# The Influence of the Playing Surface on Workload Response in Spanish Professional Male Soccer Players

## TL;DR

This study shows how different soccer playing surfaces affect player workload during training, with implications for training planning and injury prevention.

## Contribution

The study empirically quantifies the impact of playing surface quality on workload metrics in professional male soccer players.

## Key findings

- RPE was significantly higher on high-quality natural turf compared to poor-quality natural turf.
- Third-generation artificial turf showed lower total distance and higher high-speed running compared to natural turf surfaces.
- Training surfaces significantly influence external load metrics like accelerations and high metabolic load distance.

## Abstract

This study aimed to quantify the influence of the playing surface on workload-related variables (i.e., external load, Rate of perceived exertion (RPE), and mental load) in training sessions with a Spanish professional soccer team. Twenty professional male players from the same soccer team were involved. A total of thirty training sessions related to the preseason period were included. All the players completed training sessions on three playing surfaces: natural turf of poor quality, natural turf of high quality, and third-generation artificial turf. Monitoring during sessions involved assessing internal load (i.e., RPE and mental load) via self-reported questionnaires, and external load using Global Positioning System devices. Linear mixed models showed that RPE was significantly higher on natural turf of high quality than on natural turf of poor quality (p < 0.001). Total distance, relative total distance, the number of accelerations, decelerations, and high metabolic load distance were significantly lower on third-generation artificial turf compared to natural turf of poor quality (p < 0.001) and high quality (p < 0.001). In addition, high-speed running, sprint running distances, and the number of sprints reached higher values on third-generation artificial turf compared to the other two playing surfaces. These findings highlight the need for coaches to consider the type of training surface in soccer to optimize training load planning and prevent injuries.