Elite Team Sport Research Articles

The Role of Biomarkers in Monitoring Chronic Fatigue Among Male Professional Team Athletes: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review synthesizes evidence on biomarker responses to physiological loads in professional male team sport athletes, providing insights into induced fatigue states. Structured searches across major databases yielded 28 studies examining various biomarkers in elite team sport players. Studies evaluated muscle damage markers, anabolic/catabolic hormones reflecting metabolic strain, inflammatory markers indicating immune activity and tissue damage, immunological markers tied to infection risk, and oxidative stress markers showing redox imbalances from excessive physiological load. Responses were examined in official matches and training across competitive seasons. The evidence shows that professional team sports induce significant alterations in all studied biomarkers, reflecting measurable physiological strain, muscle damage, oxidative stress, inflammation, and immunosuppression during intensive exercise. These effects tend to be larger and more prolonged after official matches compared to training. Reported recovery time courses range from 24-h to several days post-exercise. Monitoring biomarkers enables quantifying cumulative fatigue and physiological adaptations to training/competition loads, helping to optimize performance while mitigating injury and overtraining. Key biomarkers include creatine kinase, testosterone, cortisol, testosterone/cortisol ratio, salivary immunoglobulin-A, and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. Further research should extend biomarker monitoring to cover psychological stress and affective states alongside physiological metrics for deeper insight into athlete wellness and readiness.

Heart Rate Variability in Elite Team Sports: A Systematic Review

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) is recognized as a crucial indicator of autonomic nervous system function and is valuable in sports science for monitoring athlete health and performance. This systematic review investigates the use of HRV in elite team sports to monitor training adaptations, athlete status, and overall health. The purpose is to consolidate recent findings and provide a comprehensive understanding of HRV's application in elite team sports. Methods: The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023431208). A comprehensive search was performed across PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, covering studies from January 2013 to November 2023. Studies included involved elite team-sport athletes, with HRV measured immediately after waking. Exclusion criteria were underage athletes, injured athletes, and studies using HRV for different purposes. The review process involved screening titles, abstracts, and full texts, with a final inclusion of 12 studies. Results: Out of 277 identified articles, 12 studies met the inclusion criteria, involving sports such as water polo, rugby, football, basketball, volleyball, handball, futsal, hockey, and rowing. The studies highlighted HRV as a valuable tool for tracking training load adaptations, monitoring athlete readiness, recovery, and mental stress. Daily HRV measurements were commonly used, showing effectiveness in detecting overtraining and ensuring adequate recovery. Various HRV parameters and recording methods were discussed, emphasizing the need for individualized assessment. RMSSD and LnRMSSD were the most commonly used parameters, with variations in recording times and positions. Conclusions: HRV is an effective non-invasive marker for optimizing training regimens and improving athlete health, making it a significant tool in sports medicine. This review provides actionable insights for integrating HRV monitoring into daily training practices, ultimately enhancing athletic performance and preventing overtraining. Standardized protocols for HRV measurement are recommended to ensure consistency and reliability in data collection and interpretation. The findings highlight the need for further research to refine HRV applications and establish best practices in elite team sports

Exploring the relationship between caffeine metabolism-related CYP1A2 rs762551 polymorphism and team sport athlete status and training adaptations

BackgroundThis study aimed to achieve a dual objective: to compare the frequencies of CYP1A2 rs762551 genotypes between team sport athletes and a control group, and to determine the association between the rs762551 polymorphism and changes in physical performance after a six-week training program among elite basketball players.MethodsThe study encompassed an analysis of 504 individuals, comprising 320 athletes and 184 controls. For the Turkish cohort, DNA was isolated using the buccal swab method, and genotyping was conducted using the KASP technique. Performance assessments included the Yo-Yo IR2 and 30 m sprint tests. For Russian participants, DNA samples were extracted from peripheral blood, a commercial kit was used for DNA extraction, and genotyping of the rs762551 polymorphism was conducted using DNA microarray.ResultNotably, a statistically significant linear decline in the prevalence of the CC genotype was observed with ascending levels of athletic achievement within team sports (sub-elite: 18.0%, elite: 8.2%, highly elite: 0%; p = 0.001). Additionally, the CA genotype was the most prevalent genotype in the highly elite group compared to controls (80.0% vs. 45.1%, p = 0.048). Furthermore, statistically significant improvements in Yo-Yo IR2 performance were noted exclusively among basketball players harboring the CA genotype (p = 0.048).ConclusionsThe study’s findings indicate that the rs762551 CC genotype is a disadvantage in elite team sports, whereas the CA genotype provides an advantage in basketball performance.

High-level military and sport leaders’ everyday challenges and psychological skills: A cross-contextual repeated measures study

ABSTRACT Research shows that high-level military and sport leaders share a high-stress and high-stakes leader role due to similar experiences of demanding conditions mainly manifested in psychological burden. This raises research questions about leaders’ psychological strategies to maintain their mental health and performance under demanding conditions. Thus, the current study investigated how experienced demanding conditions were related to self-rated leader performance level and mental health indicators among high-level military and sport leaders and whether the application of psychological skills by these leaders moderated these relationships. A composite questionnaire was used to collect data longitudinally, once a week for four consecutive weeks. Fifty-two Swedish high-ranking military officers and executives in elite team sport organizations completed the questionnaire. Multilevel analysis revealed no effect of demanding conditions on leader performance, but they harmed leader vitality and were associated with higher stress symptoms. Moreover, psychological skills did not moderate the relationship between demanding conditions and leader performance. However, motivational and instructional self-talk negatively moderated the relationship between demanding conditions and vitality. In contrast, emotional regulation, comprised of mindfulness and cognitive reappraisal, positively moderated vitality. Emphasizing the nuanced application of psychological skills is crucial while avoiding one-sided beliefs about their positive effects. Interventions are suggested to focus on vitality and related psychological skills to ensure leaders feel good while performing under demanding conditions. More cross-contextual leadership research, suggestively applied research, is needed to better understand the links between high-level military and sport leaders’ psychological skills, leader performance, and mental health under demanding conditions.

Influence of trajectory and contrast on dynamic visual acuity in elite team sports players.

Dynamic visual acuity (DVA) is considered an essential component for studying the visual function, especially in challenging environments like team sports. Beyond frequent comparative studies, much information is still lacking about the mechanisms underlying DVA and possible differences in stimulus presentation. It is crucial to understand the performance of DVA under different conditions of contrast and trajectories to achieve more specific data and better ecological validity of measurements. Fifty-five top professional male Spanish athletes, including 23 soccer, 14 basketball, and 18 water polo players were selected. Static visual acuity (SVA) was evaluated at 5 m. DVA was determined at 2 m under combined conditions of velocity (52°/s), three trajectories (horizontal, diagonal 45° and 135°) and two contrasts (99.7% and 13%). Significant differences in most DVA conditions measurements show that the best scores correspond to horizontal, over diagonal trajectories, and high contrast. The correlation between SVA and DVA showed a different relationship depending on the contrast conditions. Professional soccer, basketball, and water polo players have similar characteristics with reference to all the DVA evaluated conditions.

Exploring the Perceived Barriers of Effective Communication Within the Coach–Athlete Relationship: A Sample of Scandinavian Coaches and Athletes

Coaching is a process that guides development and is shaped by sound relationships between athletes and coaches. Interpersonal communication represents a mechanism for developing functional relationships. However, not all interactions between coaches and athletes are optimal, and limited research has attempted to understand the factors that impede the ability to engage in effective communication. This study aimed to contribute to the literature by exploring the barriers experienced by high-performance coaches and athletes that hinder interpersonal communication within the coach–athlete relationship. A qualitative design grounded in a pragmatic philosophical position was utilised, and 20 semistructured interviews with 12 coaches and eight athletes participating in elite team sports were carried out. Interviews were conducted either in person or digitally via an online platform and analysed through content analysis. Barriers were identified for either coaches, athletes, or both and categorised as follows: (a) intrapersonal (e.g., lack of skills and negative experiences), (b) interpersonal (e.g., lack of concern/interest and power imbalance), and (c) environmental factors (e.g., hierarchy and toxic culture). These results suggest efforts should be focused on equipping coaches and athletes with intra- and interpersonal skills and empowering them to co-create a safe and united culture for themselves and their sport.

Does "Live High-Train Low and High" Hypoxic Training Alter Stride Mechanical Pattern During Repeated Sprints in Elite Team-Sport Players?

We examined changes in stride temporal parameters and spring-mass model characteristics during repeated sprints following a 3-week period of "live high-train low and high" (LHTLH)altitude training in team-sport players. While residing under normobaric hypoxia (≥14h/d; inspired oxygen fraction [FiO2] 14.5%-14.2%) for 14days, elite field hockey players performed, in addition to their regular field hockey practice in normoxia, 6 sessions (4 × 5 × 5-s maximal sprints; 25-s passive recovery; 5-min rest) under either normobaric hypoxia (LHTLH; FiO2 ∼14.5%, n = 11) or normoxia (live high-train low; FiO2 20.9%, n = 12). A control group (live low-train low; FiO2 ∼20.9%, n = 9) residing in normoxia without additional repeated-sprint training was included. Before (Pre)and a few days (Post-1) and 3weeks (Post-2) after the intervention, stride mechanics were assessed during an overground repeated-sprint test (8 × 20m, 20-s recovery). Two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (time [Pre, Post-1, and Post-2] × condition [LHTLH, live high-train low, and live low-train low]) were conducted. Peak sprinting speed increased in LHTLH from Pre to Post-1 (+2.2% [2.0%]; P = .002) and Post-2 (+2.0% [2.4%]; P = .025), with no significant changes in live high-train low and live low-train low. There was no main effect of time (all P ≥ .062), condition (all P ≥ .771), or a significant time × condition interaction (all P ≥ .230) for any stride temporal variable (contact time, flight time, stride frequency, and stride length) or spring-mass model characteristics (vertical and leg stiffness). Peak sprinting speed improved in elite field hockey players following LHTLH altitude training, while stride mechanical adjustments to repeated overground sprints remained unchanged for at least 3weeks postintervention.

Changes in Anthropometric Characteristics and Isokinetic Muscle Strength in Elite Team Sport Players during an Annual Training Cycle

The aim of the present research was to investigate the variation in the anthropometric characteristics and the isokinetic muscle strength of elite female team sport players during a season (29–36 weeks). Three groups of female athletes that consisted of soccer (n = 19; age, 23.2 ± 4.3 years), basketball (n = 26, 21.1 ± 5.4 years) and handball players (n = 26, 21.1 ± 4.2 years) underwent anthropometric and isokinetic measurements at the beginning of the preparation period, in the middle and at the end of the competitive season. Isokinetic peak torque values of the hamstrings (H) and quadriceps (Q), as well as the conventional strength ratios of H:Q, were tested on an isokinetic dynamometer at angular velocities of 60, 180 and 300°·s−1. Body weight, lean body mass and body fat of all groups decreased from the first to the third testing session (p < 0.05). Isokinetic peak torque gradually increased during the three measurements (p < 0.05). The soccer players had lower body weight and body fat compared to the basketball and handball players (p < 0.05). Isokinetic peak torque in knee flexion did not show any difference between the sports at any angular velocity or knee movement (flexion and extension), with an exception of the 180°·s−1. The improvement observed for all athletes can be attributed to the training programs that collectively characterize these team sports.

Identity leadership and cohesion in elite sport: The mediating role of intra-team communication

One perspective on leadership that has recently gained increased attention in sport is identity leadership; however, research on elite sport teams is still in its infancy. Thus, the main purpose of this research is to investigate identity leadership in elite team sports in relation to task cohesion, and subsequently to explore the mediating role of the intra-team communication dimensions of acceptance and distinctiveness. A cross-sectional design was employed and 441 elite athletes from division 1 and division 2 in handball and ice hockey participated in the present study. Structural equation modeling was used to assess relationships between identity leadership and task cohesion, and the mediating role of acceptance and distinctiveness. Results revealed that identity leadership positively predicted task cohesion, and that this relationship was mediated by intra-team communication acceptance. In conclusion, findings in the present study expand our understanding of performance-related benefits of identity leadership in elite sport.

Effect of the Intrasession Exercise Order of Flywheel Resistance and High-Intensity Interval Training on Maximal Strength and Power Performance in Elite Team-Sport Athletes.

Abstract Petré, H, Ovendal, A, Westblad, N, Ten Siethoff, L, Rosdahl, H, and Psilander, N. Effect of the intrasession exercise order of flywheel resistance and high-intensity interval training on maximal strength and power performance in elite team-sport athletes. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000–000, 2023—This study aimed to investigate the effect of intrasession exercise order of maximal effort flywheel resistance training (RT; 4 × 6 repetitions [rep]) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT, 2–4 × 8 rep of 20 second at 130% of Watt at V̇o 2max [wV̇o 2max]), on the development of maximal strength and power in elite team-sport athletes. A 7-week training intervention involving 2 training sessions per week of either HIIT followed by RT (HIIT + RT, n = 8), RT followed by HIIT (RT + HIIT, n = 8), or RT alone (RT, n = 7) was conducted in 23 elite male bandy players (24.7 ± 4.3 years). Power and work were continuously measured during the flywheel RT. Isometric squat strength (ISq), countermovement jump, squat jump, and V̇o 2max were measured before and after the training period. Power output during training differed between the groups (p = 0.013, = 0.365) with RT producing more power than HIIT + RT (p = 0.005). ISq improved following RT + HIIT (∼80%, d = 2.10, p = 0.001) and following HIIT + RT (∼40%, d = 1.64, p = 0.005), and RT alone (∼70%, d = 1.67, p = 0.004). V̇o 2max increased following RT + HIIT and HIIT + RT (∼10%, d = 1.98, p = 0.001 resp. d = 2.08, p = 0.001). HIIT before RT reduced power output during RT in elite team-sport athletes but did not lead to blunted development of maximal strength or power after a 7-week training period. During longer training periods (>7-weeks), it may be advantageous to schedule RT before HIIT because the negative effect of HIIT + RT on training quality increased during the final weeks of training. In addition, the largest training effect on maximal strength was observed following RT + HIIT.

Assessing athlete readiness using physical, physiological, and perceptual markers

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the validity of tests / markers of athletic readiness to predict physical performance in elite team and individual sport athletes. Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, Scopus and SPORT Discus databases were searched from inception until 15 March 2023. Included articles examined physiological and psychological tests / markers of athletic readiness prior to a physical performance measure. 165 studies were included in the systematic review and 27 studies included in the meta-analysis. 20 markers / tests of athletic readiness were identified, of which five were meta-analysed. Countermovement jump (CMJ) jump height had a large correlation with improved 10m sprint speed / time (r = 0.69; p = .00), but not maximal velocity (r = 0.46; p = .57). Non-significant correlations were observed for peak power (r = 0.13; p = .87) and jump height (r = 0.70; p = .17) from squat jump, and 10m sprint speed / time. CMJ jump height (r = 0.38; p = .41) and salivary cortisol (r = -0.01; p = .99) did not correlate with total distance. Sub-maximal exercise heart rate (r = -0.65; p = .47) and heart rate variability (r = 0.66; p = .31) did not correlate with Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test 1 performance. No correlation was observed between blood C-reactive protein and competition load (r = 0.33; p = .89). CMJ jump height can predict sprint and acceleration qualities in elite athletes. The validity of the other readiness tests / markers meta-analysed warrants further investigation.

A commentary of factors related to player availability and its influence on performance in elite team sports.

A commentary of factors related to player availability and its influence on performance in elite team sports.

The early bird catches the worm: The impact of first‐mover advantage on long‐term elite team sport success

AbstractThe research on success factors in elite sport focuses primarily on the one hand to sport in its entirety and on the other hand to the prediction of success in individual sporting events, especially in soccer. In this paper, we investigate the existence of a first‐mover advantage for national team sports, which has a long‐term impact on a nation's success in a sport. To this end, we hand‐collected data for soccer and rugby and analyzed our sample concerning a first‐mover advantage. To do this, we examined the relationship between the date of establishment of each national sports association and later success as measured by the country's world ranking. We check for the essential macro determinants such as GDP per capita and population. Our study shows empirical evidence that the first‐mover advantage has a stronger effect on the success of a state in a team sport than the macro factors mentioned. In this way, we complement previous research on team sports by considering a hitherto neglected effect, a long‐term perspective and by including rugby.

Anxiety, insomnia, and depression during COVID-19 lockdown in elite individual and team sport athletes

PurposePandemic-induced lockdowns disrupted sport training and competition. We aimed to identify the impact on the mental health of high-level athletes and clarify whether the effects differ for team-based and individual athletes.MethodsThis cross-sectional survey, stratified by sex and sport type, collected demographic data and mental health measurements from 274 Brazilian high-performance athletes (142 from team sports and 132 from individual sports) involved with the Brazilian Olympic Committee program for the Tokyo Olympics 2021. Depression, disturbed sleep, and anxiety were assessed by the 9-Item Patient Health Questionnaire, 7-Item Insomnia Severity Index, and 7-Item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale respectively. Responses were analyzed dichotomously according to published threshold values, characterizing the relative frequency distribution of prevalence (PCRS) or non-prevalence of clinically relevant symptoms (NPCRS).ResultsOut of all participants, 47 [17.1%], Z(274) = 15.38, p = .001, 32 [11.7%], Z(274) = 17.94, p = .001, and 49 [17.9%], Z(274) = 15.04, p = .001 had PCRS of anxiety, insomnia, and depression, respectively. There were no significant differences in the PCRS among genders. Compared with individual sport athletes, team sport athletes were more likely to report PCRS of insomnia (12 [37.5%] vs 20 [62.5%], Z(274) = −2.00, p = .046), and depression (18 [36.7%] vs 31 [63.3%], Z(274) = −2.63, p = .009) but not for anxiety.ConclusionAthletes reported high levels of mental health problems during the lockdown. Team sport athletes reported worse symptoms of insomnia and depression than individual sport athletes, possibly due to the impact of unaccustomed social isolation and lack of social team activity. Therefore, it becomes relevant to consider psychological support to team sport athletes who for some reason, such as a pandemic, enduring crisis even injury rehabilitation needs to be isolated.

Small Performance Effects of a Practical Mixed-Methods Cooling Strategy in Elite Team Sport Athletes

ABSTRACTPurpose: The ingestion of ice slurry and application of ice towels can elicit favorable physiological, perceptual, and performance benefits when used individually; however, the combined use and effectiveness of these practical cooling strategies have not been assessed using a sport-specific performance test, based on actual match demands, in an elite team sport context. Methods: Ten non-heat acclimated elite male rugby sevens athletes undertook two cycling heat response tests (HRT) designed to be specific to the demands of rugby sevens in hot conditions (35°C, 80% rH). In a crossover design, the HRTs were conducted with (COOLING) and without (HOT) the combined use of internal (ice slushy ingestion) and external (application of ice towels to the head, neck, and face) pre- and per-cooling strategies. Physiological, perceptual, and performance variables were monitored throughout each HRT. Results: COOLING resulted in reductions in mean tympanic temperature (−0.4 ± 0.2°C; d = 1.18); mean heart rate (−5 ± 8 bpm; d = 0.53); thermal discomfort (−0.5 ± 0.9 AU; d = 0.48); and thirst sensation (−1.0 ± 1.1 AU; d = 0.61) during the HRT. COOLING also resulted in a small increase in 4-min time trial power output (by 7 ± 33 W, ~3%; d = 0.35) compared to HOT. Discussion: A combination of internal and external pre- and per-cooling strategies can result in a range of small physiological, perceptual, and performance benefits during a rugby sevens specific HRT, compared to undertaking no cooling. Practitioners should include such strategies when performing in hot conditions.

The impact of intra-team communication and support relationships on team identification and collective efficacy in elite team sport: a social network analysis

ABSTRACT Team identification and collective efficacy are important determinants of team functioning. A team’s collective efficacy is borne from its shared social identity and improved through iterative, interpersonal exchanges between teammates during training sessions and matches. Our study employed social network analyses to examine the impact of intra-team relationships on team identification and collective efficacy. We adopted a cross-sectional design including four elite teams (N = 67, 79% female) and collected athletes’ data on which teammates they communicated with during matches (match communication relationships) and which teammates they sought informational support from during training sessions (informational support relationships). Regression analyses were conducted to explore the impact of these relationships on team identification and collective efficacy. Communication ties positively predicted team identification, while incoming (i.e., receiving nominations for support from teammates) and outgoing support ties (i.e., perceiving teammates as available for support) were unrelated. In addition, outgoing support ties predicted collective efficacy, while incoming support ties and communication ties were unrelated. Findings are discussed through a social identity lens, with suggestions to curate the training environment with activities that increase the reciprocity of communication relations between certain pairs of teammates to strengthen identification as well as increase the quantity and distribution of outgoing, support-seeking relations to enhance collective efficacy. Network maps of the teams sampled are used to exemplify these suggestions. Future research using social network analyses to track changes in networks over time is encouraged to understand the role of intra-team relationships in team functioning.

Sleep Regularity and Predictors of Sleep Efficiency and Sleep Duration in Elite Team Sport Athletes

BackgroundMany elite athletes have suboptimal sleep duration and efficiency, potentially due to factors that may impact sleep onset and offset times. Variability in sleep onset and offset may negatively influence sleep. The sleep regularity index (SRI) is a novel metric for sleep regularity, however there are no published descriptions of SRI in elite athletes. Further, contributors to sleep efficiency and duration in elite athletes using objective measures have not been explored.MethodsSleep was monitored over a minimum of seven consecutive days (7 to 43)—in 203 elite team sport athletes (age range = 19–36 years; female, n = 79; male, n = 124, total sleep nights = 1975) using activity monitoring and sleep diaries. The sleep regularity index (SRI) was calculated to reflect the night-to-night shifts in sleep by accounting for changes in sleep onset and sleep offset. Sleep characteristics were compared between regular and irregular sleepers and important contributors to sleep efficiency and total sleep time were assessed using multiple linear regression models.ResultsThe median sleep regularity index and interquartile range were 85.1 (81.4 to 88.8). When compared to irregular sleepers, regular sleepers demonstrated (1) significantly greater sleep efficiency (p = 0.006; 0.31 medium effect size [ES]), (2) significantly less variability in total sleep time (− p ≤ 0.001; − 0.69, large ES) and sleep efficiency (− 0.34, small ES), (3) similar total sleep time and (4) significantly less variation in sleep onset (p ≤ 0.001; − 0.73, large ES) and offset (p ≤ 0.001; − 0.74, large ES) times. Sleep characteristics explained 73% and 22% of the variance in total sleep time and sleep efficiency, respectively. The most important contributor to total sleep time was a later sleep offset time, while the most important contributors to sleep efficiency were an earlier bedtime and less variable sleep onset times.ConclusionsBedtime and a consistent sleep onset time are important factors associated with sleep efficiency in athletes, while sleep offset is an important factor for total sleep time. Coaches and staff can assist their athletes by providing training schedules that allow for both regularity and sufficiency of time in bed where possible.

Lessons From Special Forces Operators for Elite Team Sports Training: How to Make the Whole Greater Than the Sum of the Parts.

This methodology paper describes the design of a holistic and multidisciplinary human performance program within the Belgian Special Forces Group, the Tier 1 Special Operations unit of the Belgian Defense. Performance management approaches in the military draw heavily on sports science. The key component of the program design described here is its integrative nature, which team sports training might benefit from. The basic rationale behind the program was to bridge several gaps: the gap between physical and mental training; the gap between the curative or preventive medical approach and the performance enhancement approach; and the gap between individual and team training. To achieve this goal, the methodology of Intervention Mapping was applied, and a multidisciplinary team of training and care professionals was constituted with operational stakeholders. This was the first step in the program design. The second step took a year, and consisted of formal and informal consultations, participant observations and task analyses. These two first stages and their conclusions are described in the Method section. The Results section covers the next two stages (three and four) of the process, which aimed at defining the content of the program; and to test a pilot project implementation. The third stage encompassed the choice of the most relevant assessment and intervention tools for the target population, within each area of expertise. This is described extensively, to allow for replication. The fourth and last stage was to “test drive” the real-life integration and implementation of the whole program at the scale of a single team (8 individuals). For obvious confidentiality reasons, the content data will not be reported extensively here. Implications for wider-scale implementation and tie-back to sports team training are presented.

Marketing Concept in Elite Team Sports Clubs in Serbia: Impact of Leadership Styles, Organizational Learning Culture, and Climate for Innovation

This research tested the interactions among organizational learning culture, leadership styles, climate for innovation, and marketing concept of sports clubs in team sports. The study included elite sport managers (N=118), from four team sports (football, basketball, handball, and volleyball), who participated in the highest rank of national competition in Serbia. The organizational learning culture was measured with attitudes of respondents about the organizational learning culture at individual, team or group level, and organization as dichotomous variables, while leadership styles used the MLQ self-assessment questionnaire. The climate for innovation scale was measured with scales for assessing organizational support for creativity, maladaptation, support for innovation, and resource supply. The presence/absence of components of the different marketing mix aspects was measured as a four-dimensional variable for evaluation marketing concept. The results supported the mediation and path models. Direct effect to variable marketing concept is noticed only in the organizational learning culture, while climate for innovations and leadership style did not have a direct effect on the marketing concept. Indirect effects revealed that the status of the sports branch, the market position of each club in its sport competitive results, and the education background of managers' impact marketing concept in team sports in Serbia. The theoretical and practical contributions of obtaining results are discussed.

Relative Age Effect on Brazilian male elite futsal athletes according to playing position and performance by goals scored on Brazil National Futsal Leagues

Introduction: The relative age effect is prevalent in different elite team sports. However, little is known about this phenomenon in high-level adult male futsal players. Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of relative age effect in Brazilian male elite futsal players, and its relationship with playing position and goals scored on Brazil National Futsal Leagues (BNFL) from 2016 to 2020. Methods: The distribution of birth dates, playing positions, and goals scored by male participants of the Brazil National Futsal Leagues were analyzed. Chi-squared tests were used to analyze the birth dates distribution based on quarters and semesters of the year, according to playing position (defender, winger, pivot, and goalkeeper) and scoring performance (high and low). Results: The overall analysis indicated that the relative age effect is prevalent on the pool of athletes analyzed. However, this effect was position-dependent, since relatively older athletes were overrepresented only in wingers and defenders playing positions. On the other hand, scoring performance was not associated with the relative age effect, since this effect was found in both performance levels. Conclusion: Relative age effects are prevalent in Brazilian male elite futsal athletes, especially for defenders and wingers. Considering the high level of competitiveness for spots in elite futsal teams, coaches and sports administrators must be educated about the prevalence of the relative age effect in this sporting context. This is necessary in order to reduce the inequalities generated by age categories based on arbitrary cut-off dates, which may reduce potential talent loss.