Deceleration profiles of elite American soccer players obtained from change of direction tests with different approach speeds
Norman, D., Oliva-Lozano, J. M., Buchheit, M., Fell, S., & Harper, D. (2025). Deceleration profiles of elite American soccer players obtained from change of direction tests with different approach speeds. Sport Performance Science & Reports, #243, April 2025, V1.
Aim: Compare how players decelerate when approaching a turn at 10m, 20m, and 30m speeds.
Methods:
-20 elite players tested during national camp
-COD tests: 10-0-5, 20-0-5, and 30-0-5 setups
-Speeds and deceleration measured using AI motion tracking (VueMotion)
-Key metrics: peak speed, average deceleration, early and late deceleration phases
Findings:
-Players brake differently depending on speed
-Strong early deceleration = better overall deceleration
-Peak speed mattered most in the longest test (30-0-5)
-Deceleration ability varied between players across different speeds
Takeaway:
Deceleration skills must be trained at different speeds to optimize performance and lower injury risk.
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