Worst case scenario match analysis and contextual variables in professional soccer players: a longitudinal study

This study aimed to describe the worst-case scenarios (WCS) of professional soccer players by playing position in different durations and analyse WCS considering different contextual variables (match half, match location and match outcome). A longitudinal study was conducted in a professional soccer team. Data were collected from different WCS durations in the total distance (TD), high-speed running distance (HSRD), and sprinting distance (SPD). A mixed analysis of variance was performed to compare different WCS durations between playing positions and contextual variables, making pairwise comparisons by Bonferron i post hoc test. Positional differences were found for TD (p < 0.01, omega(2)(p) = 0.02), HSRD (p < 0.01, (omega(2)(p) = 0.01) and SPD (p < 0.01, omega(2)(p) = 0.02). There was a significant interaction when comparing WCS by match half in TD (F= 6.1, p < 0.01, omega(2)(p) = 0.07) but no significant differences in HSRD (p = 0.403, omega(2)(p) = 0) or SPD (p = 0.376, omega(2)(p) = 0). A significant interaction was identified when comparing WCS by match location in TD (F = 51.5, p < 0.01, to omega(2)(p) = 0.14), HSRD (F = 19.15, p < 0.01, omega(2)(p) = 0.05) and SPD (F = 8.95, p < 0.01, to omega(2)(p) = 0.01) as well as WCS by match outcome in TD (F = 36.4, p < 0.01, (14 2 = 0.08), HSRD (F = 13.6, p < 0.01, omega(2)(p) = 0.04) and SPD (F = 7.4, p < 0.01, omega(2)(p) = 0.02). Positional differences exist in TD, HSRD, and SPD in match-play WCS, and contextual variables such as match half, match location and match outcome have a significant impact on the WCS of professional soccer players.