Soccer Match Research Articles

Insights from elite soccer players: understanding the downward spiral and the complex dynamics of crises

This study focused on identifying the factors that lead to prolonged crises in soccer teams and how players view the development of these crises. A qualitative analysis of interviews with six current and three former professional soccer players revealed that the failure to meet team expectations is often the starting point of crises, which can impact both individual and team levels. The issues at the individual level include anxiety, pressure, lack of self-confidence, somatic manifestations, negative body language, loss of motivation, rumination, and self-focus. At the team level, conflicts arise, the team atmosphere deteriorates, which is reflected in impaired communication and lack of cohesion. During soccer matches, on-field behavior frequently evolves into a more defensive mindset and a desire to avoid mistakes and responsibility, resulting in lower team performance. Poor results usually ensue, perpetuating and even intensifying the crisis process which players refer to as a vicious circle, negative spiral, or vortex. Societal factors such as media landscape, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, club structures, or fans, and individual factors such as crisis experiences, players’ resilience, family cohesion, or support from friends affect the development of crises. The study’s insights illustrate the negative impacts of pressure on the team’s emotional state and social interaction, leading to a downward spiral, and thus, reinforcing the crisis process. The study concludes that crisis management training and support should focus on managing expectations, promoting positive affective states, and supporting healthy motivation among team members, and should expand coaches’ crisis competency training.

Tactical Situations and Playing Styles as Key Performance Indicators in Soccer.

The game of soccer is complex and unpredictable, demanding multifaceted strategies for success. Performance analysis has evolved, focusing on key performance indicators (KPIs) to determine the factors that most significantly influence a team's success or failure during matches. Traditional performance analysis methods have emphasized quantifiable data like physical exertion and basic play events but often neglected the subtler tactical dimensions that could significantly impact game outcomes. This study aimed to fill the gap in the current literature by creating a comprehensive framework that incorporates tactical situations as KPIs. The objective was to examine whether specific playing styles adopted by teams in various tactical situations and phases of the game could predict the outcome of matches. A dataset comprising all First Division Championship matches from 11 different European countries for the 2021-2022 season was analyzed. Variables representing tactical situations were correlated with match outcomes using a Generalized Estimating Equation framework. The model was specified with a binomial distribution and a logit link function. Statistical significance was determined using Wald χ2 tests with a significance level set at p < 0.05. The study's findings revealed that possession style, counterattacking during offensive transitions, and a balanced aggressive defensive strategy significantly increase a team's chances of victory. It also showed that successful teams tend to focus on central attacks, minimize crossing, and execute strategic plays that lead to final attempts on goal with minimal ball possession. The above findings demonstrate that adopting certain tactical approaches significantly influences soccer match outcomes, highlighting the importance of considering tactical aspects as KPIs.

Sprint kinematics of amateur soccer players post half-time of simulated soccer match

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of half-time simulated soccer matches on the sprint kinematics of amateur soccer players. This study was a pilot experimental study with a pre-test/post-test design. Eighteen amateur-level soccer players (age: 22.88±4.19 years) attending a preparatory camp for the senior national championship were recruited for the study. Baseline assessments of sprint kinematics using a 30 m linear sprint test were conducted before the simulated soccer match. The F-V profiling of the participants was the dependent variable. Post-assessments were conducted immediately after the simulation protocol. Although there were no statistically significant changes (p = 0.12 to 0.65) observed from pre- to post-test, trivial to small effect sizes were found, with percent changes ranging from 0% to 3.7%. The results showed that half-time simulation had a negative effect (i.e., trivial to small) on sprint kinematics in amateur-level soccer players. The findings of this study suggest that half-time simulated soccer matches negatively affect sprint kinematics in amateur-level soccer players.

Unlocking Team Dynamics: Exploring the Influence of Group Regulation on Technical Development in Small-Sided Soccer Games

Abstract Purpose Discussions held by players during the halftime of a soccer match are widely recognized as influential factors in boosting their involvement and physical activity of soccer players. This study aimed to investigate the impact of learning small-sided games (SSG) through player discussions on decision-making, as well as the technical and tactical skills of young soccer players. Methods Forty-two U-15 male amateur soccer players were randomly assigned to 6 groups and participated in a study comprising 4 sessions of small-sided games (SSG). Each session consisted of two sets of 15 min each. The SSG sessions were conducted with and without the inclusion of self-regulation of learning. Technical actions (i.e., balls won, balls received, balls lost, shots, and goals) were measured during each set of sessions using a digital camera recorder. Results The results showed no significant differences in the main effects of the time, group, session, and group × session × time interactions for most technical actions. However, there was a significant main effect of group observed for shoot action (P = 0.021; ηp2 = 0.102), with a higher number of shoot actions in the co-regulation of learning group than in the self-regulation of learning group. Conclusion The self-regulation approach employed by players alone did not lead to significant improvements in technical performance during SSG. Further research is needed to explore additional factors and/or interventions that could potentially enhance the effectiveness of learning through discussions in SSG.

Robotics Perception: Intention Recognition to Determine the Handball Occurrence during a Football or Soccer Match

In football or soccer, a referee controls the game based on the set rules. The decisions made by the referee are final and can’t be appealed. Some of the decisions, especially after a handball event, whether to award a penalty kick or a yellow/red card can greatly affect the final results of a game. It is therefore necessary that the referee does not make an error. The objective is therefore to create a system that can accurately recognize such events and make the correct decision. This study chose handball, an event that occurs in a football game (Not to be confused with the game of Handball). We define a handball event using object detection and robotic perception and decide whether it is intentional or not. Intention recognition is a robotic perception of emotion recognition. To define handball, we trained a model to detect the hand and ball which are primary objects. We then determined the intention using gaze recognition and finally combined the results to recognize a handball event. On our dataset, the results of the hand and the ball object detection were 96% and 100% respectively. With the gaze recognition at 100%, if all objects were recognized, then the intention and handball event recognition were at 100%.

Soccer match broadcast video analysis method based on detection and tracking

AbstractWe propose a comprehensive soccer match video analysis pipeline tailored for broadcast footage, which encompasses three pivotal stages: soccer field localization, player tracking, and soccer ball detection. Firstly, we introduce sports camera calibration to seamlessly map soccer field images from match videos onto a standardized two‐dimensional soccer field template. This addresses the challenge of consistent analysis across video frames amid continuous camera angle changes. Secondly, given challenges such as occlusions, high‐speed movements, and dynamic camera perspectives, obtaining accurate position data for players and the soccer ball is non‐trivial. To mitigate this, we curate a large‐scale, high‐precision soccer ball detection dataset and devise a robust detection model, which achieved the of 80.9%. Additionally, we develop a high‐speed, efficient, and lightweight tracking model to ensure precise player tracking. Through the integration of these modules, our pipeline focuses on real‐time analysis of the current camera lens content during matches, facilitating rapid and accurate computation and analysis while offering intuitive visualizations.

Analyzing Players' Tactical Positions and Movement Trajectories in Soccer Matches Using Machine Vision Algorithms

Tactical positions and movement trajectories in soccer matches using machine vision algorithms involves leveraging computer vision techniques to track players and the ball throughout the game. By processing video feeds from multiple cameras, machine vision algorithms can identify players, recognize their positions on the field, and map out their movement trajectories over time. This analysis provides valuable insights into team formations, player positioning, and tactical strategies employed during matches. Coaches and analysts can use this information to assess team performance, identify patterns in gameplay, and make data-driven decisions to optimize tactics and training regimes. Machine vision algorithms enhance the understanding of soccer dynamics, facilitating more strategic and effective approaches to coaching and gameplay.. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of player movement, tactical positions, and detection in soccer matches using machine learning algorithms. Leveraging a simulation environment built upon a Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) model trained on historical match data, we investigate the efficacy of the model in accurately predicting future player positions based on contextual features such as player trajectories and ball movement. Furthermore, we explore the model's ability to estimate tactical movements during specific time intervals, providing valuable insights for coaches and analysts in understanding team strategies and adapting to match dynamics. Additionally, we evaluate player detection systems to assess their capabilities and limitations, laying the groundwork for future improvements in player tracking technologies. Our findings underscore the potential of machine learning in soccer analytics, offering actionable insights for enhancing performance analysis, strategic decision-making, and overall understanding of the game. Our results show a high prediction accuracy, with an average Mean Squared Error (MSE) of 0.05. Furthermore, we explore the model's ability to estimate tactical movements during specific time intervals, achieving an overall prediction accuracy of 85%. Additionally, we evaluate player detection systems to assess their capabilities and limitations, achieving a detection accuracy of 90%.

Effects of vertical and horizontal plyometric training on jump performances and sprint force-velocity profile in young elite soccer players.

During a soccer match, horizontal acceleration ability during short sprints is determinant for performance. Development of sprint force and velocity qualites have been reported after plyometric training. However, orientation of plyometric training exercises can influence the functional performance. The purpose of this study was to compare the horizontal and vertical orientation of plyometric training on explosiveness performances and sprint force-velocity profile in young soccer players. Twenty-eight soccer players were recruited and divided in two groups: vertical (VG, n = 14) and horizontal (HG, n = 14) groups. Tests including jumps and sprint performances were conducted before and after the 8week training period. Sprint force-velocity profile (FVP) was evaluated during a 30m sprint test. The results demonstrated significant improvements in both VG and HG for jump performances (from + 4.9% to + 9.0%), sprint times (from -5.5% to -8.7%) and FVP parameters. Higher relative changes for the HG than for the VG were observed in 5m and 15m sprint times, horizontal jump lengths, and also in FVP parameters, especially improvements in maximal power (VG: + 16.4% vs. HG: + 28.1%) and inthe decrease rate of horizontal orientation of force with increasing speed (HG: + 22.9%) during the 30m sprint. Both horizontal and vertical plyometric training can be either used in young soccer players to improve vertical and horizontal performances in jump and sprint. However, horizontal plyometric training may result in a greater improvement in horizontal ballistic actions while similarly developing vertical jump qualities compared to vertical plyometric training in young soccer players.

The Dose-Response in Elite Soccer: Preliminary Insights From Menstrual-Cycle Tracking During the FIFA Women's World Cup 2019.

This preliminary study examined the influence of estimated menstrual-cycle (MC)phase on responses to soccer matches and training sessions in preparation for and during the FIFA (Fédération internationale de football association) Women's World Cup 2019. Twenty outfield players representing a national team were tracked over a 45-day period. External (10-Hz global positioning system; total and distance covered at high-metabolic power [≥20W·kg-1]) and internal load measures (minutes ≥80% heart-rate maximum, sessional ratings of perceived exertion) were collected during all training and matches, with single-item wellness measures (fatigue, soreness, sleep quality, and sleep duration) collected each morning prior to activity. MC phase was estimated individually via an algorithm, informed from pretournament survey responses and ongoing symptom reporting (FitrWoman). Model comparison statistics were used to determine the impact of estimated MC phase in nonhormonal contraceptive users (n = 16). Sessional rating of perceived exertion responses to total distances ≥5km were higher during the luteal phase (+0.6-1.0au; P ≤ .0178) versus menstruation (phase 1), but no other observable dose-response trends were observed. Sleep, fatigue, and soreness ratings were not typically associated with MC phase, with the exception of exacerbated fatigue ratings in luteal versus follicular phase 48 hours postmatch (-0.73au, P = .0275). Preliminary findings suggest that estimated MC phase may contribute to the understanding of the dose-response to soccer training and matches.

Variability of External Load Measures During Soccer Match Play: Influence of Player Fitness or Pacing?

The aims of this study were to examine the variability of selected external load metrics within 15-minute intervals during soccer match play and examine their relationship with players' high-intensity intermittent fitness. A total of 18 male soccer players were monitored for their external load metrics during 26 matches, which included total distance, high-metabolic-load distance, and mechanical work (defined as the sum of accelerations and decelerations >3m2). Additionally, players completed the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test. Total distance had lower coefficients of variation than high-metabolic-load distance and mechanical work (effect size [ES]: 5.2 to 6.4; very large). Within-player Δ-15min showed moderate to large decreases (ES: -0.7 to -1.6) and increases (ES: 0.9 to 1.8) in absolute and coefficient-of-variation values, respectively. Large relationships (r = .55 to .61) were observed between the Intermittent Fitness Test and 15-minmean and 15-minbest in all selected external load metrics. However, small to moderate (0.27 to 0.41) associations were observed between the Intermittent Fitness Test and Δ-15min in selected external load metrics. These findings suggest that players with relatively lower intermittent running capacity might show lower variability during matches, as evidenced by smaller reductions in high-intensity actions during the final 15minutes. We attribute these observations to players' possessing better pacing strategies.

Comparison of the effect of passive recovery and self-myofascial release in post-match recovery in female soccer players

The self-myofascial release is often included in football training routines the day after games to help athletes recover, but its effects when performed at this time have not yet been investigated. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a myofascial self-release protocol on post-match recovery in female professional soccer players. Ten players were included in the study, and all athletes underwent two study conditions: self-myofascial release (SMFR) and passive recovery (control). The SMFR was performed on the quadriceps, adductors, hamstrings, iliotibials, gluteus, and gastrocnemius bands, lasting approximately 25 minutes, on the day after the match. The study monitored various recovery markers, including the Total Quality Recovery Scale (TQR), delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), mood state, BRAMS (fatigue and vigour), vertical jump, countermovement jump (CMJ), 10 and 20m sprint, and creatine kinase (CK), before the game, 24 and 48 h post-match. The results showed no significant differences between the passive recovery and SMFR for any of the variables monitored. The results of this study indicate that a single session of self-myofascial release (SMFR), performed 24 hours after a female soccer match, has comparable efficacy to passive recovery for post-match.

Effects of far-infrared radiation lamp therapy on recovery from a simulated soccer-match in elite female soccer players.

We investigated the effects of far-infrared radiation (FIR) lamp therapy on changes in muscle damage and performance parameters following six sets of 15-min Loughborough intermittent shuttle test (LIST), a simulated soccer match. Twenty-four elite female soccer players (20-24 y) were assigned into FIR or sham treatment group (n = 12/group). The participants received a 60-min FIR or sham treatment (30 min per muscle) over knee extensors (KE) and flexors (KF) at 2, 25, 49, 73, and 97 h post-LIST. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) torque and muscle soreness of the KE and KF, plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity as muscle damage markers, and several performance parameters including countermovement jump (CMJ) and Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1 (YYIR1) were measured before and 1, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h post-LIST. Changes in the measures were compared between groups by a mixed-design two-way ANOVA. The running distance covered during LIST and changes in the measures at 1-h post-LIST (before the treatment) were similar (p = 0.118-0.371) between groups. Changes in muscle damage markers at 24-120 h post-LIST were smaller (p < 0.05, η2 = 0.208-0.467) for the FIR (e.g., MVC-KE torque decrease at 48-h post-LIST: -1 ± 2%, peak KE soreness: 16 ± 10 mm, peak CK: 172 ± 42 IU/L) than sham group (-11 ± 9%, 33 ± 7 mm, 466 ± 220 IU/L, respectively). Performance parameters recovered faster (p < 0.05, η2 = 0.142-0.308) to baseline for the FIR (e.g., decreases at 48-h post-LIST; CMJ: 0 ± 1%, YYIR1: 0 ± 1%) than sham group (-6 ± 2%, -9 ± 6%, respectively). These results suggest that the FIR lamp therapy was effective for enhancing recovery from a soccer match.

The Rules of the Game in Carlos Reygadas’s “Serenghetti”

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; At first glance, Mexican filmmaker Carlos Reygadas’ Serenghetti (2009) appears to be a documentary, capturing nothing more than an amateur women’s soccer match filmed in Santo Domingo Ocotitlán (Morelos, Mexico). Commentary on the film has focused on social issues such as urban development, anthropocentrism, and sport as spectacle. This essay, however, argues that Serenghetti is much more interested in examining the aesthetic dimension of cinema, or what Reygadas calls the film’s “fiction.” In some respects, Serenghetti recalls Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno’s Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait (2006), as both movies record complete soccer matches. But where Gordon and Parreno’s film engages, as Michael Fried contends, with the issue of absorption in contemporary art, this essay suggests that Reygadas’s film is concerned with contesting an anti-representational account of cinema, particularly the question of time, which has been central to how slow cinema scholarship has understood his work. Indeed, since his Cannes award-winning film Japón (2001), Reygadas’ films have been labeled as slow cinema—films that are understood less as a representation of time than as what Thiago de Luca calls “duration itself.” This essay proposes that through the concept of the soccer game, Serenghetti not only asserts itself as fiction but also, in doing so, provides a reading of cinematic time that challenges many political and aesthetic fantasies endorsed by contemporary cultural criticism.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Comparison of collision dynamics of soccer balls with energy dissipation method

This study aimed to understand the collision characteristics of different soccer balls by determining energy dissipation (ED) during collisions. Soccer balls from five different brands were kicked towards a framed tempered glass. The kicks were performed with the balls inflated under three inner pressure conditions. The motion of each ball was recorded using two high-speed cameras at 6000 Hz. The contact surface area (CSA), ball indentation amount (IA), reaction forces (RF) and energetic coefficient of restitution (CoR) during contact were calculated via image processing methods. A new methodological approach was developed to determine the ED during the collision (EDDC). The accuracy of the estimated RF was validated using force plate data, and the CSA values validated the calculated IA. The EDDC were then reduced to a single value to compare with the CoR values obtained using the traditional formula. Differences between CoR and EDDC were statistically tested. One-way ANOVA tests were performed separately to compare the effect of the ball brand on the IA and EDDC for each inner pressure condition. The CoR and EDDC showed no significant difference, proving that the developed method is a valid measure of ED. At 1.0 bar inner pressure, IA and EDDC showed significant differences according to the brands. EDDC, depending on the ball quality, decreased at higher inner pressure values regardless of the brand. Consequently, the present study exhibited that ball quality becomes a critical factor in collision dynamics at high inner pressure values, considering that ball inner pressure may vary between 0.6 and 1.0 bar in official soccer matches.

Impact of curcumin supplementation on exercise performance and muscle damage after a soccer match: a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over study.

Curcumin ingestion can mitigate muscle damage, soreness, and inflammation following a laboratory-based eccentric exercise. Similar effects were observed in recent field-based studies wherein responses were evaluated after a soccer match. However, various potential confounding factors, such as matching opponent skill levels and daily training conditions, may have influenced the outcomes. In the present study, we investigated whether curcumin intake ameliorates changes in muscle damage markers following a soccer match while controlling for the potential confounding factors. Fifteen collegiate athletes were tested in a randomized, double-blind, cross-over manner. They were recruited from the same college soccer team and thus followed the same daily training regimen and competition levels. Furthermore, athletes positioning during matches were counterbalanced. They consumed either 180mg/day of curcumin or a placebo starting 1h before the match and continuing for 2days after a match (two 45-min plays and a 15-min half-time). Muscle soreness, jump performance (including countermovement jump and rebound jump index), and inflammatory and muscle damage markers (high-sensitive C-reactive protein, serum creatine kinase activity, and urinary N-terminal fragment of titin concentration) were evaluated before and after the match. The washout period between matches was set at 1week. After the match, all markers showed similarity between the placebo and curcumin conditions (all P > 0.208). These findings indicate that ingesting 180mg/day of curcumin may not expedite recovery from muscle damage elicited by soccer matches in collegiate soccer players.

Neurocognitive Errors and Noncontact Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Professional Male Soccer Players.

Evidence is emerging that core neurocognitive functions such as working memory and inhibitory control (ie, motor-response and attentional inhibition) are linked to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk. Research has been conducted in laboratory settings, but the contribution of neurocognition to actual ACL injuries under real-world conditions is unknown. To describe the possible neurocognitive errors involved in noncontact ACL injury mechanisms. Case series. Soccer matches. A total of 47 professional male soccer players. Three independent reviewers evaluated 47 videos of players sustaining noncontact ACL injuries. Neurocognitive errors in inhibitory control were operationalized as follows: (1) motor-response inhibition was scored when a player demonstrated poor decision-making and approached the opponent with high speed that reduced the ability to stop or change the intended action and (2) an attentional error was scored when a player shifted his selective attention away from the relevant task to irrelevant stimuli. Of 47 noncontact ACL injuries, 26 (55%) were related to a pressing-type injury, 19 (73%) of which involved a deceiving action made by the opponent, suggesting poor inhibitory control of the defender. Of the remaining 21 noncontact ACL injuries (45%), 16 (76%) could be attributed to attentional errors. Agreement among the 3 raters was very good for all items except poor decision-making, which showed fair to good agreement (Fleiss κ = 0.71). Interrater reliability was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.99-1.00). Errors in motor-response inhibitory control and attentional inhibition were common during noncontact ACL injury events in professional male soccer players. The interrater agreement in detecting neurocognitive errors in general was very good.

Higher Eccentric Hamstring Muscle Fatigue After Participation in a Soccer Match in Young Female Athletes.

Hamstring (HS) strength deficits and imbalances have been identified as risk factors for sustaining anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and muscular strains, with HS injuries being the most prevalent muscle injuries in soccer athletes. The aim of this study was to investigate HS eccentric strength before and after a soccer match in both male and female soccer athletes. Soccer athletes have changes in eccentric HS strength after a soccer game. Cohort observational study. Level 3. HS eccentric strength (mean and absolute peak torque and total work) was measured in 64 healthy male and female competitive football athletes (14-25 years) with an automatic device during the execution of the Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) test before and after a 90-minute soccer match. The anterior-knee laxity (AKL) was quantified with an arthrometer. Mean and absolute eccentric HS peak torque decreased by 24.5 N.m (-12.34%; P < 0.01) and 21.9 N.m (-10.08%; P < 0.01) in female athletes, whereas their male peers improved by 19.9 N.m (+9.01%; P = 0.01) and by 20.9 N.m (+8.51%; P = 0.02), respectively. HS total work in female athletes decreased by 831.1 J (P < 0.01) compared with the male athlete reduction of 235.3 J. Both the pre- versus postmatch intersex mean and absolute eccentric HS peak torque changes were significant (P < 0.01), as were the changes in HS total work (P < 0.01). The pre- versus postmatch AKL difference and the dominant versus nondominant limb comparison of the strength parameters were not significantly different. Younger female athletes (14-19 years old) presented a greater decrease in mean and absolute peak HS eccentric strength compared with those in older female athletes and men. HS eccentric strength and work differ based on athlete sex, as measured by the NHE test. Mean peak, absolute peak, and total work showed greater reductions in female athletes than those in their male peers. The subgroup of 14- to 19-year-old female athletes experienced the highest reduction in strength parameters.

Soccer match outcome prediction with random forest and gradient boosting models

In order to accurately predict the results of soccer matches, this study introduces Machine Learning (ML) techniques in joint Random Forest (RF) and Gradient Boosting (GB) models. In order to forecast the results of the next World Cup, a model has been trained using past information from prior tournaments. The proposed model is evaluated using multiple performance criteria including precision and accuracy. The RF approach outperforms the GB approach in terms of both accuracy and precision, as concluded after the experiment. The most important features for predicting the outcome of football games are identified using feature importance scores. Football enthusiasts and analysts can use the proposed model to predict the outcome of football games with high accuracy. The implications of these findings for football teams are practical as they provide valuable insights for improving team performance and increasing their chances of winning the World Cup. By identifying the most important features for predicting the outcome of football games, teams can focus their efforts on improving these areas, increasing their chances of success. Football teams and football analysts can benefit from accurate predictions, which are enabled by machine learning techniques such as GB and RFs. Overall, this study presents a promising approach to predicting the outcome of football games, with practical implications for the field of sports analytics.

Does elite European match-play affect salivary immunoglobulin-A and cortisol in soccer players? The influence of playing status and match outcome

Introduction: The aims of this study were to: a) investigate salivary immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) and cortisol (s-Cort) responses to nine competitive fixtures in starting and non- starting soccer players; and b) compare s-IgA and s-Cort responses of starters and non-starters considering match outcome.Methods: Saliva from 19 male outfield players from an elite soccer team (mean ± SD, age 26 ± 4 years; weight 80.5 ± 8.1 kg; height 1.83 ± 0.07 m; body-fat 10.8% ± 0.7%) was collected. Saliva samples were taken on the day before each match (MD-1), 60-min before kick-off (MDpre), 30-min post-match (MDpost), and 72-h post-match (MD+3). There were five wins, one draw and three losses.Results: The mean s-IgA value was found to be significantly lower at MD+3 compared to MDpre and MDpost. s-Cort was significantly higher at MDpost compared to MD-1 and MDpre. When compared to MDpre, a statistically significant decrease in s-Cort was observed at MD+3 compared to MDpost. Starters displayed higher s-Cort values across the nine matches. There was a significant group-by-time interaction for s-Cort. There was a significant increase in s-Cort levels at MDpost compared to MD-1 and from MDpre to MDpost in starting players. At MDpost, starters had significantly higher s-Cort values. s-IgA values of starting and non- starting players following successful and unsuccessful matches did not reveal a significant difference. However, similar analysis of s-Cort in successful matches showed a significant difference between starters and non-starters. s-IgA values at MD-1, MDpre, MDpost and MD+3 in starters and non-starters following successful and unsuccessful matches revealed significant differences at MDpre and MDpost in starters, respectively. Furthermore, s-Cort values at MD-1, MDpre, MDpost and MD+3 in starters and non-starters in successful and unsuccessful matches revealed significant differences at MD+3 in starting players.Discussion: The present study suggests that in elite level soccer players, both starting status and match outcome influence s-IgA and s-Cort responses, particularly starters. Specifically, s-IgA was lower for starters before and after the match following successful outcomes. Moreover, higher s-Cort values were found before the match while lower values occurred after the match for starters in successful matches.

Examining the importance of local and global patterns for familiarity detection in soccer action sequences.

Pattern recognition is a defining characteristic of expertise across multiple domains. Given the dynamic interactions at local and global levels, team sports can provide a vehicle for investigating skilled pattern recognition. The aims of this study were to investigate whether global patterns could be recognised on the basis of localised relational information and if relations between certain display features were more important than others for successful pattern recognition. Elite (n = 20), skilled (n = 34) and less-skilled (n = 37) soccer players completed three recognition paradigms of stimuli presented in point-light format across three counterbalanced conditions: 'whole-part'; 'part-whole'; and 'whole-whole'. 'Whole' clips represented a 11 vs. 11 soccer match and 'part' clips presented the same passages of play with only two central attacking players or two peripheral players shown. Elite players recognised significantly more accurately than the skilled and less-skilled groups. Participants were significantly more accurate in the 'whole-whole' condition compared to others, and recognised stimuli featuring the two central attacking players significantly more accurately than those featuring peripheral players. Findings provide evidence that elite players can encode localised relations and then extrapolate this information to recognise more global macro patterns.