The MAP Test and Antonio Pintus (Real Madrid CF) (Patreon)

Today, we conducted a fitness test to assess the players' physical condition. This test measures their power, which we can liken to the 'difference in power between one car and another.' 

It will be crucial for individualizing our training plans. We will determine both the anaerobic and aerobic thresholds, which will allow me to tailor the training regimen. 

For instance, some players may all run 100m in 20 seconds, but one might need a 20-second rest while another only requires 15 seconds because they currently have a better 'engine power.' 

This enables us to plan the physical aspects of the season more effectively. It's essential for me because I like to understand each player's physical condition.

The players aren't particularly fond of this test because it's challenging to run with an oxygen analysis mask. 

One player even jokingly called me a 'devil.' Still, they willingly undergo this 'torture,' and I appreciate them greatly for it. We have a fantastic group of individuals—hardworking and genuinely good people. 

I started using this test 20 years ago when I was at AS Monaco, and I continue to use it because it's essential for tracking the players' physical progress over time. Nowadays, they run much more, and the data is better than ever before!

Antonio Pintus

The MAP Test: Evaluating Athletes and Professionals (https://o2up.it)

The MAP Test, a comprehensive assessment designed for athletes and professionals, is the culmination of over two decades of testing on professional football players. These tests were conducted directly on the field, focusing on evaluating VO2max in four of Europe's top five major leagues.

With approximately 2500 tests conducted through incremental continuous running, we have gained deep insights into the physiological and biomechanical adaptations of top-level football athletes. From these tests, several important observations have emerged:

1. Variability in Tolerance: Prolonged continuous running with variations in pace is well-tolerated and embraced by only a minority of football players. This poses a risk of undervaluing certain players due to non-athletic reasons.
2. Biomechanical Variability: The functional model of football and the resulting biomechanical adaptations introduce an element of imprecision favoring certain body types over others, within an already diverse athletic population.

Despite the use of audible cues, achieving optimal compliance was not always possible, which had repercussions on the mechanical parameters measured.

We remained convinced that the functional evaluation of football players could not be conducted solely in a laboratory on a treadmill, unless the only credible data to be obtained was the absolute value of VO2max. Every other parameter, both metabolic and mechanical, proved impossible to replicate in field conditions.

Our goal was to create a test that met the following criteria:

• Well-tolerated but maximal in effort
• Simple to execute
• Monitorable in adherence
• Close to performance model but leading to incremental exhaustion
• Free from direction changes, which are executed too inconsistently and can impact muscles and joints

In 2013, the first MAP TEST was conducted, and after many trials and refinements, it was introduced as an evaluative test in 2016. Currently, our database includes data from 354 professional football players tested over two seasonal steps.

The Protocol:

• The test is performed at a constant speed of 18 km/h.
• It is conducted in a straight line over 50 meters with no changes in direction.
• It is a maximal, incremental test achieved by reducing recovery times.
• It is maximal, with an end-Lt (55±6) overlapping that of continuous (79±10) but better tolerated.
• It mirrors typical on-field situations and is familiar to the athlete.
• It does not penalize one type of athlete over another.

It is fascinating to note that even in its early stages, intermittent exercise does not affect the progression of respiratory exchange curves, ensuring the test's readability. The availability of the "mixing chamber" mode on the Cosmed K5 has increased precision.

What We Derive from the MAP Test:

• Personalized thresholds for intermittent work in terms of the work-to-recovery time ratio.
• Individualized metabolic power derived directly from the athlete's VO2max.
• Through an algorithm developed by comparing the MAP TEST with the incremental linear protocol, individualized velocity thresholds for long-distance/continuous work can be extracted.
• We also provide all individual internal load parameters for the athlete (such as heart rate at various thresholds), which can be derived from a maximal test.