Brief Report: Assessment of Energy Expenditure of a Professional Goalkeeper From the English Premier League Using the Doubly Labeled Water Method

PURPOSE:: To better understand the energy and carbohydrate (CHO) requirements of a professional goalkeeper (GK) in elite soccer, we quantified physical loading, energy expenditure (EE) and energy intake (EI) during a two game per week in-season micro-cycle.

METHODS:: Daily training and match loads were assessed in a professional GK |(age, 26 years; height, 191 cm; body mass, 86.1 kg) from the English Premier League using global positioning systems (GPS) and ProZone®, respectively. Assessments of EE (using the doubly labelled water method) and EI (using food diaries supported by the remote food photographic method and 24-h recalls) were also completed.

RESULTS:: Physical loading was greater on match days (MD) versus training days (TD) as inferred from total distance (4574 ± 432 vs 1959 ± 500 m), average speed (48 ± 5 v 40 ± 4 m/min) and distance completed when jogging (993 ± 194 v 645 ± 81 m) and running (138 ± 16 v 21 ± 20 m). Average daily energy and macronutrient intake appear reflective of a self-selected "low CHO" diet (Energy: 3160 ± 381 kcal, CHO: 2.6 ± 0.6; Protein: 2.4 ± 0.4; Fat: 1.9 ± 0.3 g.kg-1 body mass). Mean daily EE was 2894 kcal.

CONCLUSIONS:: The average daily EE of this professional GK was approximately 600 kcal.d-1 lower than that previously reported in outfield players from the same team. Such data suggest the nutritional requirements of a GK should be carefully considered depending on the required daily and weekly loading patterns.