Fixture Congestion in Football
Football Science & Performance Coaching

As the demand for televised games grows within the game, driving the ever-growing financial demands, European giants Real Madrid recently came through and endured a ruthless fixture schedule coupled with excessive travel to consolidate their dominance at the top of Spain’s La Liga with victory over Elche in January 2022.

Having returned from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with another trophy in the bank, beating Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup Final, they then reached the Copa del Rey quarter-finals after fighting back in extra-time to progress. 

As Real Madrid move into their 4th game in 11 days, they look to continue their extended unbeaten run as they remain at top of the table, however even legendary manager Carlo Ancelotti, a Head Coach well versed in dealing with fixture congestion through his decades in the game as player and head coach asked the direct question:

“What do you want me to say? There is a calendar here which is absolute nonsense….”

As fixture congestion has recently become a hot discussion and debated topic, research in this area by Ross et al., (2021) had proposed how physical output is not really a problem as total distance covered was not impacted by fixture congested periods.

The investigation performed determined congested fixture periods as 6-consecutive matches separated by 3 days, whereas congested fixture periods were defined as periods through which the team analysed played 2-games in a week. Consequently, non-congested fixture periods were described within the study as a period with 1-match played within a weekly schedule.

Results from studies involving fixture congestive periods observed negative effects of fixture congestion on variables such as low- and moderate-intensity distance covered, which maybe indicates how professional football players employ pacing strategies as a way of maintaining high-intensity actions during heavy fixture periods.

According to literature in this important area, from a coaching or playing perspective, to navigate the fixtures, and generate a playing rhythm, impacting key variables such as travel & logistics, training load management, squad rotation, rest & recovery are vitally important (Carling et al., 2015). To maintain high-performance levels whilst reducing the impact on injury incidence, evaluation around the key performance components need to be assessed.

One of the leading authorities in the area of fixture congestion at the elite level of the game, Leo Djaoui who is the sport science and conditioning expert in European football club Standard Liège who compete in the Belgium Jupiler Pro League, and the UEFA Europa League on regular occasions has discussed in detail the key variables:

Technical & tactical performance: Limited discussion exists around the analysis of technical and tactical performance during congested periods, however the studies that are available showed minimal impact of technical & tactical data sets through lack of recovery between games.

The studies reported in this area utilised technical markers such as % of passes succeeded, the number of lost passes, and the number of ball touches. Furthermore, Moreira et al., (2016), observed how young players during a tournament of 7-games in 7-days, revealed a reduction of defensive technical actions, such as the number of interceptions and tackles over the last 3-games of the competition.

ISSPF faculty member and tactical analyst Slawomir Morawski has detailed how the key tactical elements of the game within the ISSPF platform, however understanding how fixture congestion and psychological fatigue influences these key aspects of elite level performance is of paramount importance.

For more information on tactical principles ISSPF faculty member Dr. Filipe Clemente has discussed these in more details within the platform itself within small-sided games training interventions.

Injury risk: Describing the injury aspects of fixture congestion, it has been understood from the literature in this research area that they inevitably lead to large increases in accumulative fatigue. Accumulative fatigue is very apparent when recovery from one competitive game is not fully achieved (<72hrs), prior to starting the next fixture in the block as a result of reduced time period between games.

Within the ISSPF online course in Soccer Science & Performance, faculty member and elite football science & performance coach Dr. Patrick Orme overviews the injury prevalence in the game, highlighting key considerations when aiming to optimally prepare or recover the football athlete.

Physical performance: Some aspects of physical activity have been reported as being significantly impacted during congested fixtures in professional football. Elite level research performed by renowned sport scientist and football performance coach Chris Carling, observed that total and low intensity running distances could be reduced during fixture congestion.

Additionally, this was suggested as a potential subconsciously administered strategy that players may use or execute to counter fatigue or insufficient recovery from previous match-play.

WHAT NOW?

Here at ISSPF we are offering people the opportunity to stay ahead of the game by becoming a real student of the game to ensure players across all levels are exposed to the best practice in terms of coaching content, fitness, technical development, tactical analysis, soccer science & nutrition, strength & conditioning techniques & injury reduction strategies that will assist to enhance performance of individuals and collectively teams.

Not only are we keeping things simple for individuals who are keen to progress in their own area of development within team sport and soccer, but we are enhancing the capability to self-develop through our unique faculty of staff and elite practitioners to bring key messages and expert advice to the comfort of your own preferred learning environment.

Travelling to and from games, training, at home, in the office….. we have a fully functioning educational and self-developing continual professional development strategy ready to work with you through our online coaching courses…..

TAKE THE ONLINE FOOTBALL SCIENCE & PERFORMANCE COURSE

The demand for sports science, tactical analysts, physiotherapists, performance & coaching specialists in football & team sports is growing year upon year. Thousands of learners at home, university students leaving university with a sport science degree, physio or therapy related qualification, however many of them asking key questions – What now? How do I get a job in football? What’s the next step? Which area of sport or football science & medicine do I want to specialise in?

This is certainly an interesting question as progressing from completing a sporting, medical or therapy related degree to then working in professional football & trying to understanding all the key components, and soft skills that come with jobs in football or careers within sport is complex.

As a result, the bespoke courses developed by ISSPF Elite Football Coaching & Sport Science, Kinesiology, Athletic Trainers & Physiotherapist Faculty members are a way of further exposing learners, parents, professional coaches, students, or other individuals interested in football science with a thirst to develop & upskill further.

The link below will take you to the hugely popular & expertly designed ISSPF endorsed & University & Football Association accredited Soccer Science & Performance online course, where you will be exposed to football or soccer science with coaching led research, and practical examples used by the game’s leading practitioners.

Why is this course important?

• Provides justification for the guiding of specific training methods, interventions & decision making processes within soccer
• Highlights the practical application of modern, research based training methods & assessment tools
• Provides an increased evidence & knowledge to understand key kinesiology, soccer science & performance processes across a range of coaching science topics
• Discusses the most efficient training methods and detailed insights into developing player fitness alongside rehabilitation & training methodologies
• Learn from industry experts in the area of soccer or football science, kinesiology, sport science & performance training in team sports
• Help maximise your decision making through a better understanding & appreciation of football or soccer science

Who is this course for?

• Individuals tasked with the responsibility for the training, preparation & coaching aspects of soccer players or team sports
• Kinesiologists, sport scientists, athletic trainers, coaches & fitness trainers
• Individuals with an interest in developing their knowledge in the training & development of individual soccer players or team sports

Outline of the Soccer Science & Performance Course:

Module 1: The demands of professional soccer: Physiological costs of the game
Lecturer: Dr. Vasilis Kalapthorakos (Greece)
Topic: Physiology

Module 2: Developing Resilience in Soccer: Mental Skill Development
Lecturer: Dr. Nikki Crawley (England)
Topic: Psychology

Module 3: Game model building & development: Reinterpreting Tactical Periodisation
Lecturer: Dr. Alejandro Romero-Caballero (Spain) Spanish Football Federation
Topic: Training Methodology

Module 4: Injury reduction strategies in professional soccer
Lecturer: Dr. Patrick Orme (England) Bristol City FC
Topic: Injury Prevention

Module 5: Leadership and Culture for High Performance Soccer
Lecturer: Maximillian Lankheit (Germany) San Jose Earthquakes FC, MLS
Topic: Psychology

Module 6: Current trends in leading European soccer teams: In-Possession
Lecturer: Chris Meek (England) England Football Association
Topic: Performance Analysis

Module 7: Soccer nutrition & the role of the nutritionist
Lecturer: Matthew Jones (England) West Ham United FC

Topic: Nutrition

Module 8: Competitive soccer training microcycle: Structure & justification
Lecturer: Dr. Manuel Segovia (Spain) Spanish Football Federation
Topic: Training Methodology

FAQs:

All these frequently asked questions will be answered & further detailed information provided within our ISSPF online course – we look forward to seeing you there!

What is football science & performance?

• Football coaches, football scientists & research driven practitioners combining soccer related studies & findings together to maximise their working & coaching efficiency
• Bringing together some of the latest scientific principles, knowledge & practical applications surrounding performance within a soccer specific environment
• The integration of research driven & coaching principles that enable key individuals within the game to maximise the performance of players

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