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Applied Sciences
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Load Monitoring in Team Sports
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Load Monitoring in Team Sports

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 May 2025 | Viewed by 1786

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Alberto Lorenzo Calvo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: talent development; coach development; performance analysis in team sports
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Enrique Alonso Perez-Chao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Physical Activity and Sports Science, University Alfonso X el Sabio, 28691 Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain
2. Faculty of Sports Science, European University of Madrid, 28670 Villaviciosa de Odón, Spain
Interests: basketball; load monitoring; team sports; most demanding scenarios

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Load monitoring in team sports is crucial for aligning training with the physical demands athletes face in competition, especially during high-intensity scenarios. By analyzing these demands, coaches can better understand the relationship between exertion levels and performance, allowing them to tailor training to meet game-specific needs and maximize player output.

This area of research seeks to explore how the rigorous demands of competition impact player performance and recovery, with particular attention to the physiological and biomechanical stress experienced during the most demanding scenarios. Contributions are invited to examine methods for quantifying game demands, how these metrics correlate with performance outcomes, and the role of load monitoring in designing recovery protocols that address accumulated fatigue. Topics may also cover the importance of load thresholds, individualized player monitoring, and the strategic use of load data to enhance both individual and team readiness. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive understanding of load monitoring as a means to support peak performance and sustainable training in team sports.

Dr. Alberto Lorenzo Calvo
Dr. Enrique Alonso Perez-Chao
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • tracking data
  • team performance
  • game demands
  • most demanding scenarios
  • local positioning system
  • global navigation satellite system
  • performance analysis
  • player load

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 1072 KiB  
Article
Evaluating the Impact of Video Assistant Referee Implementation in Football: A Four-Season Analysis of Match Performance Trends
by Eren Akdağ, Ali Işın, Alberto Lorenzo Calvo, Enrique Alonso Pérez Chao and Sergio L. Jiménez Sáiz
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(9), 4789; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15094789 - 25 Apr 2025
Viewed by 396
Abstract
This study aimed to examine the influence of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system on match performance indicators in professional football, specifically within the Turkish Super League. The objectives were two-fold: (i) to compare match variables such as yellow cards, red cards, goals, [...] Read more.
This study aimed to examine the influence of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system on match performance indicators in professional football, specifically within the Turkish Super League. The objectives were two-fold: (i) to compare match variables such as yellow cards, red cards, goals, penalties, fouls, and offsides between seasons with and without VAR, and (ii) to analyze the evolution of these variables across four consecutive seasons following VAR implementation. A total of 2636 matches were analyzed, comprising 1224 matches played without VAR (2014–2018) and 1412 matches played with VAR (2018–2022). Match data were obtained from InStat Scout® and included key indicators directly associated with referee decisions. Statistical analyses included the Independent Sample T-Test to assess differences between the pre- and post-VAR periods, One-Way ANOVA with Tukey post hoc tests to examine seasonal trends post-VAR, and generalized linear models to identify the effects of VAR implementation on each performance variable. The results revealed significant reductions in fouls, yellow cards, and offsides (p < 0.001), and a significant increase in penalties awarded (p < 0.001) following the introduction of VAR. No statistically significant differences were found for red cards or goals. Furthermore, the number of fouls committed showed a consistent decline across each season after VAR implementation, suggesting a long-term behavioral adaptation by players. These findings underscore the lasting impact of VAR on the dynamics of professional football matches and highlight the need for players, coaches, and referees to accordingly adapt their strategies. This study contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting VAR’s role in improving decision accuracy, though its broader implications for game flow and player performance warrant further investigation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Load Monitoring in Team Sports)
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14 pages, 2054 KiB  
Article
The Interaction of Fitness and Fatigue on Physical and Tactical Performance in Football
by Mauro Mandorino, Tim J. Gabbett, Antonio Tessitore, Cedric Leduc, Valerio Persichetti and Mathieu Lacome
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(7), 3574; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15073574 - 25 Mar 2025
Viewed by 984
Abstract
Elite football players face increasing physical and tactical demands due to rising match schedules emphasizing the need for effective load monitoring strategies to optimize performance and reduce injury risk. This study integrates fitness and fatigue indices derived from a machine learning approach to [...] Read more.
Elite football players face increasing physical and tactical demands due to rising match schedules emphasizing the need for effective load monitoring strategies to optimize performance and reduce injury risk. This study integrates fitness and fatigue indices derived from a machine learning approach to develop a performance score based on Banister’s fitness–fatigue model. Data were collected over two seasons (2022/23 and 2023/24) from 23 elite players of an Italian professional team. Fitness was assessed via heart rate collected during small-sided games, while fatigue was evaluated through PlayerLoad recorded during training sessions; both were normalized using z-scores. Match outcomes, including physical (e.g., total distance, high-sprint distance) and tactical metrics (e.g., field tilt, territorial domination), were analyzed in relation to performance conditions (optimal, intermediate, poor). Results revealed that players in the optimal performance condition exhibited significantly higher second-half physical outputs, including total distance (z-TD2ndHalf: p < 0.05, ES = 0.29) and distance covered at >14.4 km/h (z-D14.42ndHalf: p < 0.01, ES = 0.52), alongside improved match tactical parameters as territorial domination (%TDO2ndHalf: p < 0.01, r = 0.431). This study underscores the utility of invisible monitoring in football, providing actionable insights for weekly training periodization. This research establishes a foundation for integrating data-driven strategies to enhance physical and tactical performance in professional football. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Load Monitoring in Team Sports)
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