Comparative Analysis of In-Match Physical Requirements Across National and International Competitive Contexts in Cerebral Palsy Football

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Abstract

Highlights: What are the main findings? This is the first study to demonstrate that physical and technical demands in cerebral palsy (CP) football increase substantially with competitive level, with international matches (World Cup) imposing up to three times greater workload compared to national-level phases. Players exhibited significantly higher sprinting, accelerations, decelerations, and ball contact rates in international contexts, even when the same athletes competed across different levels. What is the implication of the main finding? These findings underscore the need for tailored training programs that replicate the intensity and complexity of elite CP football competition. The use of wearable inertial sensors, as applied in this study, proves to be an essential tool for accurately monitoring match and training loads, enabling performance optimization and individualized training strategies based on competitive context. This study aimed to compare in-match physical and technical requirements of cerebral palsy (CP) football players across different national and international competitive contexts. A total of 79 male outfield players participated in 62 official matches across 3 competitive phases of the Spanish National CP Football League (Regular Phase, Consolation Phase, and Playoffs) and the IFCPF World Cup. Inertial measurement units (IMUs) were used to record locomotor and technical variables during each match. A subset of 10 players was tracked across all phases. Physical demands were normalized per minute of play and analyzed using one-way and repeated-measures ANOVAs. Results revealed that physical requirements during the World Cup were up to three times higher than during national-level matches, with significantly greater maximum velocities, high-intensity distances, and frequencies of accelerations and decelerations (p < 0.001, ηp2 > 0.40). Playoffs also imposed significantly greater physical requirements compared to Regular and Consolation Phases. International matches showed a markedly higher number of ball contacts, indicating increased technical involvement. These patterns were consistent in both the full sample and the longitudinal subsample, suggesting that competitive level—rather than player characteristics alone— strongly modulates physical output during the competition. These findings underscore the need for context-specific training and load management strategies to prepare athletes for the elevated demands of high-level CP football competition.