Football Position Research Articles

Functional and Lateral Asymmetry of the Knee Joint Muscles Measured Using Tensiomyography (TMG) in Professional Football Players of Different Playing Positions.

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine whether different playing positions in football influence muscle asymmetry, which is a common cause of injuries in football. This study aimed to determine the difference in the functional and lateral asymmetry of the knee joint muscles measured using tensiomyography (TMG) between football players of different playing positions. Methods: This study included 52 professional football players (25.1 ± 4.7 years) divided into three groups according to their playing position: defenders-DF (N = 18), midfielders-MF (N = 15), and forwards-FW (N = 19). Functional and lateral symmetry were investigated by applying TMG on the knee joint muscles Rectus femoris, Vastus medialis, Vastus lateralis, Biceps femoris, and Semitendinosus of the right and left leg, and using the algorithm proposed by the manufacturer and previous studies. Results: The results of one and two-way ANOVA revealed no significant differences in functional (F = 0.596, p = 0.555, on average) and lateral asymmetry (F = 0.888, p = 0.497, on average) from the aspect of muscle contraction velocity and muscle stiffness between football players of different playing positions. Conclusions: The study results show that the specificity of the playing position in football does not influence the functional and lateral asymmetry of the knee joint muscles. However, it has been shown that there is a high percentage of players with lateral (n = 14.5, 39.6%, on average) and specifically functional asymmetry (n = 27, 51.9%, on average).

Hip Arthroscopy for Labral Tears and FAI is Associated with a High Rate of Return to Play for Professional American Football Athletes, A Literature Review.

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) with labral tear is an increasingly recognized source of hip pain and lost playing time in elite athletes, yet data pertaining to professional American football athletes remains scarce. Prognostic recommendations are largely limited to single-institution cohort studies. To date, no large-scale literature review of surgical treatment of FAI in elite American football athletes has been performed. This review article reports the prevalence, return to play, performance outcomes, and career longevity following hip arthroscopy in professional American football athletes across all orthopedic literature between 2004-2024. We hypothesize high rates of return to sport (> 85%) to the same competition level and no differences in career longevity or postoperative performance. In the last 20years, 8 studies have reported outcomes following hip arthroscopy in NFL athletes; no outcomes have been reported since the 2017 season. Return to play ranged from 79-93% and time to return ranged between 6.0-7.4months. Offensive lineman returned at the lowest rate among all position groups. There were no differences in postoperative performance or career length compared to age-matched controls. There is high rate of return to professional American football after hip arthroscopy for labral tear and/or FAI with no differences in performance or career longevity compared to control groups. Offensive lineman undergoing hip arthroscopy return to same-level competition at a lower rate compared to other football positions.

Comparative Study of Speed and Agility Across Different Playing Positions

The purpose of the present study is to find out the correlation between Physical variables and different playing positions in football. The objective of this study is to examine and compare the speed and agility of district-level football players across different playing positions: defenders, midfielders, and forwards. Speed and agility are critical physical attributes that contribute significantly to a football player's performance, and understanding their variation across positions can provide valuable insights into position-specific training and talent identification. A sample of 90 players from Bhopal district-level teams was selected for the study, and their speed and agility were assessed through standardized tests such as the 50-meter sprint test for speed and the Shuttle Run Agility Test for agility. The results reveal significant differences in both speed and agility between playing positions. Forwards demonstrated the highest average speed, which is essential for offensive runs and goal-scoring opportunities, while midfielders exhibited superior agility, reflecting their need to navigate tight spaces and switch directions frequently during the game. Defenders displayed moderate levels of both attributes, balancing the need for speed in counterattacks and agility in defensive maneuvers. The findings suggest that position-specific physical training could enhance the performance of football players, and coaches should consider these differences when developing conditioning programs. This comparative analysis highlights the importance of tailoring speed and agility training to the specific positional requirements, which could lead to better overall team performance.

Impact of Anthropometric Characteristics on Football Performance by Playing Position

The purpose of the present study is to find out the correlation between anthropometric variables and different playing positions in football. The objective of this study is to examine and compare the different body measurements of district-level football players across different playing positions: defenders, midfielders, and forwards. Body measurements are critical anthropometric attributes that contribute significantly to a football player's performance, and understanding their variation across positions can provide valuable insights into position-specific training and talent identification. A sample of 90 players from Bhopal district-level teams was selected for the study, and their body measurements were assessed through standardized anthropometric kit. The findings suggest that position-specific anthropometric variable could enhance the performance of football players, and coaches should consider these differences when developing conditioning programs. The study highlights the importance of specific anthropometric characteristics in determining positional effectiveness on the football field. These findings suggest that coaches and scouts should incorporate anthropometric data into player recruitment and development strategies, allowing for position-specific training that enhances individual and team performance. Tailoring physical conditioning based on these characteristics could further optimize athletic output and overall gameplay.

The Growing Importance of Women in Portuguese Football and in the Sports Press

This study aims to investigate the processes of change in valuing women's participation in the world of football, as well as their recognition by sports journalism. The initial research question was: "What difficulties do women encounter in gaining acceptance in the world of football and in sports journalism in Portugal?". The main objectives were: 1) To analyse the role of women football players in Portugal; 2) To understand the position of women's football in Portugal; 3) To find out how Portuguese sports journalism treats women's football; 4) To investigate the role of communication in publicising women's football in Portugal; 5) To understand the perception of women's football in Portugal. In order to achieve these objectives, the methodology involves carrying out an exploratory empirical study based on analysing the content of the main Portuguese sports newspapers and applying a questionnaire survey to the Portuguese population in general. The main aim of analysing the sports newspapers is to find out how Portuguese sports journalism treats women's football and how regularly and relevantly women's football is covered in the news. In turn, the questionnaire survey seeks to understand the perception, acceptance and information that the Portuguese population has about women's football. The results obtained were very enlightening, showing that women's football in Portugal still needs a lot of development and acceptance and that the mass media is blamed for the lack of publicity and promotion of women's football in Portugal, which means that the majority of the population has no knowledge or information about what goes on in women's football. On the other hand, it was also possible to ascertain that there is still a certain stigma regarding women's football, denoting the existence of prejudice and unequal treatment, as reflected in its presence in sports journalism.

Investigating the relationship between achievement motive and performance in elite-level football goalkeepers

The goalkeeper position in football is highly specific. Investigating the achievement motive of elite-level goalkeepers might help football coaches in general, goalkeeping coaches, and sports psychologists to gain insight into and knowledge of the approaches needed for enhancing the performance of this unique position within the football team. This study aimed to examine the achievement motive for male goalkeepers playing at the elite level in Denmark (n = 34) and Iceland (n = 20) and to investigate the relationship between the achievement motive, age and performance. In addition to biographical questions, the study employed the Achievement Motives Scale – Sport. The findings from the present study suggest that goalkeepers are characterized by higher hope for success than fear of failure values, like other elite athletes, while younger goalkeepers had significantly higher fear of failure. There were no differences between starting and non-starting goalkeepers, but we found that performance level was associated with fear of failure when controlling for the goalkeeper’s status (starters versus non-starters) and playing country. Finally, goalkeepers playing in Denmark showed lower fear of failure than goalkeepers playing in Iceland. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

Institutional Change in the Governance of Chinese Football: The Era of ‘Top-Level Design’ Under the Leadership of Xi Jinping

This article explores the dynamics of institutional change in the governance of Chinese football in the Xi Jinping era, focusing on the concept of ‘top-level design’. Since Xi Jinping took over as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party in 2012, Chinese football has been at the centre of a series of far-reaching policy reform programmes, driven by Xi’s vision to promote the sport and improve China’s position in world football. To date, no study has examined whether institutional change has occurred in Chinese football from the theoretical perspective of actor-centred institutionalism. The aim of this study is to investigate whether there has been an institutional shift towards ‘top-level design’ in Chinese football governance under the leadership of Xi Jinping and, if so, what key aspects can be identified. Given the post-hoc character of the theoretical approach of actor-centred institutionalism, the qualitative method of process tracing was chosen to reconstruct and explain possible institutional changes. The data are based on extensive document analysis and complementary interviews with 22 experts. The findings suggest that under Xi Jinping’s leadership, institutional changes towards ‘top-level design’ have taken place in Chinese football in the form of anti-corruption campaigns and the emergence of new actors.

“You never played the game so what do you know?”: An exploration of the lived experiences of British South Asians in management and governance positions in English football

ABSTRACT Rationale This paper aims to critically explore the lived experiences of British South Asian people working in managerial and governance positions in English football; critique cultures of Whiteness in football; consider ways to resist/challenge racism in football; and offer data-informed recommendations to help increase British South Asian representation in leadership positions across football. Methodology This research draws on the testimonies of 21 British South Asian leaders working in English football (5 women and 16 men). Findings Participants used racialised performances to “fit in”; commonly encountered racist “banter”, microaggressions and microinsults; and routinely experienced examples of implicit and explicit “othering”. Practical Implications Stakeholders and policy makers must commit to the (1) development of inclusive and diverse recruitment strategies; (2) supporting minoritised ethnic staff members through programmes such as mentoring schemes; (3) implementation of mandatory race equity education for the workforce. Research Contribution While British South Asian experiences as players, and to some extent coaches, have been captured, the experiences of British South Asians in managerial and governance positions have been overlooked. This article treads new ground by highlighting experiences in off-field roles, thus adding to the wider body of work. Originality This work has used new and original data to cultivate a series of measures designed to boost the recruitment, retention and progression of British South Asian people working in English football.

Medical Checks for Professional Football Players in Franceville, Gabon.

To describe the clinical and non-clinical characteristics of Gabon footballers in the Haut-Ogooue Polyclinic in Franceville, Gabon, during visits, to assess whether they are not contraceptive to sports. A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in the city of Franceville, Gabon, in May 2022. The first and second divisions of footballers were subjected to medical examinations to determine whether they had any contraindications for playing sports, including clinical examinations, rest electrocardiograms (ECG), rest cardiac ultrasounds, chest X-rays, Rick-Dickson and biological checks. The average age of 88 footballers (22-25 years) was 23 years. Blood pressure (BP) is abnormal in 19% of players, and alcohol and tobacco consumption is reported in 70% and 30%, respectively. Exercise adaptation was also closely associated with age (P = 0.00137724; P = 0.008974301), football position (P = 0.009957548; P = 0.006646182) and alcohol consumption (P = 0.000531971). Electrical and biological changes were 16% and 86.79%, respectively. Sinus bradycardia and first-degree atrioventricular block are the most common ECG abnormalities. Metabolic, inflammatory, infectious, electrolyte and anaemia syndromes were found in 22.64%, 24.53%, 19.81%, 7.55% and 12.26%, respectively. Midfielders and defenders have shown the greatest changes in biological parameters. Medical checks are essential to determine if sports are contraindicated, as they can help identify physiological and pathological conditions and improve the monitoring of athletes.

In professional football the decline in high-intensity running activities from first to second half is more pronounced in players with a fast muscle typology.

Muscle typology is heterogeneous among national level football (soccer) players, but positional differences remain unclear. Furthermore, fast typology (FT) individuals fatigue more than slow typology (ST) individuals in lab conditions. Therefore, we investigated if muscle typology is different between playing positions and if the decay in high-intensity activities from the first to the second half is larger in FT football players than in ST players. We estimated muscle typology in 147 male professional football players by measuring soleus and gastrocnemius muscle carnosine via proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Players were classified as ST, intermediate typology (IT) or FT and categorized as goalkeeper, center back, full back, midfielder, winger or forward. Across four seasons in-game distances covered in multiple running speed, acceleration and deceleration zones were collected during the first and second half. We found no differences in muscle typology between positions (p = 0.412). FT players covered 10.9% more high acceleration distance (>3 m.s-2 ) in the first half than ST players (p = 0.021) and high acceleration distance decay was larger for FT players (-12.4%) than ST (-7.7%; p = 0.006) and IT players (-7.3%; p = 0.010). Moreover, the decline in distance covered in several high-intensity zones tended to be larger in FT players (-11.2% high-intensity >15 km.h-1 ; -12.7% high deceleration <-3 m.s-2 ; -11.5% medium acceleration 2-3 m.s-2 ) than in ST players (-7.1% high-intensity; -8.1% high deceleration; -8.1% medium acceleration; 0.05 < p < 0.1). In conclusion, possessing a particular muscle typology is not required to play any football position at the national level. However, there are indications that FT players might fatigue more toward the end of the game compared to ST players.

Lower limb musculoskeletal profiling in Malaysian professional footballers during pre-season pre-competition medical assessments

Background: Lower limb musculoskeletal profiling is important in pre-competition medical assessment (PCMA) as it helps to identify musculoskeletal pathologies that need rehabilitation and risk factors for injury that need specific prevention programme. However, a normative value is needed to identify which is normal or pathological. Our objective in this study is to establish a normative value for football-specific adaptation of lower limb musculoskeletal examination among Malaysian professional footballers. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective cross-sectional examining 83 Malaysian footballers from a single club during PCMA from 17 January 2022 to 17 February 2022. We included anthropometric assessments using body impedance analysis, objective lower limb muscle strength assessments using handheld dynamometer, range of motion and objective dynamic balance test using the Biodex system. Results: The mean age of our study was 20.3 ± 3 years. Goalkeepers and defenders have a higher body mass index and a higher skeletal muscle mass. Strikers and midfielders have a higher quadriceps and hamstring strength. Non-dominant leg has a better overall stability and anterior posterior stability index compared to dominant leg. Defender has a better overall stability. Sixty-six footballers (80%) have at least 1 low Add: Abd ratio of less than 0.9, which requires preventive programme for groin injury. Conclusion: This study demonstrates a position-specific adaptation in different positions in football.

Association Between Hamstrings Eccentric Strength and Sprint Performance in Football Players

Sprint is essential for successful sport performance. Acceleration is necessary for every position in football. The ability to successfully accelerate is also an important determinant for more carried gaming activities. The eccen- tric strength of the hamstrings is an important task in sprint. The aim of our study was to test the correlation between the 30 m sprint and the eccentric strength of the hamstring by NordBord. The sample consisted of 48 professional football players (23.15±4.78 yr.; 180.5±5.42 cm; 76.5±7.94 kg) of the highest Slovak football league. The correlation between 30 m performance and average eccentric hamstring strength has been -0.0826. The correlation suggests that the sprint speed and eccentric strength of the hamstrings have not been associated 0 (t=-0.5619; df=46; p=0.5769). Correlation between 30 m performance and AVG/kg was -0.1317, indicating that the correlation between average weight and speed was not been significant. The eccentric strength has not been associated with a higher speed in the 30-m sprint test. However, more intervention studies are warranted.

The Characteristics of Building Long-Term Training Systems for Footballers in Foreign Countries

A scientific understanding of building a rational system of long-term training for footballers in Ukraine, as well as ways of its practical implementation, should rely on foreign experience in this field to be effective. The article aims to theoretically and methodologically justify foreign experience in building a rational system of long-term training for footballers. Each country demonstrates its options for solving this particular problem. The countries occupying leading positions in European football have well-established organizational and management systems for training and selection of athletes in the process of long-term improvement. In general, all of the above-mentioned countries use similar systems with their own specifics stemming from national traditions, economic and logistical conditions. Differences in the training of footballers from different countries are due to the different role and degree of participation of governmental, non-governmental and private structures.

Breast feeding self-efficacy among postnatal mothers with two different breast feeding positions

Introduction: Human milk is the only recommended and complete food for newborn. The benefits of breast feeding are incalculable. It is the unique food for the healthy growth and development of infants. Positioning of the baby is very important while feeding. Correct positioning is crucial for effective breast feeding. This Study was undertaken to compare the breastfeeding self-efficacy among postnatal mother with cradle and football position. Methodology: A quasi experimental post-test only design was adopted to study the breastfeeding self-efficacy among postnatal mothers with cradle and football position. 87 postnatal mothers were enrolled on the first postnatal day using convenience sampling. The subjects were assisted in feeding their newborns in cradle hold position during morning feeds and to adopt football position during nursing in the afternoon time. This pattern of feeding was continued for three days and breastfeeding self-efficacy was assessed on the third day for both positions using breastfeeding self-efficacy scale. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS Version 20. Result: The mean and median for breastfeeding self-efficacy for cradle position were 54.69 ±4.61and 56 respectively which were found higher than the mean (31.69±3.29) and median (31) for football position. The difference observed in the breastfeeding self-efficacy was found statistically significant (p&lt;0.001) Conclusion: Cradle hold position was found to be effective in terms of breastfeeding self efficacy as compared to football position.

Does the Type of Sport Influence Morphology of the Hip? A Systematic Review

Background: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) has been extensively investigated and is strongly associated with athletic participation. Purpose: To assess (1) the prevalence of cam-type FAI across various sports; (2) whether kinematic variation among sports influences hip morphology; and (3) whether performance level, duration, and frequency of participation or other factors influence hip morphology in a sporting population. Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A systematic search of Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library was undertaken following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Prospective and retrospective case series, case reports, and review articles published after 1999 were screened, and those that met the inclusion criteria decided a priori were included for analysis. Results: The literature search identified 58 relevant articles involving 5683 participants. A total of 49 articles described a higher prevalence of FAI across various “hip-heavy” sports, including soccer, basketball, baseball, ice hockey, skiing, golf, and ballet. In studies including nonathlete controls, a greater prevalence of FAI was reported in 66.7% of studies (n = 8/12). The highest alpha angle was identified at the 1-o’clock position (n = 9/9) in football, skiing, golf, ice hockey, and basketball. The maximum alpha angle was located in a more lateral position in goalkeepers versus positional players in ice hockey (1 vs 1:45 o’clock). A positive correlation was also identified between the alpha angle and both age and activity level (n = 5/8 and n = 2/3, respectively) and between prevalence of FAI and both age and activity level (n = 2/2 and n = 4/5). Conclusion: Hip-heavy sports show an increased prevalence of FAI, with specific sporting activities influencing hip morphology. There is some evidence to suggest that a longer duration and higher level of training also result in an increased prevalence of FAI. Registration: CRD4202018001 (PROSPERO).

Research on the Algorithm of Motion Track Recognition in Football Video

It is relatively difficult to obtain the real-time information of the football position in the connected area formed by the ball and the line of the stadium in the football match video. This paper proposes a method for identifying the football trajectory. The least squares algorithm is applied to the football movement trajectory recognition function, and the Viterbi algorithm detection is screened according to the movement recognition function, and the football movement trajectory information is complemented for the error of the football movement in the football video. Finally, the results of an example show that the method proposed in this paper can accurately identify the changes in the motion trajectory in the video.

Cell integrity indicators in university athletes: comparison among playing positions in indoor football.

The aim of this study was to compare cell integrity indicators according to the playing position in university indoor football athletes. The sample consisted of 34 university athletes (20 female and 14 male). Dependent variables were cell integrity indicators: total body water (TBW), intracellular water (ICW), extracellular water (ECW), ECW/ICW ratio, body cell mass (BCM), ECW/BCM ratio, phase angle (PhA), resistance (R), Xc (reactance) and impedance (Z), evaluated by the electrical bioimpedance method. Independent variable was the playing position: goalkeeper (a), defender (a), winger (left and right) and pivot collected through questionnaire. Control variables were age, time of sport practice, participation in competitions per year and training load obtained by applying the anamnesis form, and body fat and fat and bone-free mass were obtained through dual emission X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Covariance analysis (ANCOVA) was used, with post-hoc Tukey's test, to identify difference between groups, with P<0.05. In the adjusted analysis, female athletes in the defense position had BCM values (31.1±2.1) higher than those in the wing position (25.8±1.1, P<0.01). In males, pivots showed higher ICW values (31.47±0.77) when compared to defenders (25.7±0.8, P=0.02). In addition, goalkeepers had higher TBW values (52.7±2.5) compared to wingers (42.3±1.2) (P=0.03). Cell integrity indicators may vary according to the playing position in indoor football.

The footballisation of the polish sociology of sport

The article addresses the issue of the unique position of football among sports, which supports Bromberger’s thesis on the footballisation of society. As an overview of publications shows, football has occupied a special place in the international sociology of sport over the last 30 years; studies of football have been among the twenty most popular topics within the sub-discipline. However, it would be unjustified to speak of the footballisation of the international sociology of sport, understood as the overrepresentation of football in this sub-discipline. The situation is different when it comes to the Polish sociology of sport, where up to 50% of publications in the first fifteen years of the 21st century tackled various football-related issues. In conclusion, theses concerning possible consequences of the footballisation of the Polish sociology of sport are presented, including the type I and type II errors.

Normative Reference Values for High School-Aged American Football Players.

McKay, BD, Miramonti, AA, Gillen, ZM, Leutzinger, TJ, Mendez, AI, Jenkins, NDM, and Cramer, JT. Normative reference values for high school-aged American football players. J Strength Cond Res 34(10): 2849-2856, 2020-The purpose of the present report was to provide test- and position-specific normative reference values for combine test results based on a large, nationally representative sample of high school-aged American football players in their freshman, sophomore, and junior classes. Cross-sectional anthropometric and performance data were obtained from 12 different high school American football recruiting combines between March 7, 2015, and January 9, 2016, across the United States. Subjects included a sample (n = 7,478) of high school-aged American football athletes in their junior (n = 3,779), sophomore (n = 2,514), and freshman (n = 1,185) classes. The database included combine date, school state, position, class, height, body mass (BM), 40-yard dash, pro-agility, 3-cone, vertical jump, broad jump, and power push-up. Each player self-classified their American football positions as defensive back, defensive end, defensive linemen, linebacker, offensive linemen, quarterback, running back, tight end (TE), or wide receiver. Test- and position-specific normative values were generated by aggregating data from freshman, sophomore, and junior classes. Mean differences were found among classes for all positions and all measurements (p ≤ 0.05), except for TE BM (p > 0.05). Greater differences for all variables were observed from freshman to sophomore classes than from sophomore to junior classes. These normative reference values may provide realistic comparisons and evaluations in performance for young American football players, parents, and coaches with collegiate football aspirations. High school strength and conditioning professionals should use these norms to set attainable goals and reward accomplishments for young football players.

Maximum Movement Workloads and High-Intensity Workload Demands by Position in NCAA Division I Collegiate Football.

Sanders, GJ, Roll, B, Peacock, CA, and Kollock, RO. Maximum movement workloads and high-intensity workload demands by position in NCAA Division I collegiate football. J Strength Cond Res 34(7): 1974-1981, 2020-The purpose of the study was to quantify the average and maximum (i.e., peak) movement workloads, and the percent of those workloads performed at high intensity by NCAA Division I football athletes during competitive games. Using global positioning system devices (Catapult Sports), low, moderate, and high and total multidirectional movement workloads were quantified by each position. Strategically achieving maximal workloads may improve both conditioning and rehabilitation protocols for athletes as they prepare for competition or return to play after an injury. A total of 40 football athletes were included in the analysis. For the data to be included, athletes were required to participate in ≥75% of the offensive or defensive snaps for any given game. There was a total of 286 data downloads from 13 different games for 8 different football positions. Data were calculated and compared by offensive and defensive position to establish the mean, SD, and maximum workloads during competitive games. The percent high-intensity workload profile was established to assess the total number and percent of high-intensity movement workloads by position. The profile was calculated by dividing a position's maximal high-intensity movement workload by the total (e.g., sum of maximal low, moderate, and high-intensity movements) movement workload. One-way analysis of variances revealed that there was a main effect of football position for total movement workloads and the percent of workloads performed at high intensities (p ≤ 0.025 for all). Maximal high-intensity workloads were 1.6-4.3 times greater than average high-intensity workloads, and the percent of total workloads performed at high intensities varied greatly by position. Strategically training for and using maximal movement workloads can help ensure that athletes are achieving workloads that are similar to the greatest demands of a competitive game.