Go Fast or Go Slow?
⚽️ This post is not a scientific paper. It is solely based on soccer practice, reality & common sense.
⚽️ Views are my own.
I have noticed a lot of social media posts recently, with people discussing the “new trend” of successful teams running less than their opponents in a 90min soccer game and that sprinting is not decisive in a team’s success. I’m referring to a “new trend” as the last few years (until last month basically), sprinting was the '‘hot” subject for discussion; with practitioners highlighting the importance of exposing soccer players to high velocities.
The reality is that, in the Qatar World Cup 2022, successful teams (teams made it to the last 16) ran less than their rivals. The highlight was, Argentina and France were the ones with the least total distance covered. After that, a lot of arguments and discussions have started around the necessity of players sprinting.
Reading all these disputes, I have a lot of questions running through my mind:
Go fast or go slow?
📌 Are these numbers/data possibly overrated?
📌 Are those numbers interpreted correctly?
📌. Numbers would be different if you have players with better technical/tactical qualities?
📌 In the end, do numbers mean anything in terms of players preparation?
📌 Is sport science in soccer moving in the right direction?
📌 Quantitative data (numbers) vs Qualitative data (specific actions)?
📌 Do “good” players have to sprint or not?
📌 Do players necessarily have to sprint to face “worst case scenarios” in the game?
📌 Sprinting as a ‘‘vaccine’’ for injuries and improving performance?
🗣️ If you want to hear (see) my answers to those questions:
Yes
No
Yes
Yes and No
No
Qualitative
Yes
Yes
No comment!
In the end, which team will always have success and win trophies?
The one with the better players!