Planning and periodisation strategies in English professional men’s football: an investigation into current practice

Despite the recognised importance of training planning and periodisation in elite football, no published research has examined these practices across the professional men's English football league pyramid. Increased physical and scheduling demands underscore the need to understand current trends and influencing factors that shape training, recovery, and player preparation. Identifying variations across the English Premier League (EPL), English Football League Championship (CH), League One (L1), and League Two (L2) can provide valuable insights for head coaches, performance staff, and other key stakeholders. To explore how practitioners plan and implement training, recovery strategies, and non-squad match-day activities to optimise player preparation during one- and two-game weeks. Seventy-seven practitioners responsible for performance provision across the professional leagues responded to a survey containing 10 single-choice, 18 multiple-choice, and 1 open-ended question. Findings show that: (1) ultimate decision-making authority predominantly rested with head coaches/managers (91%), rather than performance leads; (2) microcycle periodisation patterns varied substantially within and across leagues, with greater variability and less alignment to established frameworks observed in the EPL and CH compared to L1 and L2; and (3) compensation strategies for non-starting players were inconsistent and potentially inadequate during both one- and two-game weeks across leagues. Conclusions: Periodisation practices in professional men's football are primarily driven by managerial decision making, showing considerable variability and display greater inconsistency in higher leagues where scheduling demands are more complex. Inadequate compensation strategies for non-starting players, particularly during two-game weeks, represent a key area for improvement in practice and future research.