TY - JOUR AU - Kubayi, A AU - Toriola, A PY - 2018/11/05 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Physical performance analysis of elite soccer players during the extra-time periods of the 2016 UEFA Euro Championship JF - South African Journal of Sports Medicine JA - SA J Sports Med VL - 30 IS - 1 SE - Articles DO - 10.17159/2078-516X/2018/v30i1a4842 UR - https://journals.assaf.org.za/index.php/sajsm/article/view/4842 SP - 1-3 AB - <p><strong>Background:</strong> Despite the importance of extra-time in determining success in the knockout stages of soccer tournaments, there remains scant information on the physical demands of extra time on elite players.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> This study investigated the physical performance profiles of all soccer players (N=59) who completed four matches that went to extra time at the 2016 UEFA Euro Championship. Players were categorised as follows: central defenders (CDs), wide defenders (WDs), central midfielders (CMs), wide midfielders (WMs), and attackers (ATs). Match activities were captured using a validated camera tracking system (InStat®).</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> The findings showed that total distances covered by players during matches consistently decreased by 13% from the first half of the game (112.79±10.17&nbsp;m) to extra time (103.17±6.39&nbsp;m). The reduction of the total distance covered, especially in high-intensity running (i.e., high-speed running and sprinting), was more apparent in ATs than players in other positions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Intervention strategies needed to sustain soccer players’ physical performance during extra-time periods and of post-match recovery modalities warrant further investigation.</p> ER -