Effects of the competitive standard on external and internal load during the match-play in elite Brazilian professional soccer players

Purpose This study aimed to look into the effects of competitive standards based on contextual match factors on external and internal load in elite Brazilian professional soccer players. Forty-six professional male soccer players participated in this descriptive study. Methods The physical demands were monitored by distance-based measures and rating perceived exertion-based training load during 76 matches at 2 competitive standards: 1st and 2nd Brazilian leagues. Results Home and away matches played in the 2nd Brazilian national league presented greater values of the total distance (TD) and moderate-intensity running (MSR) [p < 0;05, effect size (ES) = small-moderate] than the 1st Brazilian national league. When losing and winning matches in the top national, players covered shorter TD, MSR, and high-speed running distances (p < 0;05, ES = small-moderate). The matches against intermediate and weak opposition required high values of TD and MSR (p < 0;05, ES = small-moderate) in the lower national league. Conclusions In a Brazilian league, our results highlight the differences in the external load of top and lower national leagues according to contextual match factors. The evidence emphasizes the importance of developing appropriate attributes to prepare professional soccer players for various competitive standards.