TABLE 1.
Characteristics of short, regular, and long microcycles.
| Length | Day | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Short microcycles | MD+1 | Regeneration exercises and low-impact activities for the group of players who played more than 45 minutes in the match while the rest of the players had to compensate with rondos, possession drills, high-intensity circuits, and small-sided games. |
| MD-4 | Similar to MD+1 with an increase in intensity through positional games. | |
| MD-3 | MD-3 (for five-day microcycles) were similar to MD+1 with an increase in intensity through positional games while MD-3 (for six-day microcycles) were characterized by transition drills, positional games, and 11 vs. 11 matches. | |
| MD-2 | Light strength training, pressing tasks, and small-sided games. | |
| MD-1 | Review of tactical elements regarding the match, play small-sided games, and perform activation drills. | |
| MD | Match day. | |
|
| ||
| Regular microcycles | MD+1 | Regeneration exercises and low-impact activities for the group of players who played more than 45 minutes in the match while the rest of the players had to compensate with rondos, possession drills, high-intensity circuits, and small-sided games. |
| MD+2 | Resting days. | |
| MD-4 | Strength training, pressing tasks, and small-sided games. | |
| MD-3 | Strength training, pressing tasks, small-sided, and medium-sided games. | |
| MD-2 | Preventive strength training, rondos, control, and passing tasks, tactical drills. | |
| MD-1 | MD-1 included activation drills, small-sided games, and review of the tactical keys regarding the match. | |
| MD | Match day. | |
|
| ||
| Long microcycles | MD+1 | Regeneration exercises and low-impact activities for the group of players who played more than 45 minutes in the match while the rest of the players had to compensate with rondos, possession drills, high-intensity circuits, and small-sided games. |
| MD+2 | Resting days | |
| MD-5 | Activation drills, rondos, and 11 vs 11 games (half pitch). | |
| MD-4 | Strength training, pressing tasks, and small-sided games. | |
| MD-3 | Moderate-intensity positional games, transition drills, and 11 vs 11 matches. | |
| MD-2 | Preventive strength training, rondos, tactical drills, control and passing tasks. | |
| MD-1 | Activation drills, 6x6+6 small-sided games, and review of tactical keys regarding the match. | |
| MD | Match day. | |
MD: match day; MD-1: 1 day before the match; MD-2: 2 days before the match; MD-3: 3 days before the match; MD-4: 4 days before the match; MD-5: 5 days before the match; MD+1: 1 day after the match; MD+2: 2 days after the match.