Table 2.
Statements/questions posed to EFP-Group regarding Sprinting and HSR and corresponding consensus/no consensus achieved
| Statement (based on content analysis from each round) | Number of respondents in the final agreement (%) | Number of respondents who did not agree (%) | Round introduced | Round where consensus was achieved | Specific comments from the EFP-Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sprinting and HSR targeted training should be based on a players’ ‘individual’ max speeds rather than the factory set absolute thresholds | 16 (94) | 1 (6) | 3rd | 3rd | 17/18 responded |
| Sprinting and HSR training should ideally and where possible, be integrated into the coaches’ football training drills | 16 (89) | 2 (11) | 3rd | 3rd | No specific comments |
| It is appropriate to use specially designed football drills and/or generic running drills to ensure Sprinting and HSR targets are met | 18 (100) | 0 (0) | 3rd | 3rd | No specific comments |
| Concerning starters, in a week with 6 full days recovery between matches (e.g. Saturday to Saturday) the most appropriate day to perform specific Sprinting and HSR is on Matchday − 3 (M + 4) | 14 (78) | 1 (6) | 2nd | 3rd |
3 (17%) respondents neither agreed nor disagreed While the majority agreed this is appropriate, 4 experts within the ‘yes’ group Highlighted that while they agreed, there were also other options such as M − 4 |
| Concerning starters, in a week with 5 full days recovery between matches, M − 3 (M + 3) is the most appropriate day to perform sprinting and HSR exercise | 14 (78) | 0 (0) | 2nd | 3rd | 4 Experts neither agreed nor disagreed—they specified that it is an option, but also other times may be suitable and can be dependent on a number of factors including the coaches plan for sessions, whether single or double sessions will be performed |
| Concerning starters, in a week with ≥ 5 days recovery between matches, the ideal target of Sprinting and HSR GPS metrics to reach is 100% of the player’s worst-case match scenario | 12 (71) | 5 (29) | 2nd | 3rd |
17 responses included in the analysis 1 respondent stated not using a specific % threshold |
| Concerning starters, during weeks with ≤ 4 days recovery it is not necessary to perform any targeted Sprinting and HSR exercise. The reason given was that players should reach their individual targets during matches (if playing full to most of the matches) | 16 (89) | 1 (6) | 2nd | 3rd | 1 (6%) neither agreed nor disagreed—it was specified that players do not always reach their maximums in matches and should be monitored carefully and adjust the week plan accordingly |
| Non-starters/non-playing squad players should be prescribed additional Sprinting and HSR exercises on either M + 1 or M + 2 (but not both) | 14 (78) | 1 (6) | 2nd | 3rd | 10 (56%) also specified that after the match is a possibility. It depends on the training and match schedule for the upcoming week. 3 neither agreed nor disagreed |
| Concerning starters, in a week with ≥ 5 days recovery between matches, what is the minimum target of Sprinting and HSR GPS metrics to reach in regards to the player’s worst-case match scenario | See comment box for specific details on responses | 2nd | No consensus after 4 rounds | Seven (41%) respondents recommended a minimum weekly target of 50–74%, 2 (12%) stated 75–84% and seven (41%) suggested 85–100%, while 1 person (6%) proposed anything > 60% | |
HSR high-speed running, GPS global positioning system