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Tier-Specific Evolution of Match Performance Characteristics in the English Premier League: It’s Getting Tougher at the Top

Bradley, Paul, Archer, David, Hogg, Robert, Shuth, Gabor, Bush, Michael, Carling, Christopher and Barnes, Christopher (2015) Tier-Specific Evolution of Match Performance Characteristics in the English Premier League: It’s Getting Tougher at the Top. Journal of Sports Sciences, 34 (10). pp. 980-987. ISSN 0264-0414

Item Type: Article

Abstract

This study investigated the evolution of physical and technical performances in the English Premier League (EPL) with special reference to league ranking. Match performance observations (n=14700) were collected using a multiple-camera computerised tracking system across seven consecutive EPL seasons (2006-07 to 2012-13). Final league rankings were classified into Tiers: (A) 1st-4th ranking (n=2519), (B) 5th-8th ranking (n=2965), (C) 9th-14th ranking (n=4448) and (D) 15th-20th ranking (n=4768). Teams in Tier B demonstrated moderate increases in high-intensity running distance while in ball possession from the 2006-07 to 2012-13 season (P<0.001; Effect Size [ES]: 0.68), with Tiers A, C and D producing less pronounced increases across the same period (P<0.005; ES: 0.26, 0.41, 0.33). Large increases in sprint distance were observed from the 2006-07 to 2012-13 season for Tier B (P<0.001; ES: 1.21) while only moderate increases were evident for Tiers A, C and D (P<0.001; ES: 0.75, 0.97, 0.84). Tier B demonstrated large increases in the number of passes performed and received in 2012-13 compared to 2006-07 (P<0.001; ES: 1.32-1.53) with small-to-moderate increases in Tier A (P<0.001; ES: 0.30-0.38), Tier C (P<0.001; ES: 0.46-0.54) and Tier D (P<0.001; ES: 0.69-0.87). The point’s difference between Tiers A and B in the 2006-07 season was 8 points but this decreased to just a single point in the 2012-13 season. The data demonstrate that physical and technical performances have evolved more in Tier B than any other Tier in the EPL and could indicate a narrowing of the performance gap between the top two Tiers.

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More Information

Depositing User: David Archer

Identifiers

Item ID: 5663
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2015.1082614
ISSN: 0264-0414
URI: http://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/5663
Official URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/026404...

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Catalogue record

Date Deposited: 19 Aug 2015 10:31
Last Modified: 09 Oct 2020 14:05

Contributors

Author: Paul Bradley
Author: David Archer
Author: Robert Hogg
Author: Gabor Shuth
Author: Michael Bush
Author: Christopher Carling
Author: Christopher Barnes

University Divisions

Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing
Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing > School of Nursing and Health Sciences

Subjects

Sciences > Sport Sciences

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