Competing at Altitude Reduces In-Match Physical Demands of Professional Soccer Players Compared With Sea Level.

Purpose: This study examined whether physical demands during soccer matches differ between sea level and altitude, considering variations by playing position.

Methods: Thirty-seven professional players were monitored during 22 matches (11 at sea level and 11 at altitudes of 2200-4090 m) with global navigation satellite systems. Independent mean differences were used to compare in-match physical demands (ie, total distance, distance covered at specific speed intervals, accelerations [ACCs] and decelerations [DECs], and maximal speed) between locations for 5 playing positions (central defenders, fullbacks, central midfielders, wide midfielders, and forwards).