My Scientific Research
How Lower-Body Strength Influences Acceleration in Soccer
In this study, we explored how different lower-body strength qualities relate to match acceleration in semi-professional football players. Seventeen athletes performed three strength tests—the countermovement jump (CMJ), a drop jump (mRSI), and a horizontal crossover hop (COav)—and we compared these results with their GPS-derived match performance in the following 14 days.
Players with higher CMJ and reactive strength scores produced more high-intensity accelerations and achieved greater maximum acceleration during matches. Meanwhile, horizontal strength (COav) helped explain how players coped with the most demanding passages of play: those with lower horizontal strength accumulated higher external load during worst-case scenarios.
Overall, the findings show that specific strength qualities—especially vertical fast dynamic and reactive strength—play an important role in acceleration performance, while horizontal strength supports players during peak-intensity moments. These insights can help coaches better target strength training to improve match-day performance.
Reference: Rubio-Lopez, Jorge, Víctor Paredes-Hernández, Javier Sánchez-Sánchez, and Carlos Balsalobre-Fernández. 2025. “ Associations Between Lower-Body Fast Maximal Dynamic and Reactive Strength Tests With Acceleration Performance in Semi-Professional Male Soccer Players.” European Journal of Sport Science: e70056. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.70056.
We explored how professional football players accelerate during elite-level matches, focusing on how their initial running speed affects acceleration. By analysing over 8,400 in-game actions from LaLiga players across three seasons, we developed individual acceleration-speed (AS0) profiles and compared them by position. The results revealed a clear inverse relationship: the faster a player is already moving, the lower their acceleration tends to be. These findings challenge the use of fixed acceleration thresholds in match analysis and highlight the value of personalised AS0 profiles for more accurate performance monitoring across positions.
Reference: Garrosa, F. N., Saiz, J., Quintero-Illera, J., Rubio-López, J., López-Del Campo, R., & Jiménez-Rubio, S. (2025). Acceleration-speed profiles in LaLiga: the influence of initial running speed and differences between positional roles in elite football players. Biology of Sport, 42(4), 125-144. https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2025.150035