Welcome to the PRE league benchmark 2023/2024 of the 1st division and the 2nd division (top amateurs) in the Netherlands. In this benchmark we will map the physical differences of these competitions over the period July 2023 to December 2023. First of all, it is interesting to see that the amateur clubs from the 2nd and even 3rd division are increasingly winning more often against professional teams in the KNVB Cup. Regularly also at the expense of professional clubs. This now seems to be the rule rather than the exception. Although we have no statistics on this, wouldn’t it be extremely interesting to gain insight into the performance of amateur teams in the KNVB cup tournament over the past 10 years?

In the previous cup season, SV Spakenburg even reached the semi-finals. When asked in an interview with performance coach Niek van Logtestijn (SV Spakenburg) about the differences between the two competitions, it was indicated that they have become emotionally closer in recent years.

This is also something that stands out when one compares the matches between amateur teams and professional clubs with more attention. The game image has indeed changed. Amateur teams are certainly not always withdrawn to their own sixteen, but regularly even play the game. In the current cup season, Quick Boys ensured that De Graafschap had to leave the cup tournament early and HHC Hardenberg made it very difficult for AZ Alkmaar because after 90+ minutes, the score was still 2-2. And just when people thought it couldn’t get any crazier, something happened in the KNVB cup tournament that had never happened in its entire history: UVS Hercules – AFC Ajax: 3-2. World news, but above all disbelief.

In the physical benchmark from the 2020/2021 season, we have already made a comparison between the 1st Division and the 2nd division in different positions. For now, in this pre-benchmark we will again look at the differences in physical parameters between positions (Defenders (CDEF), Wingbacks (FULL), Midfielders (CMID), Wingers (WIN) and Strikers (STR)) and the period (July 2023-Dec2023).

In addition, we will also make a comparison between the pre-season (July-Aug) and the in-season (Sep-Dec) period to provide more insight into the preparation and the current season. The heart rate data (zones) will also be included in this benchmark, because we want to provide insight into the 5 heart rate zones and endurance between the different positions of players.### Physical Performance Comparison Between 1st and 2nd Division Dutch Football: A 2023/2024 Benchmark Study

We hope you all will enjoy reading this benchmark and hope that these insights provide help and guidance in making choices and further developing the performance, health and well-being of the players.

Period

• Pre-season 1st Division: 1st July t/m 1st August 2023

• In-season 1st Division: 8th August t/m 18th December 2023

• Pre-season 2nd Division: 1 July t/m 12 August 2023

• In-season 2nd Division: 19th August t/m 16 December 2023

Parameters

• Total Distance (distance in meters)

• Running Distance (distance in meters between 14 km/h to 19,8 km/h)

• Sprint Distance (distance in meters between 19,8 km/h to 25,2 km/h)

• Hi-intensity distance (distance in meters above 25,2 km/h)

• Number of sprints (amount of sprints above 19,8 km/h)

• Hi-Accelerations (amount of short accelerations above >3 meter per second)

• Hi-Decelerations (amount of short accelerations above >3 meter per second)

• Heart rate zone 5 (% of minutes spend in heart rate zone 5)

Conditions

• All data is captured with the JOHAN PACER system

• Match data of players with a minimum of 75+ minutes

• Speed ​​filters are standardized for a fair comparison

Do you want to see the full benchmark report? Download the PDF below! Feel free to contact us to provide feedback on the benchmark report, so we can optimize our products and services.