{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,18]],"date-time":"2026-02-18T04:40:00Z","timestamp":1771389600295,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"17","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,24]],"date-time":"2022-08-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1661299200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sensors"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study aimed to quantify the external match loads (EMLs) of a Portuguese u-23 soccer team, competing at the highest national level for the age group, comparing players with different starting status throughout a competitive season and specific blocks. Thirty-five outfield soccer players were split into three groups for the entire season analysis and for each 3-month block, based on the percentage of games played as a starter. The three groups consisted of \u201cstarters\u201d (\u226555% of the games as a starter), \u201cfringe\u201d (30\u201354%), and \u201cnon-starters\u201d (&lt;30%). EMLs were recorded using 10 Hz GPS technology throughout the whole season (26 matches). Differences (p &lt; 0.05) were found for total distance (TD), exposure time, and the number of accelerations and decelerations between starters and non-starters throughout the season (d = 0.73 to 1.08), and within each block (d = 0.59 to 1.68). Differences were also found between starters and fringe players for the number of accelerations in Block 2 (p = 0.03; d = 0.69), and TD (p = 0.006; d = 1) and exposure time (p = 0.006; d = 0.95) in Block 3. Differences in the EML were almost always accompanied by large differences in game time. Our results highlight the differences in the EML of starters and non-starters, emphasizing the need for compensatory training, especially with players that obtain significantly less playing time, to prepare the players for match demands (e.g., high-intensity efforts such as sprinting, accelerations, and decelerations).<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/s22176379","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,24]],"date-time":"2022-08-24T23:48:58Z","timestamp":1661384938000},"page":"6379","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Season Match Loads of a Portuguese Under-23 Soccer Team: Differences between Different Starting Statuses throughout the Season and Specific Periods within the Season Using Global Positioning Systems"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"22","author":[{"given":"Jo\u00e3o","family":"Barreira","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), University of Maia, 4475-690 Maia, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5336-3652","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"F\u00e1bio Y.","family":"Nakamura","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), University of Maia, 4475-690 Maia, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Ricardo","family":"Ferreira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento de Apoio ao Rendimento, Vit\u00f3ria Sport Clube, 4810-914 Guimaraes, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Jo\u00e3o","family":"Pereira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento de Apoio ao Rendimento, Vit\u00f3ria Sport Clube, 4810-914 Guimaraes, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4885-7316","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rodrigo","family":"Aquino","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"LabSport, Department of Sports, Center of Physical Education and Sports (CEFD), Federal University of Esp\u00edrito Santo, Vit\u00f3ria 29075810, Brazil"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5515-3694","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Pedro","family":"Figueiredo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Physical Education Department, College of Education, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates"},{"name":"Portugal Football School, Portuguese Football Federation, 4711-852 Oeiras, Portugal"},{"name":"Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1018","DOI":"10.1055\/s-2007-965158","article-title":"Variation in Top Level Soccer Match Performance","volume":"28","author":"Rampinini","year":"2007","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"665","DOI":"10.1080\/02640410500482529","article-title":"Physical and Metabolic Demands of Training and Match-Play in the Elite Football Player","volume":"24","author":"Bangsbo","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. 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