European Soccer Research Articles

Return to Play and Player Performance After Foot Fracture in UEFA Soccer Players.

Background:There is a paucity of information on rate and time to return to play (RTP) in elite-level soccer players who have sustained foot fractures.Purpose:To (1) determine the rate and timing of RTP after foot fracture (eg, tarsal, metatarsal, or phalangeal), (2) investigate foot fracture reinjury incidence after RTP, and (3) evaluate performance after foot fracture as compared with matched, uninjured controls.Study Design:Descriptive epidemiology study.Methods:Athletes sustaining foot fractures were identified across the 5 major European soccer leagues (English Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1, and Serie A) between 2000 and 2016. Injured athletes were matched to controls (1:1) using demographic characteristics and performance metrics from 1 season before injury. The authors recorded RTP rate, reinjury incidence, player characteristics associated with RTP within 2 seasons of injury, player availability, field time, and performance metrics during the 4 seasons after injury.Results:A total of 192 elite soccer players sustaining a foot fracture were identified; 40 players (20.8%) underwent operative treatment. Athletes missed an average of 69.41 ± 59.43 days and 5.15 ± 23.28 games. In the 4 seasons after injury, 80% of players returned to play, with 72% returning to play within 1 season of injury. Nine players (5%) sustained a subsequent foot fracture. Athletes with a foot fracture demonstrated significantly longer league retention compared with uninjured controls (P < .001). Elite soccer players older than 30 years of age were less likely to RTP (odds ratio, 0.67; P = .002), whereas career experience, field position, and baseline performance showed no significant association with RTP rates. Injured athletes demonstrated similar performance to controls during the 4 years after injury, and there were no position-dependent differences on subgroup analysis. The players who underwent operative treatment had more assists per 90 minutes and more team points per game during the first season after injury compared with athletes treated nonoperatively.Conclusion:Foot fractures in elite soccer players resulted in moderate loss of play time (69.41 days). RTP rates were high at 80%, although players older than 30 years of age were less likely to RTP. On RTP, athletes who sustained a foot fracture maintained performance similar to preinjury levels and to uninjured controls.

Impact of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury on European Professional Soccer Players

Background:The impact of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) on the performance and career of professional soccer players has not been extensively investigated.Purpose:To evaluate in professional European soccer players (1) the ACL injury incidence, (2) the return-to-play (RTP) rate and time after ACLR, (3) career survival and athlete performance in the first 3 postoperative seasons after RTP, (4) factors likely related to different outcomes after ACLR, and (5) any related differences between the top 8 European soccer leagues. Study Design:Descriptive epidemiology study.Methods:Included were professional soccer players in the top 8 European Soccer leagues (Serie A [Italy], Premier League [England], Ligue 1 [France], LaLiga [Spain], Bundesliga [Germany], Jupiler Pro League [Belgium], Liga NOS [Portugal], and Premier Liga [Russia]) who sustained an ACL injury during seasons 2014 to 2015, 2015 to 2016, and 2016 to 2017. Data were retrieved from publicly available online sources. Outcomes were evaluated based on player age (<25 years, 25-30 years, and >30 years), position (goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, and forward), affected side (dominant vs nondominant), and league.Results:Overall, 195 players sustained an ACL injury, for a mean annual ACL injury incidence of 1.42%. The RTP rate was 95%, with a mean RTP time of 248 ± 136 days. Within the third postoperative season, 66 players (36%) competed in a lower level national league, and 25 (13.6%) ended their careers; a significant reduction in the mean minutes played per season was found in all 3 postoperative seasons. Player age correlated significantly with reduction in performance or recovery from an ACL injury. No significant correlation was found between postoperative player performance and affected side, position, league, or time to RTP.Conclusion:A substantial ACL injury incidence was found in top European elite soccer players; however, a high RTP rate in a reasonable time was seen after ACLR. Nevertheless, professional soccer players experienced a short-term decline in their performance.

Return to Play and Player Performance After Meniscal Tear Among Elite-Level European Soccer Players: A Matched Cohort Analysis of Injuries From 2006 to 2016.

Background:Meniscal injuries are extremely common in soccer athletes, and little is known about postrecovery performance.Purpose:To (1) identify characteristics associated with return to play (RTP) to the same league level and (2) evaluate long-term effects that injury and management approach may have on player performance.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:Using publicly available records, we identified athletes who sustained meniscal tears across the 5 major European soccer leagues (English Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1, and Serie A) between 2006 and 2016. Injured athletes were matched to controls 1:2 by demographics and performance. Investigations included rate of RTP to the same league level, reinjury, player characteristics associated with RTP within 2 seasons, long-term availability, field time, and performance metrics standardized to 90 minutes of play during the next 4 seasons.Results:A total of 250 players sustaining meniscal tears were included, of which 106 (42%) received surgical management. Median absence was 57.5 days (interquartile range [IQR], 35-92) or 7 games (IQR, 4-12). Rate of RTP was 70%, and the reinjury rate 5% if a player could RTP. Age greater than 30 years was a negative predictor for RTP (odds ratio [OR], 0.62; P = .002), whereas higher preinjury goals per game (OR, 2.80; P = .04) and surgical management (OR, 1.38; P = .002) were positive predictors for RTP. Surgical management was associated with higher long-term availability (P < .01). As compared with the control, there were no significant differences in field time or performance metrics after RTP, either overall or by player position. As compared with nonoperative management, defenders undergoing surgery demonstrated decreased field time. Attackers and midfielders demonstrated similar field time and performance regardless of management.Conclusion:RTP of elite soccer athletes sustaining meniscal tear is contingent on age, preinjury performance, and management approach. Those who RTP to the same league level can be expected to demonstrate equivalent field time, performance, and long-term availability as noninjured athletes.

Color Blind – Investigating Customer-Based Discrimination in European Soccer

Color Blind – Investigating Customer-Based Discrimination in European Soccer

Does Race Matter? Sports Sponsorship and Discrimination: Evidence from Professional European Soccer

Does Race Matter? Sports Sponsorship and Discrimination: Evidence from Professional European Soccer

Predicting the value of professional sport clubs. A study of European soccer, 2005–2018

This article aims to build a general valuation model that can be applied by investors and current shareholders of professional sport clubs from different countries and leagues. The study is based on panel data on the valuation of soccer clubs published annually by Forbes. Authors analyze all value-drivers that were used previously, expanding the time horizon (number of observations) and incorporating various models including linear and non-linear mixed effect regressions. The best performance is obtained using a mixed-effect model with treebased fi xed part. The following determinants were found signifi cant for the fi xed effect: revenue and number of Google search requests. Analysis of actual deals in 2015–2020 confi rms the model’s predictive ability. It is also shown that since Forbes overestimates the market value of soccer clubs, the proposed model predicts an upper bound on the real value. In this regard, transactions with real value exceeding the estimates are of particular interest. A deeper analysis of such transactions allows to identify additional “non-soccer” factors affecting the deal. Therefore, the proposed model can serve as a tool for the rapid assessment of a soccer club based on open data.

The Uptake of Nordic Hamstring Exercise Program for Injury Prevention in Major League Soccer and Its Barriers to Implementation in Practice.

It is well demonstrated that Nordic hamstring (NH) program has poor compliance across European soccer clubs, but little is known about its implementation in Major League Soccer (MLS). The authors aimed to investigate MLS hamstring prevention practices and compliance with the NH program and understand the reasons for its inclusion or exclusion. A cross-sectional electronic survey was completed by 24 of the 26 (92%) MLS top-division soccer clubs. The survey, based on the Reach, Efficacy, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance framework, was sent to team medical staff. Medical staff were also asked for opinions on barriers to implementation. Eighteen clubs (75%) reported a formal hamstring injury prevention program, with eccentric exercises (94%; 95% CI [confidence interval], 74%-99%), high-speed running (94%; 95% CI, 74%-99%), and NH exercises (89%; 95% CI, 67%-97%) the most common strategies adopted. Fifteen clubs partially implemented the NH program, but only 5 (21%; 95% CI, 9%-40%) completed the full program and were classed as compliant. A total of 20 respondents reported that player perception and muscle soreness (83%; 95% CI, 64%-93%) were barriers to the implementation of the NH program. On a 5-point Likert scale, respondents "partially agreed" (4.13 [0.80]) that the NH exercise could substantially reduce injuries and would be "effective" at their own club (3.88 [0.61]). The NH exercise was valued, but negative player perception and muscular soreness were identified as barriers to implementing the full program. Manipulation of volume and frequency should inform future "effectiveness" research to prospectively assess such modifications in the context of MLS.

Perspectives on Postmatch Fatigue From 300 Elite European Soccer Players.

To examine the general perspectives of elite soccer players on the time course of perceived postmatch fatigue and the influence of away matches on subjective perceptions. Adopting a cross-sectional study design, we invited 371 subjects from 14 top-division European clubs competing in the Belgian First Division A, English Premier League, French Ligue 1, Italian Serie A, Portuguese Primeira Liga, Russian Premier League, and Swiss Premier League to take part in a short survey on general issues relating to postmatch fatigue measurement and tracking in professional soccer. Three hundred male professional soccer players completed the short questionnaire. For perceptions relevant to the time course of postmatch fatigue, two-thirds of respondents (67%) indicated higher postmatch fatigue perceived 2days (48h) after an official competition. Among these respondents, a higher proportion of answers was observed in wide midfielders (74%), attackers (74%), and central midfielders (68%). Approximately two-thirds of respondents (63%) indicated more than usual and much more than usual perceived postmatch fatigue following away matches. For the first time, our investigation addressed practical aspects that remained unexplored and fundamental to the definition of an optimal player management process following a competition. From a practical standpoint, perspectives of individual elite soccer players substantiated the notion of implementing processes with dedicated recovery protocols within 48hours postmatch and highlighted the need for differential strategies addressing the additional burden of away matches and travel.

The Dirty League: English Premier League Provides Higher Incentives for Fouling as Compared to Other European Soccer Leagues.

Fouling in soccer has been studied from an ethical standpoint as a measure of aggression. However, there is limited research related to fouling for performance. The present study investigated fouling as a factor influencing performance in European soccer leagues. Out of possession fouls (FPGNorm), yellow cards (YCFNorm), and their ratio (YCPFPG) were used as predictors of points (Pts) and goals conceded (GA) at the end of the season using three separate linear regression models. Furthermore, 5-fold cross-validation was used to measure out sample reliability. All the models significantly predicted GA and Pts (p < 0.001). Models predicting GA showed higher reliability than models predicting points. Cross validation (CV) results suggested that FPGNorm and YCPFPG models showed a small standard deviation (SD) in the R2 results whereas the results from YCFNorm were not reliable to high SD in the 5-fold CV results. In summary, FPGNorm and YCPFPG seem to predict success (low GA and high Pts) across European soccer leagues, with EPL showing the maximum effect. The findings of the current study and the methodology can be applied to an actual game analysis by coaches in multiple invasion sports. Normalizing for out of possession time is a crucial step for the time spent in particular phases of play, which has not been done in previous research while analyzing ‘key performance indices’ (KPIs). Normalization can successfully introduce domain-specific knowledge into predictors, which can be used in complex algorithms improving predictions and investigation of underlying mechanisms.

The COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Away and Home Victories in Soccer and Rugby Union.

Objective: To measure the impact of restrictions due to COVID on the proportion of matches won at home, away and draw in professional soccer and rugby union.Materials and Methods: Two samples of professional soccer and rugby union matches were collected from 2012–13 to 2020–21 seasons. For soccer, data involved first and second division matches of the England, Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, Scotland, Greece, Portugal, and Turkey championships. For rugby union, championships concerned are Premiership Rugby, Celtic League, Top 14, and Pro D2. The proportions of home, away wins and draw were calculated and compared. A chi-square test of independence between years and types of result was realized to identify an overall inhomogeneity.Results: The proportion of away matches won between the 2012–13 and 2020–21 seasons increased significantly from 28.5 ± 1.2% to 32.5 ± 1.5% in soccer and from 38.0 ± 3.6% to 42.8 ± 5.0% in rugby union. In Premiership Rugby championship, the victory percentage at home dropped from 55.8 ± 3.1% when tifosi were present to 45.8 ± 12.8% when they were not.Conclusion: The home advantage was drastically reduced in empty stadiums for several European soccer and rugby union professional championships. It vanished in the Premiership Rugby and Celtic League during the 2020–21 season.

Red shirt color has no effect on winning in European Soccer: Reanalysis of Attrill et al. (2008) of the English premier league and six additional European leagues

Attrill et al. (2008) conducted a far-reaching study in elite English soccer demonstrating in archival research that from 1946 to 2003 seasons, teams wearing red uniforms were more likely to win championships than teams in other uniform colors, won more at home and had a higher average league position (relative to cross-city rivals). Their study was one of only very few that extended the color-in-context theory (Elliot & maier, 2007) to team, ball-oriented long-duration sports. The current investigation returns to the red superiority hypothesis in professional soccer due to weaknesses in the original evidence for this hypothesis. We conducted two studies testing the red superiority hypothesis in professional soccer. In Study 1a, we first reanalyzed the original data and tested the strength of evidence in favor of the red superiority hypothesis. We then updated the English premier league data (1992–2018) and tested uniform color effects on game outcomes. In Study 2, we attempted to broaden the scope of Study 1 and increase statistical power by testing the red superiority effect during the last 20 years of six major European Soccer leagues (NOS Portugal, German Bundesliga, Dutch Eredivisie, Spanish la Liga, French Ligue 1, and the Italian Serie A). All three tests challenge the validity of the original findings and fail to detect uniform color effects at home play in professional soccer. In light of the current findings and a growing body of research in the field we call into question overall color effects in this athletic context.

Stress in Athletes’ Lives

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article On Mental Health, People, and PlacesFull AccessStress in Athletes’ LivesEzra E. H. Griffith, M.D.Ezra E. H. GriffithSearch for more papers by this author, M.D.Published Online:28 Sep 2021https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.pn.2021.10.34In recent months, there has been intense discussion about the connection between competitive sport and mental health. The commentary, focused in large part on the stress endured by elite athletes, has coincided with major international sports events. We have had, almost in back-to-back fashion, the French Open tennis tournament, the Tour de France cycling event, the European 2020 soccer championship, and the Olympics in Japan. Naomi Osaka, a world-famous tennis champion, made the news because of her unwillingness to face the pressure of yet another news conference at the French Open. Some bystanders thought she should respect her obligation to face the public because she had committed to doing so. Others agreed the journalists were offensive. At the Tokyo Olympics, Simone Biles, the American star gymnast, evoked similar conflicting responses when she withdrew from events, citing health matters.At the European soccer championship, France was eliminated by Switzerland. The match went into overtime and then to a penalty shootout. Kylian Mbappe, a superstar for France, missed his penalty. That outcome sent France’s players to the showers and home in disgrace. Mbappe apparently apologized to his fans for what sports writers called a failure. More sympathetic supporters urged him to keep his head up, as the day after the match would mark the debut of a new season. The three athletes I have mentioned illustrate well the stress of competitive athletics.We follow elite athletes and how they fare on the different terrains of performance. Their annual income and lifestyle, especially in major sports, always attract our attention. Their bodies and minds serve as models of biomedical wonderment for physicians like us. Their capacity for concentration, the sacrifices they make, and their commitment teach us much about what they endure daily.There are other features of sports that put excitement in our lives. Some years ago, my hospital organized a tournament of bed racing. We closed a street. Different divisions in the facility took a bed, decorated it, named it, and oiled its wheels. An employee, not weighing too much, volunteered to ride in the bed. A team of amateur athletic runners pushed each bed. We all spread the word about the event. The bed-race tournament was on. Every bed had its supporters. I was amazed at how much organized effort was put into this event. We had so much fun that I forgot to ask where the idea had originated. Athletics, competition, and team spirit came together and reawakened the slumbering youth in all of us, even in the bystanders.With these wonderfully positive notions about competitive sports so present in our culture, how did the idea take root that elite athletes are the very incarnation of perfection and are obliged to meet public expectations? We must know that they make mistakes from time to time in what they do, and anxiety haunts the best of them. While performances may be breathtaking, consistently flawless performance is hard to sustain. So, why this mourning and weeping over the mistakes of our athletes and their inability to cope well with stress at every event? Why not just console and encourage them when they are facing loss, injury, and disappointing performances?I still recall the early years in elementary school running after a soccer ball on the playground without quite knowing what to do with it. Eventually, the running was accompanied by thoughtful preparation and strategy. I remember the contentment of belonging to a group, the sense of accomplishment, learning about leadership when I captained the team, feeling the admiration of bystanders when I scored a goal. I also learned about losing in the context of competition and about the pain of a torn muscle during excessive effort.We should urge sports enthusiasts to stop pretending that the elite athlete owes them continual brilliant performances. We should remonstrate with coaches who never prepare a substitute for the day that the star center forward on the soccer team will be unable to play. We know that sports can be pleasurable enough to evoke a kind of loyalty from fans that borders on spiritual commitment. We recognize sports’ service as antidote to the drudgery of daily life. Still, creating an idealistic vision of athletics misleads us all. There is risk in the act of living, and that includes sports. ■Ezra E. H. Griffith, M.D., is professor emeritus of psychiatry and African American Studies at Yale University. ISSUES NewArchived

Downtrends in Offside Offenses Among 'The Big Five' European Football Leagues.

This study examined the evolution of offside offenses and pass performance across a 10-season period in the top five European soccer leagues. Match performance observations (n = 18 259) were analysed for emergent trends. Two-way ANOVA analyses revealed significant league and seasonal differences among the five leagues (medium effect size). The total offside offenses committed during a match experienced a clear decline during the 10 seasons. In contrast, moderate increases were evident for all passing differential variables. Offside offenses per match were higher in the German Bundesliga and Spanish La Liga than in the English Premier League and France Ligue 1. However, the English Premier League had the greatest value in the touch differential, pass differential, successful pass differential, and key pass differential among all leagues. It is important to note that the number of offside offenses fell after the implementation of VAR.

Return-to-Play Times and Player Performance After Medial Collateral Ligament Injury in Elite-Level European Soccer Players.

Background:Participation in elite-level soccer predisposes athletes to injuries of the medial collateral ligament (MCL), resulting in variable durations of time lost from sport.Purpose:To (1) determine the rate of return to play (RTP) and timing after MCL injuries, (2) investigate MCL reinjury incidence after RTP, and (3) evaluate the long-term effects of MCL injury on future performance.Study Design:Descriptive epidemiology study.Methods:Using publicly available records, we identified athletes who had sustained MCL injury between 2000 and 2016 across the 5 major European soccer leagues (English Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1, and Serie A). Injured athletes were matched to controls using demographic characteristics and performance metrics from the season before injury. We recorded injury severity, RTP rate, reinjury incidence, player characteristics associated with RTP within 2 seasons of injury, player availability, field time, and performance metrics during the 4 seasons after injury.Results:A total of 59 athletes sustained 61 MCL injuries, with 86% (51/59) of injuries classified as moderate to severe and surgical intervention performed in 14% (8/59) of athletes. After injury, athletes missed a median of 33 days (range, 3-259 days) and 4 games (range, 1-30 games). Overall, 71% (42/59) of athletes returned successfully at the same level, with multivariable regression demonstrating no athlete characteristic predictive of RTP. MCL reinjury was reported in 3% (2/59) of athletes. Midfielders demonstrated decreased field time after RTP when compared with controls (P < .05). No significant differences in player performance for any position were identified out to 4 seasons after injury. Injured athletes had a significantly higher rate of long-term retention (P < .001).Conclusion:MCL injuries resulted in a median loss of 33 days in elite European soccer athletes, with the majority of injuries treated nonoperatively. RTP remained high, and few athletes experienced reinjury. While midfielders demonstrated a significant decrease in field time after RTP, player performance and long-term retention were not compromised. Future studies are warranted to better understand athlete-specific and external variables predictive of MCL injury and reinjury, while evaluating treatment and rehabilitation protocols to minimize time lost and to optimize athlete safety and health.

Adductor Muscle Injuries in UEFA Soccer Athletes: A Matched-Cohort Analysis of Injury Rate, Return to Play, and Player Performance From 2000 to 2015.

Background:The effects of adductor muscle injury on performance in soccer athletes are unknown.Purpose:To (1) determine the rate and time to return to play (RTP) after adductor muscle injury, (2) investigate the rate of reinjury after RTP, and (3) investigate any long-term effects of injury on elite soccer player performance.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:Using publicly available records, athletes sustaining adductor muscle injury were identified across the 5 major European soccer leagues (English Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1, and Serie A) between 2000 and 2015. Injured athletes were matched to controls by demographic characteristics and performance metrics from 1 season before the index timepoint. Investigations included the rate of RTP, reinjuries, player characteristics associated with RTP within 2 seasons, player availability, field time, and performance metrics during the 4 seasons after injury.Results:A total of 671 players with adductor muscle injury were included. Based on time to RTP, 86% of injuries were mild to moderate (4-28 days missed), and 4% required surgical intervention. Players with adductor muscle injury were absent for a median of 22 days (range, 1-700 days) and 4 games (range, 1-76 games). A total of 521 (78%) players returned at the same level, with no demographic or clinical characteristics associated with RTP on the multivariable regression. Of those returning to play, 143 (21%) experienced adductor reinjury. After RTP, defenders demonstrated decreased field time compared with controls (P < .05). As compared with controls, defenders and midfielders scored more points and goals per game during the season of the injury (P < .01), while attackers recorded more goals and assists per game the season after injury (P < .05).Conclusion:Only 3 in 4 players (78%) returned to participate in an official match, and the reinjury rate was high (21%). After RTP, defenders demonstrated decreased field time versus controls. On the other hand, defenders and midfielders recorded more points and goals per game, while attackers recorded more goals and assists per game versus controls. Although the multivariable analysis results did not identify player characteristics associated with RTP, there was a position-dependent association on player performance after RTP.

Traumatic Leg Fractures in UEFA Football Athletes: A Matched-Cohort Analysis of Return to Play, Reinjury, Player Retention, and Performance Outcomes.

Background:The average professional soccer team experiences 1 to 2 traumatic leg fractures per season, with unknown effects on player performance.Purpose:To (1) determine the rate and time to return to play (RTP) following leg fracture, (2) investigate the rate of reinjury following RTP, and (3) investigate long-term effects that lower extremity (LE) fracture may have on elite soccer player performance.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:Using publicly available records, we identified athletes sustaining a traumatic leg fracture across the 5 major European soccer leagues (English Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1, and Serie A) between 2000 and 2016. Athletes with leg fracture (femur, tibia, and/or fibula) were matched 1:2 to controls by demographic characteristics and performance metrics 1 season before the index timepoint. Investigations included the RTP rate, reinjury rate, player characteristics associated with RTP within 2 seasons, long-term player retention, performance metrics during the 4 following seasons, and subgroup analysis by player position.Results:A total of 112 players with LE fracture and 224 controls were identified. Players with LE fractures were absent for a mean of 157 days (range, 24-601 days) and 21 games (range, 2-68 games). The rate of RTP within 1 season was 80%, with 4% experiencing subsequent refracture. Injured players remained active in the league at a higher rate than their uninjured counterparts. As compared with controls, injured athletes played 309 fewer total minutes (P < .05), scored 0.09 more assists per game (P < .01) 1 season after injury, and scored 0.12 more points per game 4 seasons after injury (P < .01). Defenders were most affected by an LE fracture, playing 5.24 fewer games (P < .05), 603 fewer total minutes (P < .01), and recording 0.19 more assists per 90 minutes of play as compared with controls 1 season after injury (P < .001). Attackers and midfielders demonstrated no significant difference in metrics after RTP when compared with controls.Conclusion:Most players sustaining an LE fracture returned to elite soccer at the same level after a significant loss of playing time, with a 4% rate of refracture. Player retention was higher for those sustaining an LE fracture versus uninjured controls. Overall, injured players did not experience a decline in performance after recovery from an LE fracture.

Intra-Season Variations in Workload Parameters in Europe's Elite Young Soccer Players: A Comparative Pilot Study between Starters and Non-Starters.

Background: The main purpose of the current study was to compare the within-season variations of workload, training duration, acute/chronic workload ratio (ACWR), training monotony ™, and training strain (TS) through session rating perceived exertion (s-RPE) between starters and non-starters. Methods: Seventeen under-17 European male soccer players (age, 16.2 ± 0.3 y, height, 1.8 ± 0.1 m; body mass, 66.5 ± 4.0 kg) divided in two groups: nine starters and eight non-starters, were evaluated over 50 weeks throughout the season. Results: In general, there were load variations for all players during the full-season. RPE tended to decrease during in-season and RPE, training duration and s-RPE did not present significant differences between starters and non-starters. TM and TS presented lower values for starters in mesocycle (M) 4 and M11 compared to non-starters. TS presented lower values for starters in M4 and M11 compared to non-starters, while in M10 a higher value was found for starters when compared to non-starters. ACWR showed differences between starters and non-starters in two of the mesocycles. Conclusions: This study showed that some mesocycles provided higher load for non-starters. This information can alert coaches that non-starter players are likely to try too hard in training to demonstrate their abilities, leading to non-functional overreaching, overtraining syndrome, and then poor performance.

Professional academy soccer players’ perceived experiences of loan environments

ABSTRACT The current investigation examined professional academy soccer players' perceived experiences of loan environments, compared to their previous academy experiences. Fifteen professional soccer players completed season-long loans at various European soccer clubs. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted following the loans to determine the physical, technical, tactical, psychological, and psychosocial differences between their loan, and existing academy environments. Inductive content analysis was conducted on the interviews to build a system of categories explaining the holistic experiences of player’s loan experiences. Key themes that emerged were greater perceived physical demands on loan, but similar or lower technical demands. Players were exposed to a wider range of playing styles on loan. Some players struggled with the reduced feedback and communication surrounding their performances on loan compared to the academy, and had difficulty interacting with peers. The current investigation highlights areas for consideration to ensure a smooth transition between academy and loan environments.

In-Season Internal and External Workload Variations between Starters and Non-Starters-A Case Study of a Top Elite European Soccer Team.

Background and Objectives: Interpretation of the load variations across a period seems important to control the weekly progression or variation of the load, or to identify in-micro- and mesocycle variations. Thus, the aims of this study were twofold: (a) to describe the in-season variations of training monotony, training strain and acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR) through session ratings of perceived exertion (s-RPE), total distance and high-speed running (HSR); and (b) to compare those variations between starters and non-starters. Materials and Methods: Seventeen professional players from a European First League team participated in this study. They were divided in two groups: starters (n = 9) and non-starters (n = 8). The players were monitored daily over a 41-week period of competition where 52 matches occurred during the 2015–2016 in-season. Through the collection of s-RPE, total distance and HSR, training monotony, training strain and ACWR were calculated for each measure, respectively. Data were analyzed across ten mesocycles (M: 1 to 10). Repeated measures ANOVA was used with the Bonferroni post hoc test to compare M and player status. Results: The results revealed no differences between starters vs. non-starters (p > 0.05). M6 had a greater number of matches and displayed higher values for monotony (s-RPE, total distance and HSR), strain (only for total distance) and ACWR (s-RPE, TD and HSR). However, the variation patterns for all indexes displayed some differences. Conclusions: The values of both starters and non-starters showed small differences, thus suggesting that the adjustments of training workloads that had been applied over the season helped to reduce differences according to the player status. Even so, there were some variations over the season (microcycles and mesocycles) for the whole team. This study could be used as a reference for future coaches, staff and scientists.

The game behind the game: UEFA's Financial Fair Play Regulations and the need to field a substitute

ABSTRACT European soccer clubs tend to spend beyond their revenues, causing disruptions in their finances. To minimize these disruptions, UEFA enacted the Financial Fair Play Regulations (FFP). FFP achieves its objectives through the “break-even” requirement, which prohibits clubs from spending beyond their revenues. This article argues that FFP violates Articles 101 and 102 TFEU. While there has been scholarly interest in FFP’s incompatibility with competition law, the focus has been on Article 101. In addition to contributing to the scholarship on FFP’s violation of Article 101, this article presents arguments on how FFP violates Article 102. This article then explores UEFA’s interactions with European regulators as a backdrop for explaining why regulators have failed to address FFP’s violation of Articles 101 and 102. This article concludes by arguing that a change to FFP is imminent and suggests a novel method through which UEFA can maintain FFP’s objectives while complying with competition law.