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Swedish soccer coaches’ experiences and application of physical training in male elite soccer : A qualitative content analysis study

Larsson, Jonas LU ; Olsson, M. Charlotte ; Bremander, Ann LU and Larsson, Ingrid LU orcid (2021) In Scandinavian Sport Studies Forum 12. p.159-182
Abstract
In elite soccer, training becomes more systematic and soccer clubs try to optimise their physiological training programs. Previous research has investigated many aspects of soccer, but research into the coaches’ own experiences and continuous improvement of physical training is lacking. The aim of this study was to describe the coaches’ experiences and their application of physical training in male elite soccer. The design of the study was explorative and based on a qualitative content analysis with an abductive approach based on a custom version of the four-step quality model—the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle. Fifteen elite soccer coaches in Sweden were interviewed. The result showed that physical training in male elite soccer is an... (More)
In elite soccer, training becomes more systematic and soccer clubs try to optimise their physiological training programs. Previous research has investigated many aspects of soccer, but research into the coaches’ own experiences and continuous improvement of physical training is lacking. The aim of this study was to describe the coaches’ experiences and their application of physical training in male elite soccer. The design of the study was explorative and based on a qualitative content analysis with an abductive approach based on a custom version of the four-step quality model—the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle. Fifteen elite soccer coaches in Sweden were interviewed. The result showed that physical training in male elite soccer is an ongoing, continuously improving process that contains four different categories: 1) planning, containing gained experiences, teamwork, and lack of resources; 2) executing with different training methods, weekly rotation, and individual training; 3) evaluating containing monitor training load and physiological testing, and 4) improving with search for knowledge and long-term development. The coaches try to absorb new knowledge and continuously improve their training methods, although lack of resources sometimes does not allow them to introduce new training methods.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Scandinavian Sport Studies Forum
volume
12
pages
159 - 182
publisher
Malmö University; Idrottsforum.org
ISSN
2000-088X
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ac683358-00a0-47d2-9f4d-43e40fbbdb8d
alternative location
https://sportstudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/sssf-vol-12-2021-p159-181-larssonetal.pdf
date added to LUP
2022-02-22 14:09:51
date last changed
2022-02-22 14:58:51
@article{ac683358-00a0-47d2-9f4d-43e40fbbdb8d,
  abstract     = {{In elite soccer, training becomes more systematic and soccer clubs try to optimise their physiological training programs. Previous research has investigated many aspects of soccer, but research into the coaches’ own experiences and continuous improvement of physical training is lacking. The aim of this study was to describe the coaches’ experiences and their application of physical training in male elite soccer. The design of the study was explorative and based on a qualitative content analysis with an abductive approach based on a custom version of the four-step quality model—the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle. Fifteen elite soccer coaches in Sweden were interviewed. The result showed that physical training in male elite soccer is an ongoing, continuously improving process that contains four different categories: 1) planning, containing gained experiences, teamwork, and lack of resources; 2) executing with different training methods, weekly rotation, and individual training; 3) evaluating containing monitor training load and physiological testing, and 4) improving with search for knowledge and long-term development. The coaches try to absorb new knowledge and continuously improve their training methods, although lack of resources sometimes does not allow them to introduce new training methods.<br/><br/>}},
  author       = {{Larsson, Jonas and Olsson, M. Charlotte and Bremander, Ann and Larsson, Ingrid}},
  issn         = {{2000-088X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{159--182}},
  publisher    = {{Malmö University; Idrottsforum.org}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Sport Studies Forum}},
  title        = {{Swedish soccer coaches’ experiences and application of physical training in male elite soccer : A qualitative content analysis study}},
  url          = {{https://sportstudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/sssf-vol-12-2021-p159-181-larssonetal.pdf}},
  volume       = {{12}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}