ReviewSports (Basel, Switzerland)2026
A Call for Consensus: A Narrative Review of GPS-Based External Training Load Monitoring in Male Youth Soccer Players.
Review in Sports (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Physical Performance Profiles of Highly Trained U14-U19 Youth Soccer Players: Age-Category Differences and Associations with Maturity Offset.Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Team Synergies in Professional Football: A Goal-Referenced Performance Indicator for Rapid Ball Recovery in Negative Transitions.Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Article
- Soccer health, performance, and injury prevention in highly trained youth soccer players: a public health approach.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundGlobal positioning system (GPS) technology is widely used to quantify external training load (ETL) in youth soccer. Despite its extensive application in training and match contexts, considerable heterogeneity is present in the selection, definition, and interpretation of GPS-derived variables, limiting comparability between studies and practical implementation by coaches.
objectiveThis narrative review aimed to summarize and critically evaluate the current literature on GPS-based ETL monitoring in youth soccer players, with a focus on commonly used variables, methodological considerations, and practical applications in training and match contexts.
methodsA narrative literature search was conducted using PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Scopus databases. Peer-reviewed studies published in English between the years of 2012 and 2025 were included. Data were extracted on participant characteristics, GPS technology, monitored ETL variables, and contextual settings.
resultsThe 34 reviewed studies primarily reported total distance (TD; m), high-speed running distance (HSR; m), sprint distance (SD; m), distance per minute (m·min
conclusionGPS technology provides valuable insights into the ETL demands of youth soccer. The lack of standardized variable definitions and thresholds remains a major limitation. Greater methodological consistency and clearer reporting standards are required to enhance the practical usefulness of GPS monitoring for coaches in youth soccer.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.