Maximal Fat Oxidation Is Associated With Moderate- and High-Speed Running Performance During Competitive Matches in Youth National-Level Football Players: A Retrospective In-Season Study
Abstract
Purpose: This retrospective study investigated the relationships between maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max), maximal fat oxidation (MFO), maximal lower-limb power output (Pmax), and match running performance in youth national-level football players across a competitive season. Methods: During the preseason period, 41 youth national-level football players from the academy of a French Ligue 1 club completed a series of laboratory and field-based assessments. Incremental and fasted submaximal graded treadmill tests were performed to determine V˙O2max and MFO via indirect calorimetry, whereas a horizontal force-velocity-power profile was used to assess Pmax. Match running performance was monitored throughout the season using 10-Hz GPS. A nonlinear, decision tree modeling approach was then applied to identify discriminative thresholds in physiological variables that characterize distinct player profiles. Results: Among the 3 determinants of game performance examined, V̇O2max was the only variable linearly associated with total match distance (P < .01). In contrast, MFO was the sole predictor identified of distance covered at speed running >15 km·h-1 (P < .01), with a threshold of 0.73 g·min-1 distinguishing players covering greater moderate- to high-speed distances (P < .01). Conclusions: These results suggest that monitoring both V̇O2max and MFO are complementary for optimizing football players' match performance. While V̇O2max remains crucial for achieving a high total match distance in national-level players, MFO appears more strongly associated with the distance covered at moderate and high running speeds.
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BibTeX
@article{hernot2026maximal,
title = {{Maximal Fat Oxidation Is Associated With Moderate- and High-Speed Running Performance During Competitive Matches in Youth National-Level Football Players: A Retrospective In-Season Study}},
author = {Pierre Hernot and Arthur Guillotel and Mathieu Horeau and Rufin Boumpoutou and Laurent Bessière and Sebastien Sangnier and David Martin and Frédéric Derbré},
journal = {International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1123/ijspp.2026-0143},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05764336v1},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Maximal Fat Oxidation Is Associated With Moderate- and High-Speed Running Performance During Competitive Matches in Youth National-Level Football Players: A Retrospective In-Season Study
AU - Pierre Hernot
AU - Arthur Guillotel
AU - Mathieu Horeau
AU - Rufin Boumpoutou
AU - Laurent Bessière
AU - Sebastien Sangnier
AU - David Martin
AU - Frédéric Derbré
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/16
JO - International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
DO - 10.1123/ijspp.2026-0143
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05764336v1
AB - Purpose: This retrospective study investigated the relationships between maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max), maximal fat oxidation (MFO), maximal lower-limb power output (Pmax), and match running performance in youth national-level football players across a competitive season. Methods: During the preseason period, 41 youth national-level football players from the academy of a French Ligue 1 club completed a series of laboratory and field-based assessments. Incremental and fasted submaximal graded treadmill tests were performed to determine V˙O2max and MFO via indirect calorimetry, whereas a horizontal force-velocity-power profile was used to assess Pmax. Match running performance was monitored throughout the season using 10-Hz GPS. A nonlinear, decision tree modeling approach was then applied to identify discriminative thresholds in physiological variables that characterize distinct player profiles. Results: Among the 3 determinants of game performance examined, V̇O2max was the only variable linearly associated with total match distance (P < .01). In contrast, MFO was the sole predictor identified of distance covered at speed running >15 km·h-1 (P < .01), with a threshold of 0.73 g·min-1 distinguishing players covering greater moderate- to high-speed distances (P < .01). Conclusions: These results suggest that monitoring both V̇O2max and MFO are complementary for optimizing football players' match performance. While V̇O2max remains crucial for achieving a high total match distance in national-level players, MFO appears more strongly associated with the distance covered at moderate and high running speeds.
SN - 1555-0265
SN - 1555-0273
ER -