ABSTRACT
In soccer, score-line has been shown to influence both tactical (Bloomfield et al.,2004a; Jones et al., 2004; Lago and Martin, 2007) and technical aspects of play (Taylor et al., 2008). Score-line has also been found to influence work-rate in soccer (O'Donoghue and Tenga, 2001; McStravick and O'Donoghue, 2001; Shaw and O'Donoghue, 2004; Bloomfield et al., 2004b). Previous studies have used varied time-motion analysis techniques to measure score-line effects in soccer that do not incorporate for different factors influencing the outcome, Redwood-Brown et al. (2009) used an automatic player tracking system that doesn't distinguish between forward, backward and sideways movements. Other studies have used data from over a decade ago (O'Donoghue and Tenga, 2001), used a semiprofessional cohort (McStravick and O'Donoghue, 2001; Shaw and O'Donoghue, 20 01) and excluded defenders in their analysis (Bloomfield et al., 2004). Over the past decade, there have been rule changes in soccer relating to defending throw-ins and goalkeeper possession of the ball and the definition of offside. There have also been developments in player preparation with technology assisting match analysis and feedback. Clearly there is a need for up-to-date research on elite soccer players to determine the influence of score-line on elite soccer play. The purpose of the current investigation was to investigate the influence of score-line on work rate profiles in elite soccer players during the 2009–2010 season.
