Introduction: During matches and training sessions, football players are exposed to different demands, which are commonly monitored to ensure that the players are prepared to cope with competition and to avoid excessive fatigue. Unfortunately, goalkeepers are often excluded from these analyses. Aim of the study: This study analyzed goalkeepers` demands during the days near match day (MD), including the day before (MD-1), the day after (MD+1) and a compensatory session during MD (MDC). Material and methods: Three elite goalkeepers were monitored with global navigation satellite systems across a full season, leading to 291 observations. Independent mean differences compared the days for total distance, high-speed running (HSR) distance, sprint distance, maximal speeds, number of accelerations and decelerations, and player load. Results: During MD, players covered longer distances (total: p < 0.001; HSR: p < 0.001), reached higher maximal speeds (p < 0.001) and presented higher player load (p < 0.05) but not for total distance (higher in MD+1; p = 0.001), maximal speed (p = 0.004), and sprint distance (nonexistent in MDC). MD-1 presented similar demands (p > 0.05) with MD+1, except for player load (higher in MD-1; p = 0.019), and with MDC, except for total distance (higher in MD-1; p < 0.001), maximal speed (higher in MD-1; p = 0.001), player load (higher in MD-1; p = 0.018), and sprint distance (nonexistent in MDC). Conclusions: Our findings show that goalkeepers need a different approach regarding load distribution across the week. However, a special attention is needed regarding MDC, as this session can diminish the overall load of sprint distances covered and maximal speeds reached.
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