Table 1 Data extraction from all studies included in the descriptive synthesis

 TD – match (m)

12500 ± 1700 [22]

12450 ± 1650 [40,41,42, 46]

12500 ± 1700 [22]

12510 ± 1710 [41, 42, 46]

12400 ± 1600 [22]

12420 ± 1580 [42, 46]

12734 ± 1596 [110]

12311 ± 1729 [111]

12620 ± 1872 [8]

12200 ± 1900 [22]

12240 ± 2010 [46,47,48]

12734 ± 1596 [110]

13455 ± 1764 [24]

12620 ± 1872 [8]

13190 ± 2040 [43, 47, 48]

12620 ± 1872 [8]

13040 ± 2010 [43, 44, 48]

13556 ± 1206 [36]

13430 ± 1990 [38, 43,44,45]

13556 ± 1206 [36]

13399 ± 69;

13399 (13150-13644) [103]

11954 ± 1259;

11954 (7572-14948) [115]

12360 ± 1920 [38, 44, 45]

12859 ± 1529 [2]

11950 ± 2056 [109]

12400 ± 1770 [38, 39, 45]

12820 ± 1750 [38, 39]

13200 ± 1680 [39]

11608 ± 3573 [112]

13048 ± 929 [108]

13257 ± 1778 [107]

13233 ± 915 [108]

 TD – halves (m)

1^st – 6229 ± 972

2^nd – 6082 ± 1080 [111]

 TD – start, middle, end season (m)

S – 12948 (12775-13120)

M – 13199 (13001-13397)

E – 13193 (12988-13398) [4]

S – 12948 (12775-13120)

M – 13199 (13001-13397)

E – 13193 (12988-13398) [4]

 Match time – (min)

111.01 ± 13.50 [22, 40,41,42, 46]

111.51 ± 14.13 [22, 41, 42, 46]

104.19 ± 12.16 [22]

104.19 ± 12.16 [42, 46]

101.91 ± 9.80 [110]

98.00 ± 14.00 [111]

98.40 ± 11.60 [8]

100.10 ± 14.22 [22]

100.27 ± 15.14 [46,47,48]

101.91 ± 9.80 [110]

93.55 ± 10.30 [17]

100.50 ± 14.30 [24]

98.40 ± 11.60 [8]

106.56 ± 14.45 [43, 47, 48]

98.40 ± 11.60 [8]

105.14 ± 14.38 [43, 44, 48]

104.90 ± 10.00 [36]

109.53 ± 14.47 [38, 43,44,45]

104.90 ± 10.00 [36]

101.00 ± 11.00 [115]

104.10 ± 13.42 [38, 44, 45]

99.00 ± 19.00 [109]

103.18 ± 12.14 [38, 39, 45]

106.58 ± 12.46 [38]

106.35 ± 12.28 [39]

109.07 ± 12.35 [39]

87.80 ± 27.20 [112]

100.90 ± 7.60 [108]

100.30 ± 7.10 [108]

 m.min^-1 – match

113.3 ± 10.0 [22]

112.7 ± 11.2 [40,41,42, 46]

113.3 ± 15.0 [22]

113.0 ± 15.7 [41, 42, 46]

120.0 ± 13.3 [22]

119.7 ± 13.5 [42, 46]

127.0 ± 17.0 [110]

128.0 ± 12.0 [111]

129.0 ± 17.0 [8]

130.0 ± 18.0 [114]

121.7 ± 11.7 [22]

122.2 ± 10.7 [46,47,48]

127.0 ± 17.0 [110]

134.0 ± 12.1 [17]

134.7 ± 12.4 [24]

129.0 ± 17.0 [8]

140.0 ± 15.0 [114]

123.7 ± 10.7 [43, 47, 48]

129.0 ± 17.0 [8]

124.7 ± 10.5 [43, 44, 48]

129.6 ± 9.5 [36]

122.5 ± 10.7 [38, 43,44,45]

129.6 ± 9.5 [36]

118.7 ± 10.7 [38, 44, 45]

123.0 ± 12.0 [2]

121.7 ± 14.1 [109]

120.3 ± 11.3 [38, 39, 45]

130.5 [104]

131.8 ± 9.1 [113]

119.7 ± 10.3 [38, 39]

130.5 [104]

120.5 ± 9.8 [39]

128.0 ± 7.4 [108]

124.4 ± 4 [107] 130.7 ± 7.1 [108]

 m.min^-1 – halves

1^st – 131.0 ± 13.0

2^nd– 125.0 ± 14.0 [111]

 m.min^-1 – rotations per quarter

Q1– r1: 137.9 ± 17.2

r2: 137.0 ± 12.5

Q2 – r1: 136.2 ± 10.8

r2: 123.2 ± 16.7

Q3 – r1: 119.0 ± 16.0

r2: 128.0 ± 8.2

Q4 – r1: 121.6 ± 13.1

r2: 125.4 ± 13.6 [9]

 m.min^-1 – rotations per quarter: finals

Q1– r1: 152.7 ± 17.8

r2: 145.6 ± 22.8

Q2 – r1: 149.3 ± 26.0

r2: 139.0 ± 52.0

Q3 – r1: 130.6 ± 33.7

r2: 146.3 ± 9.7

Q4 – r1: 149.2 ± 13.7

r2: 133.3 ± 32.5 [9]

 m.min^-1 – start, middle, end season

S – 123.0 (121.0-125.0)

M – 125.0 (123.0-127.0)

E – 124.0 (122.0-127.0) [4]

S – 123.0 (121.0-125.0)

M – 125.0 (123.0-127.0)

E – 124.0 (122.0-127.0) [4]

 Number of accelerations – 2.78 - 10 m·s^-2

96.0 ± 41.0 [110]

82.0 ± 26.0 [8]

96.0 ± 41.0 [110]

82.0 ± 26.0 [8]

82.0 ± 26.0 [8]

 Number of accelerations per minute – ≥2.78 m·s^-2

1.0 ± 0.4 [110]

0.8 ± 0.3 [8]

1.1 ± 0.5 [114]

1.0 ± 0.4 [110]

0.8 ± 0.3 [8]

1.2 ± 0.5 [114]

0.8 ± 0.3 [8]

0.5 ± 0.1 [36]

0.5 ± 0.1 [36]

 Number of accelerations – 3 - 15 m·s^-2

29.0 ± 8.0;

29.0 (8-53) [115]

 Number of accelerations >4 km^.h^-1 in 1 second

240.8 ± 43.2 [22, 40,41,42, 46]

251.0 ± 50.0 [22]

251.2 ± 50.1 [41, 42, 46]

253.0 ± 41.0 [22]

253.0 ± 41.1 [42, 46]

246.0 ± 47.0 [22]

292.0 ± 87.0 [46,47,48]

322.0 ± 135.0 [43, 47, 48]

402.0 ± 194.0 [43, 44, 48]

233.0 ± 119.0 [38, 43,44,45]

186.0 ± 43.0 [38, 44, 45]

188.0 ± 39.0 [38, 39, 45]

242.0 ± 60.0 [38, 39]

255.0 ± 56.0 [39]

 Number of accelerations >10 km^.h^-1 in 1 second

10.0 ± 4.4

[40,41,42, 46]

11.5 ± 6.0

[41, 42, 46]

12.2 ± 5.3

[42, 46]

14.5 ± 8.8

[46,47,48]

17.3 ± 14.4 [43, 47, 48]

25.4 ± 19.3 [43, 44, 48]

11.0 ± 11.5

[38, 43,44,45]

6.9 ± 5.1

[38, 44, 45]

6.9 ± 4.6

[38, 39, 45]

8.9 ± 5.8

[38, 39]

8.1 ± 4.8 [39]

 Number of surges >18km^.h^-1

89.0 ± 20.0 [22]

90.0 ± 24.0 [22]

93.0 ± 20.0 [22]

86.0 ± 2.0 [22]

 Time per minute engaging in acceleration - 2.78 - 10 m·s^-2 (%)

1.4 ± 0.4 [36]

1.4 ± 0.4 [36]

 Number of sprints ≥20 km^.h^-1 – match

74.0 ± 23.0 [111]

 Number of sprints ≥20 km^.h^-1 – halves

1^st – 39.0 ± 13.0

2^nd – 35.0 ± 12.0 [111]

 Number of sprints ≥20 km^.h^-1 per minute – match

0.8 ± 0.2 [111]

0.7 ± 0.2 [17]

0.7 ± 0.1 [24]

 Number of sprints ≥20 km^.h^-1 per minute – halves

1^st – 0.8 ± 0.3

2^nd – 0.7 ± 0.2 [111]

 Time sprinting >20 km^.h^-1 – match (%)

6.2 ± 1.8 [17]

 Number of sprints ≥23 km^.h^-1 – quarters

Q1 – 7.7 ± 2.6

Q2 – 7.2 ± 3.1

Q3 – 7.5 ± 4.7

Q4 – 6.2 ± 2.8 [105]

Q1 – 7.7 ± 2.6

Q2 – 7.2 ± 3.1

Q3 – 7.5 ± 4.7

Q4 – 6.2 ± 2.8 [105]

Q1 – 7.7 ± 2.6

Q2 – 7.2 ± 3.1

Q3 – 7.5 ± 4.7

Q4 – 6.2 ± 2.8 [105]

 Number of sprints >23 km^.h^-1 – start, middle, end season

S – 17.9 (16.9-18.9)

M – 18.2 (17.1-19.3)

E – 19.8 (18.7-21.0) [4]

S – 17.9 (16.9-18.9)

M – 18.2 (17.1-19.3)

E – 19.8 (18.7-21.0) [4]

 Sprinting distance >23 km^.h^-1 – start, middle, end season (m)

S– 405 (379-431)

M – 431 (401-461)

E – 459 (427-490) [4]

S– 405 (379-431)

M – 431 (401-461)

E – 459 (427-490) [4]

 Number of sprints ≥ 24 km^.h^-1 – match

11.8 ± 6.7 [108]

11.8 ± 5.9 [107] 12.3 ± 5.9 [108]

 Sprinting distance ≥24 km^.h^-1 – match (m)

272.0 ± 163.9 [108]

243.2 ± 119.0 [107]

266.9 ± 139.3 [108]

 Time sprinting >24 km^.h^-1– match (s)

36.0 ± 21.0 [108]

32.0 ± 17.0 [108]

 Sprinting distance ≥25.2 km^.h^-1 – match (m)

328 ± 164 [8]

328 ± 164 [8]

328 ± 164 [8]

80 ± 55;

80 (0-253) [115]

 Sprinting ≥25.2 km^.h^-1 – match (m.min^-1)

3.4 ± 1.7 [8]

3.4 ± 1.7 [8]

3.4 ± 1.7 [8]

 Sprint distance >75% of individual’s maximum speed – match (m)

268 (254-283) [103]

 Number of HSR ≥19.8 - 36 km^.h^-1 – match

82.0 ± 21.0 [8]

82.0 ± 21.0 [8]

82.0 ± 21.0 [8]

 Number of HSR ≥19.8 - 36 km^.h^-1 per min – match

0.8 ± 0.2 [8]

0.8 ± 0.2 [8]

0.8 ± 0.2 [8]

 Number of HSR ≥25.2 km^.h^-1 – match

22.0 ± 9.0 [8]

22.0 ± 9.0 [8]

22.0 ± 9.0 [8]

 Number of HSR ≥25.2 km^.h^-1 per min – match

0.2 ± 0.1 [8]

0.2 ± 0.1 [8]

0.2 ± 0.1 [8]

 HSR >4 m·s^-1 percentage of total distance (%)

10.3 ± 2.2 [36]

10.3 ± 2.2 [36]

0.3 [104]

0.3 [104]

 HSR >4 m·s^-1 mean number per min

2.1 ± 0.4 [24]

1.6 ± 0.3 [36]

1.6 ± 0.3 [36]

 Number of HIE ≥15 km^.h^-1 – match

271.0 ± 57.0 [111]

 Number of HIE ≥15 km^.h^-1 – halves

1^st – 141.0 ± 31.0

2^nd– 130.0 ± 33.0 [111]

 TD HSR >4 m^.s^-1 (14.4 km^.h^-1) – match (m)

3678 ± 1144 [2]

3198 ± 1165 [112]

 HSR >4 m^.s^-1 (14.4 km^.h^-1) – match (m.min^-1)

30.3 ± 6.9 [24]

28.6 ± 6.3 [36]

28.6 ± 6.3 [36]

36.0 ± 10.0 [2]

33.5 [104] 36.4 ± 7.1 [113]

33.5 [104]

36.4 [112]

 TD HSR >4 m·s^-1 (14.4 km^.h^-1) – quarters (m)

Q1 – 1090 ± 212

Q2 – 980 ± 219

Q3 – 971 ± 256

Q4 – 844 ± 198 [105]

Q1 – 1090 ± 212

Q2 – 980 ± 219

Q3 – 971 ± 256

Q4 – 844 ± 198 [105]

Q1 – 1090 ± 212

Q2 – 980 ± 219

Q3 – 971 ± 256

Q4 – 844 ± 198 [105]

 TD HSR >4 m·s^-1 (14.4 km^.h^-1) – start, middle, end season (m)

S – 3462 (3336-3589)

M – 3492 (3347-3638)

E – 3696 (3352-3840) [4]

S – 3462 (3336-3589)

M – 3492 (3347-3638)

E – 3696 (3352-3840) [4]

 TD HSR 4.17 - 10 m·s^-1 (15.01 - 36 km^.h^-1) – match (m)

3334 ± 756 [110]

3334 ± 756 [110]

 HSR 4.17 - 10 m·s^-1 (15.01 - 36 km^.h^-1) – match (m.min^-1)

34.0 ± 9.0 [110]

34.9 ± 8.8 [114]

34.0 ± 9.0 [110]

38.1 ± 8.8 [114]

 HSR 4.17 - 10 m·s^-1 (15.01 - 36 km^.h^-1) – quarter rotations: (m.min^-1)

Q1– r1: 37.5 ± 12.5

r2: 37.5 ± 9.4

Q2 – r1: 43.2 ± 18.9

r2: 32.8 ± 10.4

Q3 – r1: 32.1 ± 10.0

r2: 37.1 ± 7.9

Q4 – r1: 32.8 ± 9.6

r2: 37.5 ± 13.9 [9]

 HSR 4.17 - 10 m·s^-1 (15.01 - 36 km^.h^-1) – quarter rotations: finals (m.min^-1)

Q1 – r1: 43.2 ± 13.9

r2: 40 ± 13.5

Q2 – r1: 42.8 ± 16.4

r2: 39.2 ± 15.8

Q3 – r1: 35.3 ± 10.0

r2: 40.0 ± 17.5

Q4 – r1: 40.7 ± 10.7

r2: 33.5 ± 10.7 [9]

 TD HSR >18 km^.h^-1 – match (m)

1888 ± 421 [108]

1657 ± 470 [107]

1938 ± 430 [108]

 HSR >18 km^.h^-1 – match (m.min^-1)

18.9 ± 4.6 [108]

13.1 ± 3.8 [107] 19.1 ± 4.6 [108]

 Time over 18 km^.h^-1 – match (min)

5.24 ± 1.31

[40,41,42, 46]

5.25 ± 1.49

[41, 42, 46]

5.39 ± 1.28 [42]

5.40 ± 1.40 [47, 48]

6.18 ± 1.54 [43, 47, 48]

6.20 ± 1.51 [43, 44, 48]

5.25 ± 2.15 [38, 43,44,45]

4.45 ± 1.36

[38, 44, 45]

4.53 ±1.38

[38, 39, 45]

5.07 ± 1.72

[38, 39]

5.16 ± 1.40 [39]

 HSR 19.1 - 24 km^.h^-1 – match (m.min^-1)

11.7 ± 2.5 [113]

 TD HSR >19.9 km^.h^-1 – start, middle, end season (m)

S – 1023 (977-1070)

M – 1056 (1003-1109)

E – 1145 (1089-1200) [4]

S – 1023 (977-1070)

M – 1056 (1003-1109)

E – 1145 (1089-1200) [4]

 HSR >20 km^.h^-1 – match (m.min^-1)

15.1 ± 4.4 [24]

 TD HSR >19.9 km^.h^-1 – start, middle, end season (m)

S – 405 (379-431)

M – 431 (401-461)

E – 459 (427-490) [4]

S – 405 (379-431)

M – 431 (401-461)

E – 459 (427-490) [4]

 TD HSR >24 km^.h^-1 – start, middle, end season (m)

243 ± 119 [107]

 Number of HSR >24 km^.h^-1 efforts

11.8 ± 5.9 [107]

 HSR >24 km^.h^-1 – match (m.min^-1)

2.3 ± 0.8 [113]

 TD HSR >25 km^.h^-1 – start, middle, end season (m)

154 ± 105 [112]