Weekly training load distribution across microcycle types in women’s soccer: A full-season study

Journal of Applied Sports Sciences 10(1): 38-53, doi: 10.37393/JASS.2026.10.01.4

José Carlos Ponce-Bordón^‡, David Lobo-Triviño^‡, Rosa Ayuso-Moreno^‡, Borja Sanabria-Pino^‡, Jorge Polo-Tejada^‡

‡ Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain

Corresponding author: David Lobo-Triviño ( davidlt@unex.es )

Academic editor: Michail Michailov

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0), which permits to copy and distribute the article for non-commercial purposes, and the original author and source are credited. Adapted content must be distributed under the same license

Citation:

Abstract

Introduction: Monitoring training load (TL) is key to optimizing health, performance, and injury prevention in soccer, yet evidence across full-season microcycle types in women’s soccer is limited. Purpose and objectives of the study: This study analyzed the weekly TL distribution in a semi-professional women’s soccer team throughout a full competitive season, and examined diff erences in total weekly workload (training sessions and match demands) between diff erent types of microcycles. Additionally, the percentage contribution of training and match loads to the total weekly workload in each microcycle type was calculated. Applied methodology: A total of 170 training sessions and 35 oﬃ cial matches were analyzed during the 2024/25 season from 20 semi-professional soccer players who competed in the Spanish Second Women’s Division. Training sessions were categorized based on proximity to the match into four categories. In addition, microcycles were classiﬁ ed into three types: Non-Congested (i.e., included only one oﬃ cial match during the week; NCON); Congested (i.e., included two oﬃ cial matches in the same week; CON), and Non-Match weeks (i.e., corresponded to weeks without oﬃ cial competition; NMA). External load (EL) variables were collected during training sessions and oﬃ cial matches using 10 Hz GPS devices. Achieved major results: Linear Mixed Models revealed that the NCON microcycle emerged as the most demanding week, with the highest EL observed on MD-4 and MD-3. Speciﬁ cally, players covered signiﬁ cantly greater total distance and sprint distance during NCON weeks than during CON weeks (p < .01) and NMA weeks (p < .001). Leads: These ﬁ ndings may guide coaching staff in adjusting weekly workload according to microcycle type, balancing training stimulus, and avoiding large week-to-week ﬂ uctuations in training workload across diff erent competitive schedules. Originality/Value: This study clariﬁ es how EL is distributed throughout the microcycle and highlights the diff erences between training and match demands across diff erent microcycle structures in women’s soccer.

Keywords

Semi-Professional, Training Periodization, Workload Distribution, GPS Monitoring, Congested Fixtures