Author(s): JELÍNEK, E., VARJAN, M., PAVLICEK, M., GALL, R., MALY, T., Institution: CHARLES UNIVERSITY, Country: CZECH REPUBLIC, Abstract-ID: 1134

INTRODUCTION:
Physical match demands in soccer are frequently analysed and reported without explicit consideration of the tactical context in which they occur. As a result, physical load metrics are often interpreted independently of game behaviours such as build-up play, defensive organisation, or transition phases, despite their potential influence on match demands. The aim of this study was to examine how technical-tactical characteristics of match play are associated with team-level physical match demands in elite U19 soccer.
METHODS:
An observational, cross-sectional match-analysis design was applied, analysing 45 competitive matches played by an elite U19 team competing in the highest Czech youth league across two competitive seasons. Physical match demands were assessed using 10-Hz GPS technology and included total distance (km), accelerations (> 3 m·s⁻², counts), decelerations (< −3 m·s⁻², counts), high-speed running (Z5, distance), sprint distance (Z6, distance), and high-intensity entry counts (Z5, Z6 entry). Across all matches, mean team-level values were 109.7 ± 4.5 km for total distance, 743.7 ± 75.5 accelerations, 808.9 ± 71.5 decelerations, 7774 ± 1076 m for Z5 distance, 1990 ± 454 m for Z6 distance, 471 ± 53 for Z5 entries, and 113 ± 20 for Z6 entries. Technical-tactical characteristics, including defensive block behaviour, build-up actions, transitions, and ball possession, were obtained through systematic video analysis. Associations between tactical and physical variables were evaluated using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (ρ), with physical variables representing the cumulative demands of all players participating in each match.
RESULTS:
Ball possession showed only trivial to small associations with physical match demands (e.g., Z6: ρ = −0.07; Z5: ρ = −0.22). The total number of build-up actions was weakly and negatively associated with sprint distance (ρ = −0.20) and showed trivial associations with other variables. In contrast, the total number of transitions demonstrated moderate positive associations with sprint-related metrics, including sprint distance (ρ = 0.47) and sprint entry counts (ρ = 0.48). Transitions initiated from different defensive block contexts showed variable associations, with transitions from a mid-defensive block demonstrating the strongest links to sprint-related demands (Z6 distance: ρ = 0.50; Z6 entry: ρ = 0.49), whereas high-block transitions showed weaker associations (Z6 distance: ρ = 0.21).
CONCLUSION:
These findings highlight transitions as a key tactical context driving high-intensity physical demands at the team level and emphasize the importance of integrating tactical context into the interpretation of match-load data and the design of training processes in elite youth soccer.