Match Day Research Articles

Monitoring the effect of football match congestion on hamstring strength and lower limb flexibility: Potential for secondary injury prevention?

ObjectivesTo investigate the effect of competitive football match congestion on hamstring strength and lower limb flexibility. DesignRepeated measures. SettingElite male youth football. ParticipantsFifteen male elite youth football players from the national football association centre of excellence were included (age = 15.81 ±0.65 years, height = 171.95 ±6.89 cm, weight = 65.93 ±7.53 kg). Main outcome measuresHamstring strength and pain, ankle dorsiflexion, hip extension, knee extension and flexion range of motion. ResultsHamstring strength was highest at baseline and significantly reduced at 24 (p = 0.001, mean difference −0.19 Nm/Kg, CI95 −0.28, −0.1) and 48 h post-match 1 (p = 0.002, mean difference −0.16 Nm/Kg, CI95 −0.25, −0.07). Strength recovered by match day 2 before significantly reducing again 24 h post-match 2 (p = 0.012, mean difference −0.17 Nm/Kg, CI95 −0.29, −0.04). Pain was lowest at baseline and increased in the post-match periods (p < 0.05) with standardised effect sizes ranging from 0.07 to 0.42. Passive knee flexion range decreased post-match (p < 0.01) with mean differences of 1.5°–2.7°. The other flexibility measures remained unaffected by match play. ConclusionIsometric hamstring strength and pain can be considered for inclusion in-season to monitor player's post-match hamstring recovery characteristics during congested match fixtures.

Location factors affecting trip generation during megaevents

This paper investigates the spatial distribution of trips produced under normal conditions and during megaevents, more particularly on game days of the Confederations Cup in Rio de Janeiro in 2013. For this purpose, a logistic regression model was used, with employment or location factors represented by explanatory variables. The analysis was applied to two spatial dimensions, the first covering just the city of Rio de Janeiro and the second its entire metropolitan region. This enabled verifying the different behaviours of demand in relation to the spatial dimension and the trips on the game days in relation to normal weekdays. The production of everyday trips was explained more strongly by variables that represent the size of each macrozone. On the other hand, on match days, the income variable associated with the profile of the target public performed best.

Effect of television broadcasts of global sporting events on short-term changes in the use of water from the water supply network

Abstract The article discusses the influence of television broadcasts of global sporting events on water usage in the city of Toruń during the final match of the FIFA 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The analyses covered accurate data of water usage (recorded every 1 minute) in the city on the day of the final match. The obtained results were compared with the data for the same days of the week (Sundays) but with no such important events. A completely different trend in water usage was documented during the television broadcast, including: exponential and short-term increases and decreases in water demand immediately after the end of the successive parts of the football match. The deviations in water usage from the normal trend for the same day of the week and the same hours ranged from −318 to more than 550 m3·h−1 (calculated on an hourly basis). Therefore, water usage can be a good indicator of the interest of audiences in television programmes, particularly in those gathering millions of viewers, such as broadcasts of global sporting events.

Why in rugby union does “Toulouse” mean “to win”? Estimation of a production function of sports results (2011–2016)

The objective of this article is to understand more fully the determinants of sports performance. To do this, we estimate a production function of sports results that explains the results of the Toulouse rugby union team's matches expressed as the gap in points between it and its opponents. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a production function has been estimated in rugby union. In addition, it is one of the few production functions specified at the match level. The study confirms the relevance of some variables already identified in the literature, such as home advantage, ranking, the role of the referee, and in‐match statistics. It also shows the influence of new variables, such as weather conditions and the relative strength of fielded teams measured by comparing the teams selected on match day to the ideal teams defined at the beginning of the season.

A contemporary multi-modal mechanical approach to training monitoring in elite professional soccer

ABSTRACTObjectives: Understanding movements and mechanical demands of elite soccer players during training and competitive stressors is important for the support provision of player performance. Continued appreciation to quantify and monitor training load (TL) is apparent, however reporting multi-modal approaches in-line with competitive match-play demands remain limited. The investigation aimed to highlight a multimodal training monitoring method and its relationship to match-play.Subjects: 29 elite European soccer players participated were assessed (26.7 ± 4.07 years, height 183.4 ± 5.87 cm, body mass 78.4 ± 8.03 kg, 57.55 ± 5.32 ml.kg-1.min-1 and body composition 54.12 ± 13.65 mm) with daily TL and competitive match-load data in order to quantify the relationship between both.Methods: Key match-day (MD) data and TL was analysed across a 20-week in-season period.Results: Results reported significant TL differences between training days (TDs) and TDs and competitive MD data, in addition to significant differences between TDs for both volume- and intensity- session scores (p < 0.05). No differences were found between MD-1 and MD-2 session scores.Conclusion: To specific specific multi-modal approach used allows practitioners to combine key mechanical volume and intensity metrics as part of an athlete or player monitoring strategy and ensure a greater focus on targeted physical stressors.

Daily Distribution of Macronutrient Intakes of Professional Soccer Players From the English Premier League.

The daily distribution of macronutrient intake can modulate aspects of training adaptations, performance and recovery. We therefore assessed the daily distribution of macronutrient intake (as assessed using food diaries supported by the remote food photographic method and 24-hr recalls) of professional soccer players (n = 6) of the English Premier League during a 7-day period consisting of two match days and five training days. On match days, average carbohydrate (CHO) content of the prematch (<1.5 g·kg-1 body mass) and postmatch (1 g·kg-1 body mass) meals (in recovery from an evening kick-off) were similar (p > .05) though such intakes were lower than contemporary guidelines considered optimal for prematch CHO intake and postmatch recovery. On training days, we observed a skewed and hierarchical approach (p < .05 for all comparisons) to protein feeding such that dinner (0.8 g·kg-1)>lunch (0.6 g·kg-1)>breakfast (0.3 g·kg-1)>evening snacks (0.1 g·kg-1). We conclude players may benefit from consuming greater amounts of CHO in both the prematch and postmatch meals so as to increase CHO availability and maximize rates of muscle glycogen resynthesis, respectively. Furthermore, attention should also be given to ensuring even daily distribution of protein intake so as to potentially promote components of training adaptation.

Emergency response facilities including primary and secondary prevention strategies across 79 professional football clubs in England

AimTo assess the emergency response planning and prevention strategies for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) across a wide range of professional football clubs in England.MethodsA written survey was sent to all...

Life as a Resident in the Inaugural Class of a New Residency Program.

Life as a Resident in the Inaugural Class of a New Residency Program.

Medical Student Perceptions of the Learning Environment in Medical School Change as Students Transition to Clinical Training in Undergraduate Medical School

ABSTRACTPhenomenon: The learning environment is the physical, social, and psychological context in which a student learns. A supportive learning environment contributes to student well-being and enhances student empathy, professionalism, and academic success, whereas an unsupportive learning environment may lead to burnout, exhaustion, and cynicism. Student perceptions of the medical school learning environment may change over time and be associated with students' year of training and may differ significantly depending on the student's gender or race/ethnicity. Understanding the changes in perceptions of the learning environment related to student characteristics and year of training could inform interventions that facilitate positive experiences in undergraduate medical education. Approach: The Medical School Learning Environment Survey (MSLES) was administered to 4,262 students who matriculated at one of 23 U.S. and Canadian medical schools in 2010 and 2011. Students completed the survey at the end of each year of medical school as part of a battery of surveys in the Learning Environment Study. A mixed-effects longitudinal model, t tests, Cohen's d effect size, and analysis of variance assessed the relationship between MSLES score, year of training, and demographic variables. Findings: After controlling for gender, race/ethnicity, and school, students reported worsening perceptions toward the medical school learning environment, with the worst perceptions in the 3rd year of medical school as students begin their clinical experiences, and some recovery in the 4th year after Match Day. The drop in MSLES scores associated with the transition to the clinical learning environment (−0.26 point drop in addition to yearly change, effect size = 0.52, p < .0001) is more than 3 times greater than the drop between the 1st and 2nd year (0.07 points, effect size = 0.14, p < .0001). The largest declines were from items related to work–life balance and informal student relationships. There was some, but not complete, recovery in perceptions of the medical school learning environment in the 4th year. Insights: Perceptions of the medical school learning environment worsen as students continue through medical school, with a stronger decline in perception scores as students' transition to the clinical learning environment. Students reported the greatest drop in finding time for outside activities and students helping one another in the 3rd year. Perceptions differed based on gender and race/ethnicity. Future studies should investigate the specific features of medical schools that contribute most significantly to student perceptions of the medical school learning environment, both positive and negative, to pinpoint potential interventions and improvements.

Quantification of in-season training load relative to match load in professional Dutch Eredivisie football players

ABSTRACTObjectives: The aims of this study were (1) to quantify and compare the load of a professional football team's training days and matches and (2) to compare training of nonstarters the day after the match with regular training of starters and nonstarters.Methods: On-field training load during in-season training days (categorized as days before match day, i.e., MD minus) and 3 friendly matches were recorded using alocal positioning measurement system.Results: Mixed linear models showed lower load when training approached match day. Relative to match values (100%), training values for running (52 -20%; MD-4 -MD-1) and high-speed running (38 -15%) were lower than for total distance (67 -35%), and all considerably lower than match values. On average, medium and high accelerations and decelerations during training were more similar to match values (90 -39%). Load during nonstarters training was lower than during regular training for almost all variables on MD-4 and several high-intensity variables on MD-3 and MD-2.Conclusions: The results highlight that acceleration and deceleration measures complement more commonly used external load variables based on distance and speed. Furthermore, nonstarters are potentially under-loaded compared to starters, especially in terms of (high-speed) running.

Match Madness: Educators Call Frenzy of Applications Bad for GME

Match Madness: Educators Call Frenzy of Applications Bad for GME

Energy Intake and Expenditure of Professional Soccer Players of the English Premier League: Evidence of Carbohydrate Periodization.

In an attempt to better identify and inform the energy requirements of elite soccer players, we quantified the energy expenditure (EE) of players from the English Premier League (n = 6) via the doubly labeled water method (DLW) over a 7-day in-season period. Energy intake (EI) was also assessed using food diaries, supported by the remote food photographic method and 24 hr recalls. The 7-day period consisted of 5 training days (TD) and 2 match days (MD). Although mean daily EI (3186 ± 367 kcals) was not different from (p > .05) daily EE (3566 ± 585 kcals), EI was greater (p < .05) on MD (3789 ± 532 kcal; 61.1 ± 11.4 kcal.kg-1 LBM) compared with TD (2956 ± 374 kcal; 45.2 ± 9.3 kcal.kg-1 LBM, respectively). Differences in EI were reflective of greater (p < .05) daily CHO intake on MD (6.4 ± 2.2 g.kg-1) compared with TD (4.2 ± 1.4 g.kg-1). Exogenous CHO intake was also different (p < .01) during training sessions (3.1 ± 4.4 g.h-1) versus matches (32.3 ± 21.9 g.h-1). In contrast, daily protein (205 ± 30 g.kg-1, p = .29) and fat intake (101 ± 20 g, p = .16) did not display any evidence of daily periodization as opposed to g.kg-1, Although players readily achieve current guidelines for daily protein and fat intake, data suggest that CHO intake on the day before and in recovery from match play was not in accordance with guidelines to promote muscle glycogen storage.

Evaluation of young elite soccer players food intake on match day and highest training load days

It is crucial to ensure an adequate nutritional support for young soccer players under high physical stress situations, including match days and high training load days. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the dietary intake of young male soccer players from a Portuguese first league soccer club, both on match day and on the highest training load day of the week. All players recorded their ingestion at these moments for 3 consecutive weeks, by completing a food diary and making a photographic record. On match day, the intake of carbohydrates (5.2 ± 0.6 g.kg -1 . d -1 ), proteins (2.1 ± 0.2 g.kg -1 . d -1 ), and fats (1.0 ± 0.2 g.kg -1 . d -1 ) represented 55.1 ± 5.0 %, 22.3 ± 1.52 %, and 23.9 ± 5.1%, respectively, of the average daily energy intake. Regarding the highest training load day, the intake of carbohydrates (5.2 ± 0.9 g.kg -1 . d -1 ), proteins (2.0 ± 0.3 g.kg -1 . d -1 ), and fats (1.0 ± 0.3 g.kg -1 . d -1 ) represented 54.8 ± 5.3 %, 21.8 ± 1.8 %, and 24.6 ± 4.6 %, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between intakes during match day and on the highest training load day, for all the variables analyzed, except for percentage of fat intake (Energy intake p = 0.873; Protein p = 0.335; Carbohydrates p = 0.814; Fat p=0,000). The results obtained are in line with previous research and reveal that energy and carbohydrate intake are below the recommendations for this population

In-season training periodization of professional soccer players.

The aim of this study was to quantify the seasonal perceived respiratory and muscular training loads (i.e., sRPEres-TL and sRPEmus-TL) completed by elite-oriented young professional soccer players. Twenty-four players (20.3 ± 2.0 years) belonging to the same reserve team of a Spanish La Liga club participated in this study. Only the players that were available to train for a whole week with the team and also to play the weekly game were considered: Starters, players that participated in the match for at least 45 min and Non-Starters, players that did not participate or played less than 45 minutes in the match. The competitive period was analysed after the division into 5x6-8 week blocks and 35x1 week microcycles. Data were also analysed with respect to number of days before the immediate match. Weekly TL variation across the in-season blocks was trivial-small for both groups except between Block 2 and Block 3 (ES= moderate). Substantial TL differences (ES= small–very likely) were found between training days, the TL pattern being a progressive increase up to MD-3 followed by a decrease until MD-1. Except for the match, sRPEres-/sRPEmus-TL was very similar between Starters and Non-Starters. In summary, perceived TL across the season displayed limited variation. Coaches periodized training contents to attain the highest weekly TL 72 hours before the match to progressively unload the players between MD-3 and the match day. The data revealed that the TL arising from the weekly game was solely responsible for the observed higher weekly TL of Starters in comparison with Non-Starters.

Should Football Fans Pay for Security? Effects of a Security Fee

There is a lively debate on whether football fans should pay an additional security fee, added to the price of tickets, to finance police activities on match days. This paper investigates the price effect on the demand for tickets in a dynamic setting, by considering two subgroups of spectators, namely fans and hooligans. In contrast to the previous literature, we analyze a situation in which the demand from each subgroup causes a negative social externality for members of the other group but, simultaneously, a positive one for members of the same group. We show that charging a security fee may start a dynamic process, leading to fewer fans and more hooligans attending matches and thus, counterintuitively to even more violence. Therefore, the present study provides an argument to refrain from charging a security fee. As an alternative economic solution, we discuss the strategy of outpricing hooligans.

Expansion of the Etihad Stadium, Manchester. Part 2: Construction

The Etihad Stadium was initially constructed for the Manchester Commonwealth Games of 2002, with the original stadium comprising reinforced-concrete terrace structures that supported a lightweight cable-stayed roof. The stadium underwent a planned conversion following the games to become the 48 000-seat home of Manchester City Football Club. It opened in August 2003 in time for the first home game of the season, before officially becoming the Etihad Stadium in 2008. In 2012, following unprecedented growth and development, the club took the decision to expand the stadium to a capacity of 55 000. In contrast to the previous conversion, the design and construction teams had to extend one end of the stadium without compromising the structural integrity of the roof to the remaining three stands. Part 1 of this paper described the engineering design led by BuroHappold Engineering. Part 2 covers the challenges faced by the fabrication and construction teams (Laing O'Rourke and Severfield). These relate to the programme sequence and construction methodology, and resulted from the key objectives of: completion of the works for the start of the 2015/16 season maintaining a roof over spectators no seat loss on match days during the football season minimal disruption to the stadium operations The paper will describe the inventive techniques developed to resolve these challenges, including the temporary works for erection of the roof.

Combination of radar and daily precipitation data to estimate meaningful sub-daily point precipitation extremes

The use of radar measurements for the space time estimation of precipitation has for many decades been a central topic in hydro-meteorology. In this paper we are interested specifically in daily and sub-daily extreme values of precipitation at gauged or ungauged locations which are important for design. The purpose of the paper is to develop a methodology to combine daily precipitation observations and radar measurements to estimate sub-daily extremes at point locations. Radar data corrected using precipitation-reflectivity relationships lead to biased estimations of extremes. Different possibilities of correcting systematic errors using the daily observations are investigated. Observed gauged daily amounts are interpolated to unsampled points and subsequently disaggregated using the sub-daily values obtained by the radar. Different corrections based on the spatial variability and the subdaily entropy of scaled rainfall distributions are used to provide unbiased corrections of short duration extremes. Additionally a statistical procedure not based on a matching day by day correction is tested. In this last procedure as we are only interested in rare extremes, low to medium values of rainfall depth were neglected leaving a small number of L days of ranked daily maxima in each set per year, whose sum typically comprises about 50% of each annual rainfall total. The sum of these L day maxima is first iterpolated using a Kriging procedure. Subsequently this sum is disaggregated to daily values using a nearest neighbour procedure. The daily sums are then disaggregated by using the relative values of the biggest L radar based days. Of course, the timings of radar and gauge maxima can be different, so the method presented here uses radar for disaggregating daily gauge totals down to 15min intervals in order to extract the maxima of sub-hourly through to daily rainfall.The methodologies were tested in South Africa, where an S-band radar operated relatively continuously at Bethlehem from 1998 to 2003, whose scan at 1.5km above ground [CAPPI] overlapped a dense (10km spacing) set of 45 pluviometers recording in the same 6-year period. This valuable set of data was obtained from each of 37 selected radar pixels [1km square in plan] which contained a pluviometer not masked out by the radar foot-print. The pluviometer data were also aggregated to daily totals, for the same purpose. The extremes obtained using disaggregation methods were compared to the observed extremes in a cross validation procedure. The unusual and novel goal was not to obtain the reproduction of the precipitation matching in space and time, but to obtain frequency distributions of the point extremes, which we found to be stable.

Preparation, structured deliberate practice and decision making in elite level football: The case study of Gary Neville (Manchester United FC and England)

Decision making in elite level sporting competition is often regarded as distinguishing success from failure. As an intricate brain-based process it is unlike other physical processes because it is invisible and is typically only evidenced after the event. This case study shows how an individual achieved great success in elite level professional football through consistent positive decision making on and off the field of play. Through prolonged interviewing, Gary Neville, a player from Manchester United Football Club, explored personal behaviours, the structure and activities of deliberate practice and his professional choices in match preparation. His career-long devotion to purposeful organised practice was focused on cognition, physical preparation, context-relative physical action and refined repetition to optimise his mental comfort while enhancing his match day performances. This approach was underpinned by diligent personal and collective organisation and by concerted action. Results provide an insight into the categorical nature of his deliberate practice, sport-specific information processing and match-based decision making. At the operational level, his process was mediated by a complex mental representation of ongoing and anticipated game situations; these representations were continuously updated during each match. Allowing for the limitations of the design, implications are provided for developmental and educational coaching, match preparation, deliberate practice activity and improved use of the performance analysis software packages in professional football.

The hydration status of young female elite soccer players during an official tournament.

The hydration status of elite female soccer players is a concern, especially during high-volume training periods or tournaments. Furthermore, scientific literature on this topic is scarce to non-existent. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to evaluate the hydration status in elite youth female soccer players during an official tournament. The secondary aim was to identify a possible relationship between pre-training hydration status and fluid intake. Eighteen players were followed during eight consecutive days. Urine specific gravity was used to assess hydration status. Body weight was monitored before and after every training and match, whilst individual fluid intake was only registered during training. The players were informed about their hydration status on day 5. On days 1 to 4, the percentage of players who were at least minimally hypohydrated ranged between 44% and 78%. On day 5 (rest day), all the players were at least minimally hypohydrated. After the information session on day 5, the relative number of euhydrated players increased to 89% on both day 6 (training day) and day 7 (match day). On the final day (rest day), all players were either minimally hypohydrated or hypohydrated. Furthermore, a moderate and significant negative correlation (r=-0.44; N.=54; P=0.01) was found between fluid intake during and USG value before the training sessions. The data illustrates that the hydration status of this population of elite youth female soccer players may be suboptimal and is of substantial concern on rest days during this tournament under temperate conditions. Receiving personal advice about rehydration seems to have a positive effect.

A Pampulha e o “Novo” Mineirão

Este estudo objetivou pesquisar a prática do turismo futebolístico em Belo Horizonte, a partir das possibilidades de aproximação entre a Pampulha e o “novo” Mineirão. Foram preenchidos 335 formulários em dias de jogos realizados no estádio, sendo que, para poder participar da pesquisa, o torcedor não podia possuir moradia fixa na cidade. Identificou-se que os valores intrínsecos ao “novo” Mineirão são fatores que motivam a maioria dos torcedores a querer viajar para frequentar o estádio. Todavia, a minoria realiza outras atividades de lazer na Pampulha além da vivência futebolística. Portanto, tanto pelas intervenções ocorridas na paisagem urbana da Pampulha, que a constituíram como espaço turístico, quanto pelo fluxo turístico proveniente da demanda futebolística, acredita-se que o futebol possa ser pensado, para além da dimensão esportiva, como uma atração turística capaz de fomentar o turismo na localidade.