Evolving running load demands and fixture congestion in the English Premier League: a decade of insights from 2015/2016 to 2024/2025.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To describe the running load demands and fixture congestion of English Premier League (EPL) teams from seasons 2015/2016 to 2024/2025.

Methods

A total of 3750 games across ten seasons were analysed for team total distance (TD), high-intensity distance (HID; >5.5 m/s), high-speed running distance (HSR; 5.5-7 m/s) and sprint distance (SprD; >7 m/s). Matches were tracked using semi-automated systems; TRACAB (2015/2016-2018/2019) and Second Spectrum (2S; 2019/2020-2024/2025). Match minutes (Wyscout) were used to calculate total and congested minutes per season.

Results

Significant small to large increases (all p<0.001) were observed in team TD (effect size (ES): 0.56), HID (ES: 1.79), HSR (ES: 1.67) and SprD (ES: 1.61), along

SUBMITTER: Allen T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12772561 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature