Soccer Team Research Articles

High Compliance with the 11+ Injury Prevention Program Results in Better Win-Loss Records.

The 11+ injury prevention program (IPP) has been shown to decrease injury rates. However, few studies have investigated compliance and its overall relationship to team performance. To examine if level of compliance while implementing the 11+ would impact team performance outcomes (wins, losses and ties). The authors hypothesized that higher team compliance to the IPP would be consistent with improved overall team performance (more wins and fewer losses). Prospective, cluster randomized controlled trial. This study was conducted in NCAA men's soccer teams for one season and examined the efficacy of the 11+ IPP. The outcome variables examined were levels of compliance and team performance record: wins, losses, and ties. Twenty-seven teams (n=675 players) served as the intervention group (IG) and used the 11+ program while 34 teams (n=850 players) served as the control group (CG). Compliance and team performance were recorded. There were three compliance categories that were defined prospectively, low (LC, < 1 dose/week), moderate (MC, >1 and <2 doses/week), and high (HC, >2 doses/week). Descriptive and inferential tests were used to compare the CG, the IG, and compliance to team performance. Three independent t-tests were used to analyze outcome to group (IG vs.CG). A one way-MANOVA test was used to analyze compliance to win/loss/tie record, followed up by one-way ANOVA tests to analyze how compliance impacted wins, losses and ties, independently. Partial η2 measures were calculated to determine the effect size of level of compliance on outcome. A Tukey post-hoc analysis was used to analyze specific differences between levels of compliance and specific outcome measures. There were significantly more wins (IG: 10.67±2.63 versus CG: 8.15±3.83, CI, 7.95 - 9.69, p = 0.005) and fewer losses (IG: 5.56±1.97 versus CG: 8.12±3.59, CI, 5.66 to 7.43, p = 0.002) recorded for the teams using the 11+ program. There was a statistically significant difference between levels of compliance (high, moderate or low) on the dependent variables (wins, losses, and ties), F(3, 22) = 3.780, p =0.004; Wilks' Λ = .435; partial η2 = .340. The 11+ has the capacity to improve overall team performance in male collegiate soccer teams. The higher the compliance, the more favorable the team performance. This research may be a vital addition when attempting to persuade coaching staffs to adopt an IPP into their training regimen. Level I.

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

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

Assessment Of Energy Availability In A Professional Female Soccer Team

Assessment Of Energy Availability In A Professional Female Soccer Team

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.

EFFECT OF ISOMETRIC SQUAT EXERCISE ON SPRINT PERFORMANCE OF FOOTBALL PLAYERS

A soccer match makes heavy demands on both aerobic and anaerobic metabolism. Elite players run 8–12 km during a game. Nevertheless, anaerobic metabolism is also crucial in sprints, jumps, and tackles. Many studies have stated that aerobic and anaerobic strength are significant features in soccer games. During a soccer match, soccer team members performed 60 to 70 runs from 12 to 15 m. Sprint running success, with or without the ball, is therefore a significant factor that can explain a winning team's supremacy. In essential ball duals, sprint could be key. In certain cases, the player should be quicker and more effective than the opponent to score goals or to avoid goals being scored. In addition, acceleration and speed can enhance skills vital to soccer, such as turning, sprinting, and changing tempo, by improving strength in appropriate muscles or muscle groups. The study was to evaluate the effect of isometric squat exercise on sprint performance of football players. The sample of 60 student were selected from the population of University of Lahore football team. Within 3 to 5 days after base training pre-test will be conducted in the morning by using 40-yard dash test. Post-test will be conducted after completion of Isometric Squat exercise training sessions. The results show that, differences between the two test 40 Yard Dash Test Post-Test of Experimental Group and 40 Yard Dash Test Post-Test of Control Group. This research study discovered that there was a statistically significant improvement in sprint performance by using Isometric Squat exercise Program.

Position comparison of sport-related concussions in female youth soccer players

ABSTRACT Objectives Youth soccer participation, particularly among females, continues to grow worldwide. With the high incidence of sport-related concussion (SRC) in soccer, it is important to investigate if SRC occurs disproportionally by positions. Our hypothesis was to see no positional differences in SRCs, SRC-related characteristics, and outcomes among in female youth soccer athletes. Methods Data were prospectively collected from participants at a single sports medicine institution between August 2015-April 2021. Female participants aged 8–18 diagnosed with SRC sustained during an organized soccer practice, scrimmage, or game were separated into 4 groups based on position: Forward, Midfielder, Defender, and Goalkeeper. Demographics, medical history, injury-related details, and outcomes were reviewed. A chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test was used for categorical variables. Continuous variables were compared with Mann-Whitney or Kruskal-Wallis test. Results Two hundred fourteen participants were included: 52 Forwards, 65 Midfielders, 63 Defenders, and 34 Goalkeepers. There were no significant differences between the groups in age, race, ethnicity, or previous concussion history. Differences in mechanism existed with Goalkeepers most commonly reporting Head to Body Part. Goalkeepers, which make up 1/11 of the total positions on the field, had a significantly higher proportion of SRCs compared to Field Positions. (9.1% vs 15.9%) At 3-month post-enrollment, there were no significant differences in reported symptoms or return-to-play between the different positions. Conclusion In youth female soccer players, goalkeepers sustained a higher proportion of sport-related concussions compared to field players based upon the composition of a soccer team. The mechanism of injury also differed among the different soccer positions. However, no differences in concussion characteristics, outcomes, or RTP were seen across the different soccer positions.

Exclusion, inclusion, and the multiple identities of a national minority: Israeli soccer players in the national team

ABSTRACT This study focuses on the complexity of the national representation of Arab players on the Israeli national soccer team. For 90 min, the players are part of society and their presence resembles the inclusion of Arabs in Israel. However, when the match ends, they are again part of the deprived Arab minority and excluded from Israeli society. The study is based on theoretical academic materials, interviews with six prominent Arab soccer players who played in the national team from 1976 until the present day, and selected press interviews with several other Arab internationals. The research findings show that the players define themselves as Arabs who, first and foremost, represent themselves and their families and communities. They ignore racist calls based on ethnic, national, or religious differences. Ultimately, all of them have a hybrid identity and see soccer as a way of life and an opportunity to promote their career and make their families and communities proud due to being part of the national soccer squad. These findings thus adhere to the theoretical framework of instrumental inclusion that this paper offers.

Using a Soccer team as a test bed for multi-agent systems simulation

The STMAS system is intended to imitate a soccer team and its behavior; we believe it can be used effectively as a test bed for multi-agent systems. It is constructed utilizing distributed agents that interact, communicate, and negotiate with each other to achieve the team objectives. It is based on the Jade simulation platform. The system is tested and compared to a pure soccer team using multiple MAS techniques. The results demonstrated that applying MAS techniques of negotiation and task distribution improves team performance, and STMAS is offered as an efficient test bed for new and distinct MAS techniques with varied scenario experiments. In addition, a mathematical model is created to compare the simulation results. Overall, STMAS provides a versatile and efficient MAS simulation and evaluation test bed. It is an excellent platform for comparing and evaluating various MAS approaches.

Perspectives and practices of nutritionists on dietary supplements for elite soccer teams: a cross-sectional survey study.

Dietary supplements are part of the nutritional strategies frequently applied in sports performance support. With growing research on this subject and high demand from athletes, nutritionists need to keep up to date with the latest evidence and utility of dietary supplements, particularly in real-world contexts. As information about the use of dietary supplements among elite soccer players is still scarce, this work aimed to know how nutritionists working with elite soccer teams perceive and use these substances in their daily practice. A questionnaire previously used to describe nutritionists' beliefs and attitudes regarding the use of dietary supplements in a clinical context was adapted for this study. The online questionnaire was addressed to nutritionists working with elite soccer teams from six European Leagues and Brazil, between November 2022 and February 2023. Overall, the participants considered themselves well-trained (76.9%), knowledgeable (95.4%), and interested in dietary supplements (95.4%). The majority (70.8%) of the participants agreed or strongly agreed to recommend dietary supplements to soccer players. Personal usage of dietary supplements was associated with recommending supplements (p < 0.001), but no relationships were found with years of experience and academic level. Nutritionists working with elite soccer players consider the use of dietary supplements for performance-enhancement purposes and not only to compensate for nutritional deficits, which might contribute to their higher interest, training and perceived knowledge about this topic. Participants recognize players' interest in dietary supplements, and are mindful of the safety and efficacy of these products. The present study suggests that nutritionists working with elite soccer teams are among the highest prescribers of dietary supplements, although personal usage is lower than that of nutritionists working in a clinical context.

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.

Aerobic power across positions - an investigation into women's soccer performance.

The aim of the study was to discern the disparities in the aerobic capacity of female athletes occupying various positions within a soccer team, and to understand the physical characteristics of the athletes in different positions. It is critical to understand that the physical demands for players vary depending on their positions on the field, a factor that greatly influences their training and gameplay. The study engaged a sample of 25 female soccer players, average age of 22.72 (±2.69 SD), all of whom were active participants in the Chinese Women's Super League. The sample was distributed across several playing positions, including forwards, midfielders, and defenders. To gather pertinent data on oxygen uptake, a progressive load test was administered on a treadmill, coupled with a gas analyzer to amass respiratory indices (JAEGER, Germany). The study revealed that there was a notable variance in the maximum oxygen uptake among players in different positions. The midfielders exhibited the highest VO2 max at 63.24±7.04 ml/kg/min, followed by the forwards who averaged at 58.92±7.70 ml/kg/min, and finally the defenders who recorded the smallest average at 55.73±4.40 ml/kg/min. The outcomes of this study indicate that the positional role of a player in a team correlates with their aerobic capacity. Therefore, the positional demands significantly shape the player's physical characteristics, influencing their training and gameplay. This understanding is vital for the optimal conditioning of athletes in different positions in the sport of soccer.

ANTHROPOMETRIC DATA OF THE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF BUKOVYNA

Since such a team game as football is a high-intensity sport that requires athletes to be active for 90 minutes, covering distances of up to 7 miles during a game on the field, according to Dr. Howard Libeskind, an orthopedist for the U.S. national soccer team. In our opinion, although many methods are currently available to assess the anatomical parameters of the body, there is no criterion methodology specifically defined for football players. Any coach wants to achieve the maximum possible result, especially in football. So, for the purpose to establish the anatomical parameters of the "University" football masters team of Ukraine, a study was conducted on 32 respondents aged from 16 to 18 years. The main group was made up of 16 players of the "University" football team of masters of sports of Ukraine. The control group consisted of 16 young boys that are studying at a higher education institution in Bukovyna (Bukovyna State Medical University). The representatives of the main group were practically healthy (no history of congenital or chronic pathology was noted), masters of sports of Ukraine, who systematically trained intensively and participated in championships of Ukraine among higher educational institutions, under the leadership of the team coach. Training took place 3-4 times a week, 1.5 hours on average. The subjects of the control group were also practically healthy young men who were loaded with hours of physical education, according to the programs of their specialty, and additionally did not play sports.&#x0D; Anthropometric examination included determination of total (body length and weight) parameters and partial (length of upper and lower limbs, thigh length, chest circumference during inhalation, exhalation and at rest, pelvic circumference, thigh circumference in the upper third, in the middle and lower third). Statistical analysis of the obtained data was carried out using the licensed program RStudio. A paired t-test (t-test of paired samples) was conducted to compare the indicators of the studied main and control groups. According to the results, the length of the right upper limbs is on average 78.50±2.02 cm, the left - 78.75±2.02 cm. The length of the right lower limbs is 92.63±2.06 cm, the left - 92.44±2 .06 cm. The average length of the right and left thigh is 52.25±2.04 cm. The circumference of the thigh in the upper third on the right is 55.31±2.03 cm, on the left – 54.18±2.03 cm, in the middle third on the right thigh, the indicator was 49.13±2.01 cm, on the left - 52.44±2.01 cm, in the lower third on the right, the average indicator is 44.31±2.06 cm, while on the left - 45.00± 2.06 cm.&#x0D; Football players have a lower weight index (± 2.54 kg), in contrast to the studied control group, taking into account the fact that the height in both groups is almost the same. It was established that the upper limbs of football players are longer on the right by ± 2.22 cm, on the left by ± 2.42 cm, than the upper limbs of representatives of the control group. The right lower limbs are longer by ±4.5 cm, the left by ±4.35 cm. The excursion of the chest is greater in football players, as it amounted to ±9.19 cm, in contrast to the respondents of the control group ±7.76 cm. The circumference of the pelvis of football players is smaller by ±2.22 cm from the circumference of the pelvis of the subjects of the control group. The circumference of the thigh in the upper third of football players on the right prevails by ±2.22 cm, on the left by ±5.00 cm; the thigh circumference in the middle on the right is greater by ±4.56 cm, on the left there is almost no difference; the thigh circumference in the lower third is greater on the right by ±1.12 cm, on the left by 1.6 cm.

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 (&gt;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&lt;.001), 3-minute ( p &lt; .001) and 5-minute ( p &lt; .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.

Flipping technology and giving voice: a pilot study

ABSTRACT Coach–athlete relationships (CARs) and using technologies are centrally important to coaching. Technology improves the information coaches use to advance their athletes and, by extension, promotes feedback aimed to boost development and performance. Yet on deeper examination, technology may also impede CARs because of the excessive levels of monitoring and control. Using a post-structural stance to re-imagine coaching practices, we flipped technology, not to control athletes but to give them a voice. We trialled our technological intervention with one soccer team and interviewed the coach and a sample of players about their experiences using the intervention. Our Foucauldian analysis revealed significant changes in the CARs with the potential to boost communication, collaboration, reflection, learning, and development.

CMPN: Modeling and analysis of soccer teams using Complex Multiplex Passing Network

Nowadays, coaches exploit data analysis in soccer (football) matches to plan their strategies against opponents. Network science, a subdomain of data analytics, is widely used to analyze soccer matches by treating players as nodes and passes between them as edges. However, single-layer methods for analyzing games overlook critical information by aggregating different types of passes into one layer. This paper introduces a new model called the Complex Multiplex Passing Network (CMPN) for analyzing team sports performance, with a focus on soccer matches. We utilized a real-world dataset to construct the multilayer structure of the CMPN. Each layer represents a specific type of pass between players. Using the CMPN, we conducted various analysis tasks at different topological scales. Firstly, we identified the core players of teams by calculating the PageRank versatility of each player. Next, we discovered the types of passes between trios of players based on multilayer motifs. Additionally, we measured similarities between passing tactics using the Pearson inter-layer assortativity measure. Finally, we employed a long short-term memory network to predict the outcomes of attacking plays using the CMPN model. The predictions achieved over 90% accuracy and approximately 70% F-measure. These findings offer practical value to coaches and performance analysts, as they enable appropriate planning by predicting playing styles in different competitions and neutralizing the strategies of opposing teams.

Description of the menstrual cycle status, energy availability, eating behavior and physical performance in a youth female soccer team

The aim of the study was to describe the menstrual status and perception, risk of low energy availability (LEA) and the presence of orthorexia nervosa (ON) in youth female from a soccer team. Also, verify the possible effect of LEA and ON on physical performance. Data from 19 female players (14.6 ± 1.42 yr) belonging to a soccer team from Cyprus was taken during pre-season. The menstrual cycle status was evaluated by specific questions, LEA by the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q), ON by the ORTO-R questionnaire and physical performance by jump, handgrip and cardiorespiratory exercise tests. Players were separated into the risk of LEA and ON. Comparison and correlation tests were performed with a significance set at p < 0.05. As the main results, 66.7% of players perceived that the menstrual period affects their performance in the game, 83.3% did not communicate with coaches about their menstrual cycle; the prevalence of risk of LEA was 26.3%; players with risk of LEA also presented higher scores ON; neither LEA nor ON presented a significant association with players performance. The findings highlighted that youth players perceived an impact of the menstrual period on performance, but did not communicate with the coach about it. Players with the risk of LEA and high values of ON seem not to be associated with a decrease in physical performance during the pre-season evaluation. Attention is required as the players were assessed once. Monitoring these parameters throughout the sports season is recommended to obtain better clarification about the topic.

Comparison of acceleration-speed profiles from training and competition to individual maximal sprint efforts

This study aimed to (1) compare “in-situ” monitored acceleration-speed (ASin-situ) profile metrics from training/competition data in elite female soccer players to similar metrics from profiles developed from isolated maximal sprint efforts (ASsprint) and; (2) compare the confidence interval (CI) and a Tukey boxplot (BP) outlier removal technique on the training/competition data to derive ASin-situ profiles. Fifteen national team soccer players participated in a 4-week camp while wearing 10 Hz GNSS units. Towards the middle of the camp, 2 × 40 m isolated maximal sprints were performed. ASin-situ profiles (theoretical maximum acceleration A0 in m∙s−2 and speed S0 in m∙s−1) were computed using the CI and BP techniques with training/competition data. The sprint data were modelled separately to construct horizontal force–velocity (FV) profiles, from which ASsprint profiles were derived. Bland-Altman analysis was used to assess agreement between the CI- and BP-derived ASin-situ profiles to the ASsprint profiles, as well as regression analysis for systematic and proportional bias. Additionally, 1-way ANOVAs with Tukey posthoc compared the metrics between each method of analysis. Using the BP method, good agreement of the ASin-situ with ASsprint profile metrics A0/S0 was displayed, whereas good to moderate agreement was shown for the CI. The CI technique showed a proportional bias for A0/S0. Good to excellent intertrial reliability was demonstrated for isolated sprint metrics. Both BP and CI techniques provided comparable ASin-situ profiles to ASsprint profiles. This current research demonstrated that ASin-situ profiling is applicable in elite women’s soccer and will have further application in many team sports.

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

Concussive Biomechanics in a Women’s Soccer Player: A Validation Clinical Case Report

A concussed 19-year-old female midfielder on an National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III soccer team reported to the athletic training clinic complaining of a headache that began 4 days previously during a game where she headed several long punts. Despite delayed reporting, the patient returned to full participation without complication 13 days after her injury. The biomechanical data for the impacts she received on the day of injury were much lower than those presented in the literature as causing concussion for male athletes. Therefore, impact magnitude should not be used as an indicator for injury, as smaller, seemingly insignificant impacts can cause concussion.