The team’s influence on physical and technical demands of elite goalkeepers in La Liga: A longitudinal study in professional soccer

Abstract

This study examined physical and technical demands and the influence of the team’s level on elite goalkeepers’ performance during six consecutive seasons in Spanish Professional Soccer League. The goalkeepers’ performance data were obtained by analyzing a total of 3,874 matches using a multiple-camera computerized tracking system. The physical and technical match variables registered were: distance traveled; distance Sprinted and the number of sprints; total number of passes; successful passes; pass percentage; recovered balls; lost balls; ratio lost balls: recovered balls, and number of saves. The results showed that the number of saves made has shown a significant reduction (p < 0.001). When comparing between the teams’ level, the goalkeepers of the worst classified teams showed a greater distance traveled by sprint (+3.72 m, IC95%: 1.00–6.44, ES: 0.41, p = 0.008). In conclusion, the results the influence of the team’s level on the technical and physical parameters of the goalkeepers during the last six seasons.