Bengaluru, April 29: Is there really any direct relation between covering miles on the ground and on-field success? This is the question that lingers in the minds of football buffs all the time.
The La Liga – Mediacoach sports investigation department, in collaboration with the University of Extremadura, took a scientific approach to analyse the relationship between distances travelled at high intensity during matches and the final standings from the last four La Liga seasons.
The findings of this study corroborate the fans’ desire to see their heroes put in the hard yards.
The teams at the top end of the table have been shown to cover more ground at above 24 km/hr than the sides beneath them.
With MSL Media inputs, myKhel.com looks at how La Liga has analysed the relationship between the distance travelled and the final result in the last four seasons.
Important point
However, let us not get carried away and urge players to simply tear around the pitch like headless chickens.
The first important point to make is that the relationship between distance covered and being in the upper echelons of the table applies only when running at a pace of over 24 km/hr. When the intensity drops below this speed, the aforementioned correlation is not produced.
Barcelona set benchmark
One example that highlights this relationship perfectly is current La Liga leaders Barcelona.
The Catalan giants are amongst the sides that complete the lowest average distance per game. However, if we look solely at the ground covered at high intensity (> 24 km/hr), the Azulgranas rank comfortably above the league average.
Secure glory
The technical-tactical explanation behind this phenomenon is strikingly obvious to Ricardo Resta, director of La Liga’s sporting department & Mediacoach: “The most decisive moments in games are completed at maximum intensity.”
Indeed, when a player’s heartbeat races, they receive a burst of adrenaline that helps them to complete the move and potentially secure glory for their team.
Findings of study
The group of investigators from the University of Extremadura, headed up by Tomas Garcia, will present the results of this research at the 5th International Congress of Training Optimization and Sport and Physical Readaptation, to be held on May 29, 30.
The researchers involved in the study are — Jose Carlos Ponce, Jesus Diaz, Miguel Angel Lopez, Ivan Ramirez and Juan Jose Pulido.
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