Professional Soccer Team Research Articles

Assessment Of Energy Availability In A Professional Female Soccer Team

Assessment Of Energy Availability In A Professional Female Soccer Team

Does the final ranking influence the physical performance of professional soccer teams?

Does the final ranking influence the physical performance of professional soccer teams?

한비자의 철학을 통해 본 프로스포츠 프로페셔널리즘

The key point of this paper is to analyze professionalism in professional sports through Hanbiza's philosophy and apply it to the case of Hiddink, who achieved the myth of advancing to the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup. Hiddink is a professional coach of a professional soccer team, so the analysis of his soccer philosophy and attitude can soon lead to a professional coach's understanding of professionalism. The way athlete are treated is different depending on the professional coach, so what can't be defined as the answer. For Hiddink, he expected the best results by dominating the professional athlete through strong leadership and then placing them in the right place. This is Hiddink's professionalism. Hiddink's professionalism can be found to be similar in many ways to Hanbiza's philosophy. Hanbiza tried to take control of his subjects through Rule(法), Absolute Authority(勢), and Tacit Art(術) and Hiddink trained the athlete within the range of breaking the set rules. Hanbiza criticized Confucianism's paternalism, and Hiddink tried to eliminate things like personal connections and seniority that prevented victory. Therefore, although their interests and times are different, they resemble much of the similarity of the environment, the purpose pursued, and the way they pursue it. This paper compares and analyzes the philosophy of Hanbiza, who has professional director Hiddink's professionalism, and seeks to be different from that. The approach took the form of applying Hiddink's professionalism after organizing the main concepts of Hanbiza, and secured the persuasion of the argument by presenting concrete evidence of major events in his autobiography. In conclusion, it was possible to analyze Hiddink's professionalism through Hanbiza's philosophy, and through it, it was also possible to confirm the possibility of systematizing the professionalism of professional coaches.

The effect of three different pre-match warm-up structures on male professional soccer players' physical fitness.

Optimizing the soccer players' match preparation is one of the most relevant concerns of coaches for strength and conditioning training. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the effects of three pre-match warm-up structures on the physical condition of male professional soccer players. Seventeen male professional soccer players (age: 20.9 ± 2.4 years) of one Tunisian Professional Soccer League team participated in this study. Players performed three times a typical pre-match warm-up (WU) [aerobic phase (AE); neuromuscular phase (NM); velocity phase (VL); and ball-specific phase (BS) variating the order of the included phases/exercises: WU1 (AE + BS + NM + VL); WU2 (AE + NM + VL + BS); and WU3 (AE + VL + BS + NM). After each warm-up phase, players completed the following physical fitness tests: linear sprint test, countermovement jump test, 15-m ball dribbling agility test and ball shooting test. Additionally, the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was registered after each warm-up. The results indicated significant differences between WU1 and WU3, with better results in the ball shooting test and RPE in WU3. In addition, there were no significant differences in the other variables and between other warm-up structures. These findings could be of great interest for coaches to the strength and conditioning coaches for professional soccer teams in order to improve the players physical performance and perceived exertion.

Peak physical demands of elite women's soccer: Assessing playing position and post-goal locomotor patterns

It has recently been identified that the assessment of peak periods of activity better considers the stochastic nature of match-play and the influence that contextual factors have on these peak periods. Limited research exists attempting to link the tactical and physical aspects of performance, especially in female players. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess post-goal locomotor patterns and positional differences on peak match demands in elite female soccer players. Using 10 Hz global positioning system units, a total of 133 player match observations were recorded from 14 matches played by an elite Scottish women's professional soccer team. The total distance (TD), high-speed running distance (>18 km/h) (HSRD) and PlayerLoad™ (PL) were assessed for 1, 3 and 5-minute peak periods using a rolling epoch approach. Playing position and post-goal activity were used as modulating factors. Linear mixed models established a main effect for playing position for the HSRD at peak 1-minute ( p<.001), 3-minute ( p < .001) and 5-minute ( p < .001) epochs. There were also main effects for the playing position for TD at peak 1-minute ( p= .001) and PL at peak-3minute ( p = .002). Team-level data showed a main effect for condition (score vs. concede) for 3-minute TD data and main effects for time (pre vs. post) for 1,3 and 5-minute epochs for PL data. The average and peak values were shown to differ across playing positions for all variables. Likewise, potentially indicative of tactical adjustments significant differences were observed at both a team and player level following scoring or conceding a goal.

Evolution of Tactics in Professional Soccer: An Analysis of Team Formations from 2012 to 2021 in the Spanish LaLiga.

The aim of this investigation was to explore the evolution of team formations (TFs) in a top national professional soccer league. A comparative analysis of a total of 3420 matches was performed in 32 professional soccer teams that competed from the 2012/13 to the 2020/21 season in the Spanish LaLiga. The frequency distribution of TFs across seasons presented a statistically significant change (p < 0.001). A 4.2-3.1 TF was most common from 2012/13 to 2016/17, while a 4.4.2 TF was most used from 2017/18 to 2020/2021. TFs such as 4.3.3 and 4.5.1 showed a relatively stable trend over the seasons. Overall, there was a reduction of TFs with 5 midfielders and an increase in the frequency of 2-forward formations (p < 0.001). When the ranking of teams was considered, a 4.3.3 TF was implemented with higher frequency by the Champion and teams that qualified for the Champions League (p < 0.05). However, a 4.2-3.1 TF was most frequent for teams qualified for the UEFA Europa League or teams that got relegated to an inferior category (p < 0.05). These findings highlight that teams competing in LaLiga evolved from the implementation of very few TFs led by the 4.2-3.1 TF, towards a more diverse scenario with a greater variety of tactical positional structures.

P32-016-23 Evaluation of Antioxidant Vitamins Intake of a Professional Soccer Team in Morocco During a Week of Competition and Training

P32-016-23 Evaluation of Antioxidant Vitamins Intake of a Professional Soccer Team in Morocco During a Week of Competition and Training

Y-BALANCE TEST AND STOMATOGNATHIC RECEPTOR STIMULATIONS

The aim of this study was to observe whether motor control could be influenced by varying stimuli from the stomatognathic system. In particular, the Y-Balance Test was used as a scientifically validated tool to test the dynamic balance of the subjects and to observe how this changed when the stomatognathic receptor sent different inputs depending on whether the tongue was kept in a low position or with the tip in the area of the palatine spot or when cotton rolls were placed between the dental arches or the subject was asked for maximum occlusion. The study was conducted on young soccer players belonging to the junior category of four Italian Serie A professional soccer teams. A total of 61 subjects were identified in the four teams. The data of three trials correctly performed for each direction with tongue and occlusion in standard position were acquired. As regards the Tongue Group, the results show statistical significance as regards the comparison between the Standard Trial and the Spot Trial. Statistical significance was also observed in the comparison Standard Test and Low Tongue. The Occlusion Group showed statistical significance both in the Standard Trial vs Roller Trial comparison but not in the Standard Trial and Occlusion Trial comparison. However, statistical significance was still recorded in the comparison of the Roller Test and the Occlusion Test. This study examined whether changes in tongue occlusion or position could affect tonic-postural system responses in motor control during performance of the Y-Balance Test.

Glad All Over

Can philosophical inquiry give us meaning in life? In this philosophical short story, the narrator holds a season ticket for the local professional soccer team, which isn't very good. He sits next to Angus, an elderly man who takes care of his wife with dementia and gets a little bit of free time for himself. After the local team scores, the narrator feels something he's never felt before: the futility of the whole experience. Angus diagnoses this as an existential crisis that might be resolved with words, specifically the words of philosophers. Thus, during each game of the season, Angus teaches the narrator about a different philosophical theory. However, one day Angus doesn't show up to the match. The narrator goes to Angus's house and finds out that, according to his wife's wishes, Angus killed her and then killed himself. The narrator then spreads Angus's ashes across the soccer pitch.

Primary Headaches and Physical Performance: A Professional Youth Female Soccer Team Study.

The vast majority of the research on acute post-traumatic incidents in athletes focuses on migraines. Physical exercise might reduce the frequency of migraines as well as trigger a migraine attack. The objectives of the study were to evaluate primary headache prevalence in professional young female soccer players and to assess whether headaches are related to physical performance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that has considered the relationship between primary headaches and physical performance assessment. The research was conducted in 19 females aged 12-17 from a professional youth soccer academy. Players completed a questionnaire about health status and then performed laboratory physical tests (e.g., cardiopulmonary tests, countermovement and squat jumps, handgrip, sit-and-reach tests). Subsequently, players were separated into a headache group and a headache-free control group. In the analysed group, eight female players (42%) suffered from primary headaches. Among the performance parameters, a significant result was found in terms of flexibility. Females from the headache group had higher results in the sit-and-reach test than females from the control group (p = 0.029). Flexibility as well as mobility in migraine patients is an area with significant potential for further investigation, as little research has been conducted to date.

Abstract 14247: Speckle Tracking Echocardiography for Assessment of Left Ventricular Remodeling in Soccer Athletes

Introduction: Speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE)-derived strain is a sensitive tool to detect early signs of exercise-induced cardiac remodeling in athletes, which may contribute to differentiate between physiological and pathological adaptation to sports. Objective: We aimed to assess the effect of regular athletic training on myocardial function assessed by STE in soccer players. Methods: We prospectively enrolled teenager soccer players who participate in regular training in a professional soccer team from Minas Gerais, Brazil. All asymptomatic athletes without known cardiovascular disease and with a structurally normal heart on transthoracic echocardiogram were included. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) by STE was performed in each athlete and measured offline using EchoPAC (GE) software. GLS was categorized according to absolute value |x| and GLS &lt;16% was considered decreased, 16% to 18% borderline and &gt;18% normal. Clinical, demographic and echocardiographic variables associated with reduced and borderline GLS were assessed by logistic regression. Results: The study population consisted of 352 male trained athletes with a mean age of 14 years (range 9 to 20), body mass index (BMI) of 20.4 ± 2.8 kg/m2, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 70 ± 6%. In the overall study population, the mean GLS value was -19.6 ± 2.2%, decreased in 13 athletes (3.7%) and borderline in 57 athletes (16.3%). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, BMI (odds ratio [OR] 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21 - 1.59; p&lt;0.001), LVEF (OR 0.94; 95% CI 0.91 - 0.98; p=0.004), left atrial volume (OR 0.89; 95% CI 0.83 - 0.95; p=0.001), E/e' ratio (OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.07 - 2.11; p=0.019) and E/A ratio (OR 0.37; 95% CI 0.18 - 0.78; p=0.009) were independently associated with reduced and borderline GLS. The model was well calibrated and with good discrimination, yielding a C-statistic of 0.78 (95% CI 0.72 - 0.85). Conclusions: This study provides sport-specific GLS values in the setting of normal LVEF in young athletes. Determinants of abnormal GLS include diastolic and systolic echocardiographic parameters related to exercise adaptation. Decreased myocardial deformation by STE may reflect a forthright relaxed cardiac state rather than underlying pathology.

External Load Seasonal Variations and Positional Differences in Elite Soccer Players

The present study explored the external load in professional soccer players throughout the extent of a full competitive season using GPS tracking technology. Twenty-seven male players were categorized based on their playing position: (1) central defenders (n=5), (2) full-backs (n=4), (3) midfielders (n=9), (4) wingers (n=3), and (5) forwards (n=6). Their physical performance was analyzed and interpreted as the overall external load over the extent of 36 competition recordings and 169 recordings of training sessions from up to 5 days prior to match day (i.e., MD-5, MD-4, MD-3, MD-2 and MD-1). The data were collected only from outfield players (excluding goalkeepers) who participated in &gt;90min of total duration in official games and were analyzed with the use of a 10-Hz GPS tracking device (WIMUPRO, RealTrack Systems Almeria, Spain). The results indicated match days minus three and four as the sessions with the highest intensities and physical demands, with no significant differences between the two days. Significant differences in high-speed running and sprint distance were observed between central defenders and full-backs during matches and training sessions. These results would benefit practitioners in designing the annual plan of professional soccer teams and allow for proper monitoring of the external load based on the players’ playing position.

Physical Performance Indicators and Team Success in the German Soccer League

The aims of this study were (1) to determine the match running performance required by different teams based on their final ranking position and (2) to analyze the association between match running performance variables and team success at the end of the season. A total of 1,224 match observations from professional soccer teams competing during two consecutive seasons in the German Bundesliga were analyzed. In addition, the final league ranking position and the total of points obtained by each team at the end of the season were registered for the analysis of the association between team success and match running performance. The main findings were that high ranked teams covered the greatest total distance with ball possession, sprinting distance with ball possession, and completed the greatest number of sprinting actions with ball possession and maximal velocity. Moreover, total distance covered with possession of the ball and maximal velocity were the most important variables to predict the total of points obtained at the end of the season. Specifically, the relative contribution of total distance covered with ball possession to the total of points obtained was greater than maximal velocity. Training programs for professional soccer players should be focused on improving the sprint capacity and running with possession of the ball (e.g., transitional tasks and small-sided games). Moreover, this has implications for injury prevention, physical, psychological, and technical-tactical training since today’s soccer requires players to engage in repeated high-intensity actions, reach maximum speeds above 9 m/s, and develop technical-tactical coordination when running with the ball.

Incidence Of Injuries During The Covid-19 Pandemic In A Professional Soccer Team During The A2 Series Of Sao Paulo Championship

Covid-19 infection had thousands of cases around the world, which led to the collapse of the health care system in several countries. Characterized by the speed of dissemination, several countries have chose to lockdown the population, which has had a huge social impact, psychological, and economic, even reaching the sports activities. PURPOSE: The goal of this research is to highlight the epidemiological profile of sports injuries in a professional soccer team in Brazil during the Covid-19 pandemic. METHODS: Data were collected in the physiotherapy sector of the Esporte Clube Água Santa during the 2020 season of the São Paulo A2 championship. Twenty-eight medical records of professional athletes with ages ranging from 18 to 38 years were analyzed. Only records of athletes with injuries of the following characteristics were included: bone, muscle, tendon, ligament and contusions. RESULTS: Our results indicates that strikers 36% (n = 10) had the highest incidence of injuries. The thigh region 46% (n = 13) as the anatomical location with the highest number of involvements. Hamstrings was the most evident diagnostic hypothesis 21% (n = 6). Muscle lesions 71% (n = 20) prevailed in large numbers in our survey. CONCLUSION: Our research brings to the scientific community the increase of muscle injuries during the Covid-19 pandemic, a fact due to lockdown and paralyzed of training, and the shorter recovery time between one match and another.

Comparison of GPS derived variables based on home versus away matches in the Asian professional soccer team

Professional soccer with high training loads is defined with weekly competition. The purpose of this study was to compare external training load data of GPS derived variables that preceded a home versus away match. Twenty-two weeks of a national league meet schedule were analyzed, which included 11 home and 11 away matches. Twelve professional soccer players (age, 28.6 ± 2.7 years; height, 182.1 ± 8.6 cm; BMI, 22.6 ± 0.7 kg/m2) participated in this study. All matches were monitored using GPSPORTS systems Pty Ltd. The following variables were selected: total duration of the matches and training sessions, high-speed running distance (18–23 km h−1), sprint distance (&gt;23 km h−1), maximal speed, body load, metabolic power, accelerations Zone1 (&lt;2 m s−2) (AccZ1), accelerations Zone2 (2 –4 m s−2) (AccZ2), accelerations Zone3 (&gt;4 m s−2) (AccZ3), decelerations Zone1 (&lt;−2 m s−2) (DecZ1), decelerations Zone2 (−2 to −4 m s−2) (DecZ2) and decelerations Zone3 (&gt;−4 m s−2) (DecZ3). The results indicated that metabolic power showed higher values at home than away matches [ p = 0.047, ES = 0.53, (−0.28, 1.34)]. Furthermore, there was a higher value in accumulated external training load that preceded away matches for high-speed running and lower value [ p &lt; 0.001, ES = −0.95 (−1.79, −0.10)] for DecZ1 than home matches. In conclusion, external load variables had a higher value in home matches. However, the results showed that high-speed running was higher in away matches, which could be the discretion of the coaches to prepare players for different conditions on the opponent’s field.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of injury prevention exercise programmes and the FIFA 11+ among Malaysian elite soccer league coaches

Background: A number of injury prevention programmes have been introduced in soccer. However, the familiarity and utility of these programmes by coaches in Malaysia is yet to be determined. Aim and Objectives: This study aimed to record the knowledge, attitude and practice of injury prevention exercise programmes (IPEPs), specifically the FIFA 11+, amongst coaches of elite league teams in Malaysia. Materials and Methods: Active coaches from four elite soccer leagues (Super League, Premier League, President's Cup and Youth Cup) in Malaysia were invited to participate. Thirty-three (n = 33) responses were returned. Results: Most respondents (87.9%) agree that soccer players are at high risk of lower-limb injury, and that it could have adverse effects on teams' and players' performances, careers and quality of life. More than two-thirds (71.9%) of respondents were optimistic about lower-limb soccer injury prophylaxis, however, familiarity toward the FIFA 11+ was considerably low, thus its practice is relatively low. Most respondents familiar to the programme believe that improvements could be introduced to suit their teams better or develop an own version of the FIFA 11+ specifically tailored for their teams. Having the need for equipment and lack of supervision may hinder IPEP maintenance in a team. Conclusion: Injury prevention programmes need early implementation and progressive variation for ongoing practice. Clearly, no IPEP may serve as the perfect 'one-programme-fits-all' injury prevention measure. This study may provide some insight for practitioners and soccer club organizers to develop future IPEPs and exercise better programme delivery amongst professional soccer teams.

The effect of mid-season coach turnover on running match performance and match outcome in professional soccer players

The aim of this research was to examine the physical match performance and match outcome before and after coach turnover in professional soccer teams compared with a control group containing coaches working continuously for 3 consecutive seasons. Analysed data included 325 performances of teams led by dismissed coaches (DC), 313 of teams led by new coaches (NC), and 580 of teams led by unchanged coaches (UnC). Variables, such as average number of collected points, total distance (TD), total distance per minute (TD/min), high-speed running (HSR), sprinting and number of high-intensity runs (NHIR), were analysed in the last 15 games of DC and 15 matches of NC. These periods were divided into 3 blocks out of 5 matches (5-match blocks). NC collected a significantly higher number of points than DC (p = 0.015), whereas average points collected by UNC were significantly greater than DC (p < 0.001 and NC (p = 0.012). TD and TD/min for DC were significantly lower (p < 0.001) compared with both NC and UnC, whereas significant differences in HSR (p = 0.003) and NHIR (p = 0.03) were identified between DC and NC. The current study reported that mid-season coach turnover may result in short-term improvement in team results and physical match performance. However, this effect disappears after a period of approximately 5 games.

Relative age effect in Italian soccer: a cultural issue in talent management?

Relative age effect (RAE) is a well-known phenomenon among those involved in youth sports, especially when the sport being investigated is widespread and involves early selection for participation in national and international competitions. The purpose of this study was to verify whether the Italian youth soccer ecosystem has adapted to this issue over the years, comparing players born in 1995 and in 2005 and been playing in Under 16 teams in the appropriate years. The sample included 13 professional Italian soccer teams. The number of players analysed was 260 (1995) and 344 boys (2005), respectively, making a total of 604 players enrolled in this study. Relative age effects were detected by χ2 goodness of fit tests both in players born in 1995 (P<0.000;V=0.40) and in 2005 (P<0.0001;V=0.39). χ2 test of independence showed no significant difference between the two groups of players (P=0.986;V=0.02), confirming a substantial parity of the phenomenon over the two investigated birth years. Ten years of research and dissemination of RAE did not change the selection policies adopted by coaches and/or scouts, who favor relatively older players during the selection processes. Therefore, RAE appears as the result of the Talent Identification and Development Structures, characterized by early selection and early specialization, and which consider performance as the pre-requisite for gaining access to the next developmental stages. Sport organizations should be aware of this issue and counteract accordingly, since it is important to mitigate the presence of RAE, as it causes inequality of opportunity.

Hypertrophic adaptations to a 6-week in-season barbell vs. flywheel squat added to regular soccer training.

The aim of this study was to compare the hypertrophic adaptations to barbell or flywheel squat exercise added to regular in-season soccer training. Quadriceps' (rectus femoris [RF], vastus medialis [VM] and vastus lateralis [VL]) cross-sectional area (CSA) in its portions (proximal [PROX], middle [MID], and distal [DIST]) was measured on both legs before and after a 6-week barbell (80 to 90% one-maximum repetition; N.=7) or flywheel (0.0611 to 0.0811 kg·m2; N.=7) in an U19 professional soccer team using a 3T magnetic resonance imaging. Both groups underwent 5 sets × 6 reps per session of squat separated by 3-min rest, while controlling the time under tension (within 0.5 and 0.8 s). The barbell squat group experienced moderate CSA increments in the VM<inf>MID</inf> and the VL<inf>DIST</inf> of the right leg (d=0.98-0.99). Additionally, the flywheel group experience large CSA increments in the RF<inf>MID</inf>, VL<inf>PROX</inf> and VL<inf>MID</inf> of the right leg (d=1.00-1.84). On average, flywheel squat training largely produced greater force during exercise compared to the barbell squat training (29.2 vs. 12.2 N·kg-1; d=5.95), whereas the barbell squat training produced moderately greater power output (10.5 vs. 9.7; d=0.52). Barbell squat training seems to be more effective for VM hypertrophy whereas flywheel squat triggers greater RF and VL hypertrophy as complementary to regular field-based soccer practice and competition within a short range of time (6 weeks) during the in-season. These findings can be considered also from either strength or reconditioning perspective based on the increase in the quadriceps muscles' CSA as mechanism underlying strength/power adaptations.

Strength Level of Professional Elite Soccer Players after the COVID-19 Lockdown Period: A Retrospective Double-Arm Cohort Study.

Background It is well known that periods of inactivity generate a loss of muscle strength, a fundamental component of sports performance in soccer. However, little information is available on the decrease in strength levels in professional soccer players after the quarantine lockdown that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aim To compare the isokinetic peak torque profiles of professional soccer players from different teams before and after the quarantine period generated by COVID-19. Methods A retrospective observational study was performed using data collected from two different professional elite-level soccer teams just before and immediately after the COVID-19 quarantine period. One team gave individual instructions to its players for conditioning maintenance at home during the quarantine period, while the other team used regular video calls to maintain the player's conditioning status on home training. The main outcomes were the mean peak torque of knee extensors and flexors, from concentric and eccentric contractions of each playing position. Analysis. A two-way ANOVA analysis was used to compare peak torque before and after the quarantine period and between both teams' strategies, showing a statistically significant reduction in eccentric knee flexor peak torque from the team that did not have remote monitoring. Conclusions Remote monitoring programs are recommended so that athletes are less affected by the deleterious effects of confinement.