Running economy in elite soccer and basketball players: differences among positions on the field

In the present study running economy (RE) was recorded in elite soccer and basketball players and positional differences were addressed. Elite soccer players (n=111) and basketball players (n=39), active in the Belgian first division performed an incremental running test (8 km. h^-1 + 2 km. h-1 each three minutes) on a treadmill until exhaustion. Throughout the test gas exchange was registered and capillary blood samples were taken from which peak oxygen uptake (VO₂ peak), speed at the anaerobic threshold (V_AnT) and RE could be determined. These parameters were compared among the playing positions in soccer and basketball. In soccer, midfielders (214.4 ± 11.1 ml. km^-1.kg^-1) and full-backs (218.4 ± 10.3 ml. km^-1.kg^-1) had a significantly higher RE compared to center-backs (231.4 ± 8.8 ml. km^-1.kg^-1). In basketball, guards (229.4 ± 10.4 ml. km^-1.kg^-1) had a significantly higher RE compared to forwards (237.8 ± 9.3 ml. km^-1.kg^-1) and centers (243.3 ± 13.2 ml. km^-1.kg^-1). These differences in RE were accompanied by similar positional differences in VO₂ peak and V_AnT. Furthermore, both in soccer (R=0.56) and basketball (R=0.63), RE was correlated to V_AnT. The present study points at the importance of RE in physical preparation of team sports and it can be concluded that teamsport-specific training should also focus on improving RE.