Premier Division Research Articles

Comment on "Match Analysis of U9 and U10 English Premier League Academy Soccer Players Using a Global Positioning System: Relevance for Talent Identification and Development".

We read with interest the recent article written by Goto, Morris & Nevill: 'Match Analysis of U9 and U10 English Premier League Academy Soccer Players using a Global Positioning System: Relevance for Talent Identification and Development'. In summary, the authors reported time motion analysis data from match-play showing that players who were retained by their Academy covered a significantly greater distance overall and in low-speed running in comparison to peers who were released. Consequently, the authors discussed their results in the context of talent identification and development processes. In light of their findings and discussion, it is of our opinion that further debate in the context of the current body of literature is necessary.

Rule changes and incentives in the League of Ireland from 1970 to 2014

We consider how five rule changes in the League of Ireland have affected the amount of goals scored in the domestic league from 1970 to 2014. Altering the rules represents a significant departure from the previous season and changes the incentive structure for teams. Numerous individual rule changes were imposed on the league during this period, each with the intention of improving playing standards and incentivizing more attacking football. This paper describes the impact of three new points systems introduced in 1981–1982, 1982–1983 and 1993–1994, the introduction of the First Division League in 1985–1986, and the switch to a single calendar year league with a March–November schedule in 2003 known as Summer Soccer. A retrospective analysis of goals per season and single match outcomes suggests that changes to the points system have not resulted in an increase in the number of goals scored in the Premier Division, nor has the introduction of the First Division.

Injury recurrence is lower at the highest professional football level than at national and amateur levels: does sports medicine and sports physiotherapy deliver?

BackgroundPrevious injury is a well-documented risk factor for football injury. The time trends and patterns of recurrent injuries at different playing levels are not clear.AimTo compare recurrent injury proportions, incidences...

Nutritional Status and Daytime Pattern of Protein Intake on Match, Post-Match, Rest and Training Days in Senior Professional and Youth Elite Soccer Players.

The nutritional status of elite soccer players across match, postmatch, training and rest days has not been defined. Recent evidence suggests the pattern of dietary protein intake impacts the daytime turnover of muscle proteins and, as such, influences muscle recovery. We assessed the nutritional status and daytime pattern of protein intake in senior professional and elite youth soccer players and compared findings against published recommendations. Fourteen senior professional (SP) and 15 youth elite (YP) soccer players from the Dutch premier division completed nutritional assessments using a 24-hr web-based recall method. Recall days consisted of a match, postmatch, rest, and training day. Daily energy intake over the 4-day period was similar between SP (2988 ± 583 kcal/day) and YP (2938 ± 465 kcal/day; p = .800). Carbohydrate intake over the combined 4-day period was lower in SP (4.7 ± 0.7 g·kg-1 BM·day-1) vs. YP (6.0 ± 1.5 g·kg-1 BM·day-1, p = .006) and SP failed to meet recommended carbohydrate intakes on match and training days. Conversely, recommended protein intakes were met for SP (1.9 ± 0.3 g·kg-1 BM·day-1) and YP (1.7 ± 0.4 g·kg-1 BM·day-1), with no differences between groups (p = .286). Accordingly, both groups met or exceeded recommended daily protein intakes on individual match, postmatch, rest and training days. A similar "balanced" daytime pattern of protein intake was observed in SP and YP. To conclude, SP increased protein intake on match and training days to a greater extent than YP, however at the expense of carbohydrate intake. The daytime distribution of protein intake for YP and SP aligned with current recommendations of a balanced protein meal pattern.

The Dark Side of a Mastery Emphasis: Can Mastery Involvement Create Stress and Anxiety?

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the potential associations of motivational fluctuations during a full season with football players from one Premier Division team in Europe. Using correlational analyses we examined whether such motivational changes would mirror changes in stress perceptions (media and organizational) and performance anxiety levels. We used Achievement Goal Theory and Cognitive Activation Theory of Stress in the examination. In the elite sport setting, the endorsement of mastery involvement is recommended in order to avoid unnecessary stress and performance anxiety among athletes. 27 players (18-31 years old, Mage = 22.26 years, SD = 4.21) answered the questionnaires monthly over a season. We found that the athletes’ scores fluctuated over the season with interesting variations in the variables at time 2 (before season start) and time 7 (after the summer break) with a combination of high task orientation, high mastery climate perceptions and higher anxiety scores. The present findings revealed that stress may occur when there is a discrepancy between set values (what usually is) and actual value (what is). If the athletes are more accustomed to being evaluated normatively for the team roster, a sudden emphasis on personal improvement and maximum effort is very different . and may simply stress athletes even in a mastery environment.

Predicting future intentions of basketball spectators using SEM and fsQCA

This study analyzes relationships among service quality, perceived value, satisfaction, emotions, and future intentions of spectators of a professional basketball competition using a sample of 429 basketball spectators of a premier division in Spain. The results from structural equation modeling support the hypotheses, except for the effect of emotions and match result on future intentions. The results from fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) with the same data set show that none of the variables are necessary conditions for positive future intentions of spectators. However, seven combinations of these variables are sufficient conditions for explaining positive future intentions. The most important combinations of conditions are Satisfaction×Perceived Value and Service Quality×Satisfaction

Getting to the premier division and staying there

Getting to the premier division and staying there

Correlation between elite male Iranian gymnast's wrist injuries and their anthropometric characteristics.

Background:In gymnastics, wrists are under considerable force that causes various injuries. The influences of various risk factors have not been studied sufficiently to date to reduce the wrist injuries of gymnasts. The aim of this research was to determine the relationship between anthropometric characteristics and the wrist injuries of elite male gymnasts who took part in the Iranian Premier League and Division One in 2012.Methods:This was a cross-sectional correlation study concerning the injuries of 43 elite male gymnasts. The extent of their wrist injuries was determined by a questionnaire and interviews. Also, their anthropometric characteristics were collected according to the criteria established by the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. Event tree analysis and the Spearman rho correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis.Results:Among the gymnasts, 53.5% experienced wrist injuries over the past year, and the rate of wrist injuries was three per gymnast for one year. The incidents of skin and muscular injuries were the most prevalent type of injuries followed by Injuries to ligaments and bones respectively. Body weight was the only anthromopetric characteristic of the participants that was found to have a significant positive relationship with wrist injuries (P < 0.05).Conclusion:Gymnasts and their coaches should pay special attention to gymnasts’ weight as an intrinsic risk factor and take the required actions to prevent wrist injuries.

LOWER EXTREMITY INJURIES AMONG NIGERIAN MALE YOUTH FOOTBALL PLAYERS

BackgroundFootball (soccer) is the leading sport for participation among Nigerian youths. Studies on youth football injuries and their risk factors in Nigeria are lacking.ObjectiveTo assess the risk and pattern of...

Attitudes and behaviours of top-level junior rugby union coaches towards the coaching of proper contact technique in the tackle – a pilot study

Background. Coaching strategies for effective technique and injury prevention have been proposed for the tackle. Despite this, little isknown about current coaching attitudes and the behaviours of coaches towards proper contact technique in the tackle, especially at thejunior level.Objective. To report on the attitudes and behaviours of junior rugby union coaches towards coaching of proper contact technique in thetackle.Methods. Seven coaches of the top 8 rugby-playing schools (Premier Division) in the Western Province Rugby Union participated in thestudy (representing 88% of the entire population of top-level junior coaches in the region). Coaches completed a questionnaire, modelledon previous research, surveying attitudes and behaviours towards tackling.Results. Proper technique for injury prevention was rated as very important (57%) and important (29%), with 14% undecided. Propertechnique to improve performance was rated as very important (57%) and important (43%). To further develop coaching knowledgeand to develop new training methods, ‘coaching colleagues’ (very much – 71%; mean rating 4.7; 95% CI 4.3 - 5.2) was rated as the mostoften used.Conclusion. Collectively, the coaches in this study demonstrated a positive attitude towards injury prevention and performance. Additionalmeans of communicating information to coaches, other than the traditional channels, have also been highlighted here.

Attitudes and behaviours of top-level junior rugby union coaches towards the coaching of proper contact technique in the tackle – a pilot study

Background. Coaching strategies for effective technique and injury prevention have been proposed for the tackle. Despite this, little isknown about current coaching attitudes and the behaviours of coaches towards proper contact technique in the tackle, especially at thejunior level.Objective. To report on the attitudes and behaviours of junior rugby union coaches towards coaching of proper contact technique in thetackle.Methods. Seven coaches of the top 8 rugby-playing schools (Premier Division) in the Western Province Rugby Union participated in thestudy (representing 88% of the entire population of top-level junior coaches in the region). Coaches completed a questionnaire, modelledon previous research, surveying attitudes and behaviours towards tackling.Results. Proper technique for injury prevention was rated as very important (57%) and important (29%), with 14% undecided. Propertechnique to improve performance was rated as very important (57%) and important (43%). To further develop coaching knowledgeand to develop new training methods, ‘coaching colleagues’ (very much – 71%; mean rating 4.7; 95% CI 4.3 - 5.2) was rated as the mostoften used.Conclusion. Collectively, the coaches in this study demonstrated a positive attitude towards injury prevention and performance. Additionalmeans of communicating information to coaches, other than the traditional channels, have also been highlighted here.

Attitudes and behaviours of top-level junior rugby union coaches towards the coaching of proper contact technique in the tackle – a pilot study

Background. Coaching strategies for effective technique and injury prevention have been proposed for the tackle. Despite this, little isknown about current coaching attitudes and the behaviours of coaches towards proper contact technique in the tackle, especially at thejunior level.Objective. To report on the attitudes and behaviours of junior rugby union coaches towards coaching of proper contact technique in thetackle.Methods. Seven coaches of the top 8 rugby-playing schools (Premier Division) in the Western Province Rugby Union participated in thestudy (representing 88% of the entire population of top-level junior coaches in the region). Coaches completed a questionnaire, modelledon previous research, surveying attitudes and behaviours towards tackling.Results. Proper technique for injury prevention was rated as very important (57%) and important (29%), with 14% undecided. Propertechnique to improve performance was rated as very important (57%) and important (43%). To further develop coaching knowledgeand to develop new training methods, ‘coaching colleagues’ (very much – 71%; mean rating 4.7; 95% CI 4.3 - 5.2) was rated as the mostoften used.Conclusion. Collectively, the coaches in this study demonstrated a positive attitude towards injury prevention and performance. Additionalmeans of communicating information to coaches, other than the traditional channels, have also been highlighted here.

Penalty corner routines in elite women's indoor field hockey: Prediction of outcomes based on tactical decisions

Indoor hockey is a highly competitive international sport, yet no research to date has investigated the key actions within this sport. As with outdoor field hockey, penalty corners represent one of the most likely situations in which goals can be scored. All 36 matches of the round-robin phase of the 2010–2011 England Hockey League Women's Premier Division ‘Super Sixes’ competition were analysed with the purpose of establishing which factors can predict the scoring of a goal using binary logistic regression analysis. Seventy-two (22.6%) of the 319 observed penalty corners resulted in a goal. The strongest predictor of scoring a goal was taking the penalty corner from the goalkeeper's right. Based on the odds ratio (OR), the odds of the attacking team scoring were 2.27 (confidence interval (CI) = 1.41–3.65) times higher with penalty corners taken from the goalkeeper's right as opposed to the left. Additionally, if the goalkeeper decided to rush to the edge of the circle, the odds of the attacking team failing to score were 2.19 (CI = 1.18–4.08) times higher compared to when the goalkeeper remained near the goal line. These results suggest that strategic decisions from the players and coaches have an important part to play in the success of penalty corners. Future research should investigate the impact of goalkeepers’ movement and further examine the technical and tactical intricacies of penalty corners.

Ankle injuries of elite male Iranian gymnasts and anthropometric characteristics

In men's gymnastics, the ankle is the most frequently injured part of the body. However, very few studies have been conducted to determine the roles of various risk factors so that the rate of these injuries can be reduced. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between anthropometric factors (intrinsic risk factors) and the ankle injuries incurred by elite male gymnasts in the Iranian Premier League and Division One.This research was cross sectional correlation study in its nature. The injuries of 43 elite male gymnasts were recorded for the past year based on a questionnaire and interviews. Also their anthropometric characteristics, including weight, height, body mass index, percentage of fat, somatotype, size of the body, girth of the ankle, length of the lower extremities, and girth of the calf, were collected according to criteria established by the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. The correlation method of non-parametric tests (Spearman) and event tree analysis (ETA) were used to identify the relationships between the variables. Seventy-nine percent of gymnasts experienced ankle injuries over the past year, mostly on the floor (58%) and vault (29%), and joint and ligamentous injuries occurred most frequently. Body size had a positive relationship with the injuries (p < 0.05), and no meaningful correlation was identified between number of injuries and other anthropometric characteristics (p < 0.05).Gymnasts and coaches should pay special attention to body size as an intrinsic risk factor and take preventive measures to decrease ankle injuries

Coping with negative media content: The experiences of professional football goalkeepers

The present study explored the experiences of three football goalkeepers coping with negative media coverage. Goalkeeping is a hard position to play as you become scrutinized from all angles, and keepers are often blamed for losses by the media. The study of the media as a stressor is a relatively unexplored field. In this investigation, we chose qualitative semi-structured interviews as an explorative method. The respondents who were interviewed came from three different teams in a European Premier Division. Results revealed that the coping strategies used by the three goalkeepers may be organized into three major categories; social support, avoidance and problem-focused coping. The evaluation of the coach meant more than the game reports printed in the press. To cope with the perceived negative content in the media, the goalkeepers avoided buying, reading or watching news reports, or giving interviews on match day. With experience, the goalkeepers reported getting better in focusing on the task and the next move, and did not worry as much about the match reports. Experience seemed to be crucial for this specialist position.

Validity of isokinetic testing for previous hamstring injury detection in soccer players

The purpose of this study was to determine the most accurate isokinetic testing method, either concentric/concentric or concentric/eccentric, for the detection of previous hamstring injury. twenty-one male semi-professional soccer players were recruited from premier divisions of the Sunday football league and the Isthmian league division one in England and examined on a Cybex Norm isokinetic dynamometer. Eleven players had suffered previous hamstring injury whilst ten players that had never suffered hamstring injury formed the control group. For each group the following ratios were determined: unilaterally: concentric hamstring/concentric quadriceps, eccentric hamstring/concentric quadriceps; bilaterally: concentric hamstring, eccentric hamstring and concentric quadriceps at both 60°/s and 120°/s. The Area Under the Curve (AUC) of Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) provided a summary measure of the validity of each test. Significant differences between injury and non-injury groups were found for the bilateral concentric hamstring ratio measured with a concentric/concentric testing method at 60°/s (AUC = 0.773, P < 0.05). All other ratios rendered non-significant AUC values. In addition, non-significant AUC were recorded for all ratios measured at 120°/s. Therefore, these observations suggested that the concentric/concentric testing method may be suitable for detecting previous hamstring injury. In addition, these findings suggested that a lower speed (60°/s) should be utilized for the muscular strength analysis of soccer players suffering from hamstring injury.

Bengt Winblad: coaching the team in Alzheimer's disease

Bengt Winblad: coaching the team in Alzheimer's disease

Inspiratory Muscle Function In Elite Male Field Hockey Players

Inspiratory Muscle Function has been studied in many sports howver there are few studies that investigate the phenomenum in team based game such as Filed Hockey. PURPOSE: To determine whether inspiratory muscle fatigue is induced via a regulation field hockey match and what affect a 5 week inspiratory muscle training programme will have on inspiratory muscle function in elite male field hockey players. METHOD: Baseline pulmonary function (FVC, FEV1.0) and maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) were measured for all players (n=16). MIP was then measured at three separate time points (pre-game[Pre], at half-time [HT] and post-game [Post])relating to a standard regulation league match (English National Hockey League Premier Division). The sixteen players were then split randomly into training (n=8) and placebo groups (n=8).Each group underwent a 5 week training programme, the intervention group (IMT) training consisted of 30 inspiratory efforts, twice a day at approximately 50% of MIP while the placebo group (PG) performed 60 inspiratory efforts one a day at approximately 15% of MIP. The players were informed that each protocol was measuring Inspiratory Muscle function and that the two protocols were going to be compared. All players took part with full informed consent and all procedures were as accepted by the institutional ethics committee. RESULTS: There was a significant drop in inspiratory muscle function, as shown by a reduce MIP when comparing the Pre results to the Post results (p<0.05) which indicates a level of fatigue occurs throughout a match. With training a 25% increase in MIP occurred for the IMT group while a there was no change in the PG. However upon re-testing there was no significant difference between the two training groups when inspiratory muscle fatigue was looked at throughout a second competitive match. CONCLUSIONS: An elite level male filed hockey match can induce inspiratory muscle fatigue and these same players can increase their MIP with training. Many studies have looked at various forms of inspiratory muscle training in different sports however this is one of the very few studies to show that games based sports also induce inspiratory muscle fatigue.

Journals under threat: a joint response from history of science, technology and medicine editors

We live in an age of metrics. All around us, things are being standardized, quantifi ed, measured. Scholars concerned with the work of science and technology must regard this as a fascinating and crucial practical, cultural and intellectual phenomenon. Analysis of the roots and meaning of metrics and metrology has been a preoccupation of much of the best work in our fi eld for the past quarter century at least. As practitioners of the interconnected disciplines that make up the fi eld of science studies we understand how signifi cant, contingent and uncertain can be the process of rendering nature and society in grades, classes and numbers. We now confront a situation in which our own research work is being subjected to putatively precise accountancy by arbitrary and unaccountable agencies. Some may already be aware of the proposed European Reference Index for the Humanities (ERIH), an initiative originating with the European Science Foundation. The ERIH is an attempt to grade journals in the humanities — including ‘history and philosophy of science’. The initiative proposes a league table of academic journals, with premier, second and third divisions. According to the European Science Foundation, ERIH ‘aims initially to identify, and gain more visibility for, top-quality European Humanities research published in academic journals in, potentially, all European languages’. It is hoped ‘that ERIH will form the backbone of a fully fl edged research information system for the Humanities’. What is meant, however, is that ERIH will provide funding bodies and other agencies in Europe and elsewhere with an allegedly exact measure of research quality. In short, if research is published in a premier league journal it will be recognized as fi rst rate; if it appears somewhere in the lower divisions, it will be rated (and not funded) accordingly. This initiative is entirely defective in conception and execution. Consider the major issues of accountability and transparency. The process of producing the graded list of journals in science studies was overseen by a committee of four (the membership is currently listed at http://www.esf.org/research-areas/humanities/ research-infrastructures-including-erih/erih-governance-and-panels/erih-expertpanels.html). This committee cannot be considered representative. It was not selected in consultation with any of the various disciplinary organizations that currently represent our fi eld such as the European Association for the History of Medicine and Health, the Society for the Social History of Medicine, the British Society for the History of Science, the History of Science Society, the Philosophy of Science

Ancient and Modern Gems and Jewels in the Collection of Her Majesty The Queen

The line-up for this sumptuous volume reads like the gemmological equivalent of fantasy football, with the dream team consisting of the director of the Museo Stibbert in Florence and the emeritus professor of classical archaeology at Oxford – both premier division stars in the field of incised gems – supported by the equally stellar Beatriz Chadour-Sampson and Martin Henig on the wings, all bringing their talents to bear on the historic gems, jewels, insignia and other precious objects in the Royal Collection. These are distinct from both the Crown Jewels and from The Queen's personal jewels, representing rather the unveräußerlichen Erbstücke familiar from historic Germanic princely collections, although the means by which the collection achieved its current stability are shown to be long, devious and of comparatively recent resolution. Some mention is made of a few earlier pieces from the reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, but the origins of the collection as such are shown to lie in the era of Henry, Prince of Wales and his younger brother King Charles I. Following the vicissitudes of the Commonwealth (during which time it was ‘impair’d, and miserably imbezled’) and the (seemingly equally hazardous) early years of the Restoration, Elias Ashmole was engaged to see that the collection was ‘put in Order, and Methodiz’d’, but his work was not long done when most of the gems perished in the Whitehall fire of 1698. (Martin Henig contributes a particularly interesting account of this early manifestation of the collection, as famous as it is little-known, based on a series of wax impressions made by Ashmole and surviving today in the Bodleian Library.) Later contributions to the Royal Collection from Caroline of Ansbach and George III are acknowledged, and there is some stylish input too from George IV. Other well-known figures who had a hand in its accumulation or documentation over the centuries include Abraham van der Doort, Consul Smith and Horace Walpole.