Analysis of training methodologies in the development of the physical capacities of young male soccer players: case studies in Portugal and the United Kingdom

Abstract

This study aimed to examine how two U-19 academy coaches, working in Portugal and the United Kingdom, planned, regulated and individualised the development and maintenance of players' physical capacities throughout the season, as well as the contextual factors influencing their decisions. An exploratory qualitative design comprising two case studies was conducted at SC Braga and Bradford City AFC. Two semi-structured interviews were completed with the coach responsible for physical preparation in each academy. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, translated into English when required and analysed thematically through within-case analysis and cross-case comparison. Credibility was supported through member checking, critical-friend dialogue and an audit trail of analytical decisions. Four interconnected dimensions were identified: macro framing, weekly microcycle architecture, data, signals and micro-decisions, and individualisation infrastructure. Both coaches prioritised robustness for acceleration and deceleration actions and regular maximal sprint-speed exposure, although the UK coach emphasised athletic development, whereas the Portuguese coach prioritised player availability and load tolerance. The match-day-relative microcycle functioned as the main organisational and regulatory unit. Monitoring informed adjustments to training dose and content, while individualisation was embedded within the collective programme through profiling, compensatory work, targeted interventions and progressive exposure. In both cases, physical programming emerged as a dynamic and situated process shaped by coaching intentions, contextual constraints, available information and professional judgement. The findings illustrate how coaches used the microcycle to preserve key physical priorities while adapting training to weekly demands and individual player needs.