction Speed (ES: 3.57 [90% CI: 2.88, 4.58]). In conclusion, Speed elicited higher acceleration and deceleration demands than the Reaction Speed and Run WU strategies, and this should be considered when designing training sessions.