Testing variations between starters and substitute players in terms of total distance, high-speed running, and sprinting distance: a descriptive study on professional male soccer players.

The purpose of this study was three-fold: (i) to compare total distance, high-speed running (HSR) distance, and sprint distance covered per 5-minute epoch by players acting as both starters and substitutes; (ii) to compare the locomotor demands between the moments the players entered the match (45-60, 60-75 and 75-90 minutes); and (iii) to compare the locomotor demands of the players between the variations of the within- and between-playing positions. Twenty-one male professional soccer players competing in the Professional Premier League of one of the European countries were observed over sixteen official matches. The players were monitored during all matches using a Global Navigation Satellite System.