Running economy in elite soccer and basketball players: differences among positions on the field

In the present study running economy (RE) was recorded in elite soccer and basketball players and positional differences were addressed. Elite soccer players (n = 111) and basketball players (n = 39), active in the Belgian first division performed an incremental running test (8 km. h(-1) + 2 km. h(-1) each three minutes) on a treadmill until exhaustion. Throughout the test gas exchange was registered and capillary blood samples were taken from which peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak), speed at the anaerobic threshold (V-AnT) and RE could be determined. These parameters were compared among the playing positions in soccer and basketball. In soccer, midfielders (214.4 +/- 11.1 ml. km(-1). kg(-1)) and full-backs (218.4 +/- 10.3 ml. km(-1). kg(-1)) had a significantly higher RE compared to center-backs (231.4 +/- 8.8 ml. km(-1). kg(-1)). In basketball, guards (229.4 +/- 10.4 ml. km(-1). kg(-1)) had a significantly higher RE compared to forwards (237.8 +/- 9.3 ml. km(-1). kg(-1)) and centers (243.3 +/- 13.2 ml. km(-1). kg(-1)). These differences in RE were accompanied by similar positional differences in VO2 peak and VAnT. Furthermore, both in soccer (R = 0.56) and basketball (R = 0.63), RE was correlated to VAnT. The present study points at the importance of RE in physical preparation of team sports and it can be concluded that teamsport-specific training should also focus on improving RE.