Evaluation of external load magnitude in different parts of a training session in U18 football players

Title: Evaluation of external load magnitude in different parts of a training session in U18 football players Background: Currently, there is growing interest in monitoring training load in youth football; however, findings across studies remain inconsistent and difficult to compare. A key gap in research lies in the limited analysis of load according to specific methodological and organizational forms of training (e.g., games, drills, running). The number of studies quantifying external load within distinct parts of a training session is still limited. Purpose: The aim of this thesis is to determine the amount of external physical load in different parts of training sessions among U18 football players. Methods: The study involved 22 U18 players (born in 2007) from the elite youth team FK Dukla Prague. During the period of October-November 2024, external load was passively recorded during training sessions using Catapult GPS technology. The monitored variables included: Total Distance (m), Total Distance per Minute (m/min), Sprint Distance (m), Sprint Distance per Minute (m/min), High-Speed Running Distance (HSR), HSR per Minute, and Number of Accelerations/Decelerations (ACC/DEC). Differences between training forms were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation), ANOVA, and...