Playing exposure does not affect movement characteristics or physiological responses of elite youth footballers during an intensified period of competition

Objective: Investigate the effect of playing time on physiological and perceptual responses to six, 60 min matches played over five days. Methods: Thirty youth footballers (age = 14.1 ± 0.4 years; body mass = 57.4 ± 12.9 kg; stature 169.3 ± 7.7 cm) were grouped into low (<250 min; LPG, n = 18) and high (≥250 min; HPG, n = 12) match exposure groups and monitored daily for lower body power and perceived wellness. Match running demands were assessed using GPS technology in total distance (m ・min–1), low (