What are the main findings? 1) Trivial-to-small correlations were observed between the weekly training load (TL) and the match physical demands of that week for different external load variables. 2) During MD-3, the greatest values of total distance (TD), medium-speed running (MSR), very high speed running (VHSR), Sprint distance, high-speed running (HSR), and player load (PL) occurred, and during MD-4, the highest values of accelerations (ACC) and decelerations (DEC) occurred, showing that the hardest training sessions were those days. What is the implication of the main finding? 1) A correct weekly TL distribution could optimize the subsequent performance of soccer players. 2) Practitioners should reduce the volume of the training sessions after heavy training sessions characterized by high external load in MD-4 and MD-3. This study aimed (i) to analyze the relationship between weekly accumulated training load (TL) and match physical demands in the same week and (ii) to describe the training/match ratios of different external load measures considering variations across different training days. Twenty-one Spanish male professional soccer players were involved in the study. Total distance (TD), medium speed running (MSR, distance 10.8-18.0 km·h-1), high-speed running (HSR, >21 km·h-1), very high-speed running (VHSR, 18.0-25.2 km·h-1), sprinting-speed running distance (Sprint, >25.2 km·h-1), player load (PL), number of accelerations (ACC), and decelerations (DEC) were recorded during training sessions and matches using 10 Hz GPS devices. Correlations between the weekly TL and match physical demands were trivial and negative for TD (r = -0.08) and PL (r = -0.05); trivial and positive for MSR (r = 0.02), HSR (r = 0.07), Sprint (r = 0.09), and DEC (r = 0.06); and small and positive for VHSR (r = 0.22) and ACC (r = 0.19). The greatest TD, MSR, VHSR, Sprint, HSR, and PL values and their derivate ratios occurred in MD-3. The present study highlights the need for soccer athletes to be exposed to similar demands to those observed during matches.
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