Technical Demands Research Articles

Physiological and technical demands of the small-sided and generic games in female futsal players

Aim: This study aimed to compare the heart rate (HR) values and technical actions frequencies during small-sided (SSG) and generic (GG) games in women futsal players. Methods: Six futsal players (age: 20.5 ± 7.4 years, height: 163.3 ± 16 cm, body mass: 57.9 ± 22 kg, maximum rate of oxygen consumption (VO2max): 42.0 ± 9 mL.kg.min−1) performed two experimental conditions in two days separated for at least 72h of interval: (1) one set of 10 min of SSG, 3x3 players; and (2) one set of 10 min of GG, 4 (1 joker) x 4 (1 joker) players. During each experimental session, the subject's HR values were monitored every 1 min of play. Pass, shot, dribbling, driving, and disarmament were recorded during the games. Results: There was no difference between SSG and GG for HR average (p = 0.50). The HR values that were recorded at the first minute of GG were higher than SSG (p = 0.02). The HRmax in SSG and GG were equivalent to 91.9% and 90.8% of HRmax of the incremental test, respectively. Total technical actions were higher in SSG (+ 18.4%, p = 0.001) than GG. Pass was higher in the SSG (+16%; p = 0.01) in comparison to GG. Conclusion: Both models were higher than HRmax equivalent to AT velocity. The technical actions of the SSG were higher than GG, suggesting that the SSG model is a suitable technical and physiological stimulus for the development of female futsal players.

PARADIGM SHIFT IN THE MEDICAL UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING LEARNING METHODS AND ASSESSMENT IN THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC TIME

Background: Medical education has experienced a sea of change in the last decade. Covid- 19 pandemic has catalysed a drastic change in the learning experience from traditional classroom teaching to virtual education. Methods:After 4 months of online teaching at our institute, an online survey based research study was conducted on the perceptions of students and faculty of our department about online teaching. Results:Atotal of 215 students consented to participate. 63.72% felt that the clarity of presentation and audibility was good. 25.11% of students faced major problems with net connectivity. However 51.1% felt that their interaction with other students was less and 27.4% felt that their interaction with faculty was less in online classes when compared to traditional class room.34% were satised and 41.8% gave an equivocal response to satisfaction with online teaching. 12 faculty members participated in the survey. 58.33% of the faculty felt condent in meeting the technical demands of online teaching.41.66% opined that the level of student participation was less in online class. 66.66% experienced difculty in keeping their students involved in the online class. 83.33% appreciated the institutional support. 91.66% of the faculty enjoyed their new experience of teaching online. Conclusion:The students appreciated the efforts of the faculty and management in imparting education virtually as a viable option in the pandemic time. Teachers also echoed the same opinion. Blended learning could be used to enhance and complement the formal face to face teaching in medical education in the years to come.

Hybrid laparoscopic and robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy

Introduction: Multiple studies have shown minimally-invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) (laparoscopic or robotic) to be technically feasible and safe, with equivalent oncologic outcomes, but these approaches have yet to be widely adopted due to the complexity and technical demands of each medium. We present a hybrid minimally-invasive approach, combining laparoscopy and robot-assistance to resect a pancreatic head adenocarcinoma.

Toprak İşleme Makinalarının Aktif Elemanlarında Yüzey Kaplama Uygulamaları

Toprak işleme makinalarından pulluk, kültivatör, toprak frezesi ve rototiller gibi makinalar bu amaç için yaygın olarak kullanılmaktadır. Ancak toprak işleme makinaları ile çalışmada en temel sorunlardan biri işleyici elemanların zamanla aşınmasıdır. Aşınma, toprak işleme makinalarının aktif elemanlarında farklı şekillerde oluşur ve kullanılan makinaların kendinden beklenen işlevselliği zamanla kaybetmesine neden olur. Gerek agroteknik isteklerin karşılanması gerekse iş veriminin yüksek olması amacıyla aşınma düzeyini azaltmak için aktif elemanlarının aşınmaya dirençli kaplama malzemeleri ile kaplanması tercih edilmektedir. Tarım makinalarının aktif elemanlarında görülen aşınma şekli; toprak içindeki katı maddelere (kesek, taş, daha sert çizimler vb.) sürtünme nedeniyle oluşan abrasif ve toprak neminin yol açtığı adhezif aşınmadır. Aktif elemanlarda oluşan aşınmanın yapılacak kaplama işlemiyle azaltılması, hem aşınmayla oluşan malzeme kaybını önleyecek hem de makinanın etkinliğini arttıracaktır. Bu çalışmada, diğer üretim sektörlerinde (özellikle kalıp imalatında) son 10 yıldır kullanılan yeni kaplama yöntemlerinin toprak işleme makinalarının aktif elemanlarının kaplanmasında kullanımı ve aşınma direncinin artırılıp, ürün performansı ve ömrü üzerindeki etkilerini iyileştirebilecek yöntemler derlenmiştir. Tarım sektörüne uyarlanabilecek kaplama yöntemleri; Gaz Fazda, Sıvı Fazda ve Ergimiş/Yarı Ergimiş Fazda olarak sıralanabilir. Bunların arasında Plazma Termal Püskürtme (Ergimiş/Yarı Ergimiş Fazda Kaplama Yöntemleri) ve ince film kaplama (Buhar Fazda Kaplama Yöntemleri) yöntemlerine ait çalışmalar öne çıkmaktadır. Diğer yandan yapılan çalışmalarda farklı kaplama yöntemleri ve kombinasyonlarının uygulanması ile istenilen aşınma direncinin daha da iyileştirilebildiği ön görülmektedir.

UEFA expert group statement on nutrition in elite football. Current evidence to inform practical recommendations and guide future research

Football is a global game which is constantly evolving, showing substantial increases in physical and technical demands. Nutrition plays a valuable integrated role in optimising performance of elite players during...

Auscultation System for Acquisition of Vascular Sounds - Towards Sound-Based Monitoring of the Carotid Artery.

IntroductionAtherosclerotic diseases of the carotid are a primary cause of cerebrovascular events such as stroke. For the diagnosis and monitoring angiography, ultrasound- or magnetic resonance-based imaging is used which requires costly hardware. In contrast, the auscultation of carotid sounds and screening for bruits – audible patterns related to turbulent blood flow – is a simple examination with comparably little technical demands. It can indicate atherosclerotic diseases and justify further diagnostics but is currently subjective and examiner dependent.MethodsWe propose an easy-to-use computer-assisted auscultation system for a stable and reproducible acquisition of vascular sounds of the carotid. A dedicated skin-transducer-interface was incorporated into a handheld device. The interface comprises two bell-shaped structures, one with additional acoustic membrane, to ensure defined skin contact and a stable propagation path of the sound. The device is connected wirelessly to a desktop application allowing real-time visualization, assessment of signal quality and input of supplementary information along with storage of recordings in a database. An experimental study with 5 healthy subjects was conducted to evaluate usability and stability of the device. Five recordings per carotid served as data basis for a wavelet-based analysis of the stability of spectral characteristics of the recordings.ResultsThe energy distribution of the wavelet-based stationary spectra proved stable for measurements of a particular carotid with the majority of the energy located between 3 and 40 Hz. Different spectral properties of the carotids of one individual indicate the presence of sound characteristics linked to the particular vessel. User-dependent parameters such as variations of the applied contact pressure appeared to have minor influence on the general stability.ConclusionThe system provides a platform for reproducible carotid auscultation and the creation of a database of pathological vascular sounds, which is a prerequisite to investigate sound-based vascular monitoring.

Calanchi badlands reconstructions and long-term change detection analysis from historical aerial and UAS image processing

In Italy, highly dissected badlands may be found widespread (over the entire Apennine region) and are locally described as “calanchi” (singular: “calanco”). Accelerated geomorphic processes led to the rapid evolution of these erosional landunits with intense drawbacks on agriculture, infrastructure and society. Historical aerial photographs (HAP) of such badland areas exist worldwide. To reconstruct the past surface and related topographic changes offers high potential for the assessment of long-term topographic changes of many interesting landscapes. Due to technical and conceptual demands of traditional photogrammetry those photographs have been used comparable little in long-term geomorphology. Processing them with user-friendly SfM-MVS photogrammetry would provide a new perspective on the assessment of long-term erosion rates on the catchment and slope scale and the related badland evolution. Therefore, this multi-temporal approach focusses on the appliance of SfM-MVS photogrammetry in order to reconstruct the past landscape and to calculate the related long-term surface changes of a badland located in the upper Val d’Orcia (Tuscany, Italy). The analysis is based on a set of high-resolution UAV images (2016) and two sets of historical aerial images of varying quality and scale (1976 and 1994). Digital elevation models (DEMs), shaded relief raster, several morphometric parameters and DEMs of difference (DoD) (resolution: 1 m) were used to obtain overall terrain changes and to calculate sediment balances and annual surface change rates on catchment and slope scale. Change detection analysis revealed a mean surface lowering of 0.01 m*a–1 (1976–2016) on the catchment scale and 0.03 m*a–1 (1976–1994) to 0.06 m*a–1 (1994–2016) on the slope scale. Our results further show a reduced activity of fluvial erosion processes from the mid 90s’ on while mass movements dominating the topographic changes in the second half of the 40 years observation period. Erosion processes are enhanced near the tear-off edges of the lateral valleys. Deposition mainly occurs in the main valley floor which can be classified as a temporary sediment sink/store. The geomorphic development of the catchment indicates a self-stabilizing behaviour towards an equilibrium state. A reduction of the mean slope gradient in the main valley from 25° in 1976 to 14° in 2016 confirms the self-stabilizing theory. The study also revealed the potential and limitations of historical aerial images for long-term geomorphic change detection and showed that SfM-MVS algorithms operate less reliable when applied to only a few images (n=3) of a singular flightline. Nevertheless, the good agreement of our results with the long term rates obtained by other authors with different methods/techniques and different time scales proof the great potential of historical aerial photographs for 3D surface reconstructions (SfM-MVS) of semi-arid badlands when ceratin quality parameters, mainly high image overlaps and entropy, are fulfilled.

The applications of parametric design in green building

High energy-efficiency has become an essential goal in many industrial branches. This paper introduces three approaches in which parametric design plays a connecting role between technical demands and building aesthetics. The first two methods focus on the scheme phase in architectural design. The findings indicate that the parametric approaches improve the efficiency and support decision-making in early-stage design. The third application is bio-inspired, which is based on the interaction between building systems and environmental influences. The study may serve as a brief review of technical achievement in the field of green building in the context of Parametricism.

Evaluation of Abutment Parallelism and Path of Withdrawal Using Three Intra- and One Extra-Oral Methods: A Survey and In vitro Study

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate four different methods used to examine preparation taper and relative parallelism of the prepared abutment teeth. Materials and Methods: A total of 12 artificial teeth were prepared simulating six sets of prepared abutments. Proximal walls of the premolars in all sets were prepared parallel and 90° to the occlusal plane, whereas walls of the second molars were prepared either 0°, 20°, or 45° to the long axis of the premolar preparation. A total number of 210 participants were involved in the study. All data of the taper evaluation and responses to the questionnaire were coded and entered into an Excel Spreadsheet file. Statistical analyses of the participants' responses were performed using the Chi-square test with P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: No significant difference was found between the educational levels relative to their responses to level of difficulty, sensitivity, skills, and technical demands for the four techniques. The intraoral mirror technique in the mandibular arch was found to be statistically significantly (P < 0.05) better. The surveyor technique in the maxillary arch was found to be statistically significantly (P < 0.05) better. The highest percentage of faculty members (50%) chose dental surveyor (DS) as the most preferred technique to be included into the academic curriculum. Conclusions: The DS was more favored among the respondents across all educational levels. This technique presented high potential in accurately evaluating tooth preparation in comparison to the intraoral techniques.

Functional outcome of patients undergoing open rotator cuff repair

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Rotator cuff tears are a common source of shoulder pain. The incidence of rotator cuff damage increases with age and is most frequently due to degeneration of the tendon rather than injury from sports or trauma. Rotator cuff tear can be treated arthroscopically, arthroscopically assisted (mini-open) or by an open procedure. Because of the technical demands of arthroscopic repair many surgeons consider open repair for the treatment of rotator cuff tears. This study was done to evaluate the functional outcome of shoulder after open rotator cuff repair.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> 26 patients with partial and complete rotator cuff tears underwent open rotator cuff repair and acromioplasty. Cases were followed up at 3 months and 6 months intervals and shoulder function was assessed using Constant-Murley scoring system and compared with the preoperative scores and analyzed using SPSS software.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Mean preoperative constant score was 33.95±7.545 while the mean constant score at 6 months post-surgery was 79.83±8.51 which was highly significant according to paired t test. The difference between preoperative, 3 months and 6 months constant scores of complete and partial tear patients was found to be statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> There was highly significant increase in Constant-Murley score after 6 months in patients treated by open rotator cuff repair. Open repair still stands as an effective treatment for rotator cuff tears and doing acromioplasty during the procedure adds to better outcome after surgery.</p>

Emergent Deep-Ultraviolet Nonlinear Optical Candidates.

Advances in the generation of coherent lasers at wavelengths below 200 nm as well as the associated equipment and technologies have greatly spurred the development of nonlinear optical (NLO) materials that are capable of phase-matching in the deep-ultraviolet (deep-UV) spectral regions. However, few crystals can meet the technical demands, and studies to date have focused mainly on finding the next competitive candidates. Consequently, several crystals have emerged that hold great potential for the production of deep-UV harmonic coherent light, which benefit from newly developed systems with novel NLO-active units and chromophores. This Review provides a comprehensive overview of the developments of emergent candidates in the field of deep-UV NLO materials, discussing the recent efforts and active advances in the search for superior systems and in understanding their structure-property relationships. The intention is to provide a clear perspective on the current emergent deep-UV NLO candidates, and to accelerate the discovery of next candidates with high performances to meet the urgent demands.

Preclinical assessment of clinically streamlined, 3D-printed, biocompatible single- and two-stage tissue scaffolds for ear reconstruction.

Auricular reconstruction is a technically demanding procedure requiring significant surgical expertise, as the current gold standard involves hand carving of the costal cartilage into an auricular framework and re-implantation of the tissue. 3D-printing presents a powerful tool that can reduce technical demands associated with the procedure. Our group compared clinical, radiological, histological, and biomechanical outcomes in single- and two-stage 3D-printed auricular tissue scaffolds in an athymic rodent model. Briefly, an external anatomic envelope of a human auricle was created using DICOM computed tomography (CT) images and modified in design to create a two-stage, lock-in-key base and elevating platform. Single- and two-stage scaffolds were 3D-printed by laser sintering poly-L-caprolactone (PCL) then implanted subcutaneously in five athymic rats each. Rats were monitored for ulcer formation, site infection, and scaffold distortion weekly, and scaffolds were explanted at 8 weeks with analysis using microCT and histologic staining. Nonlinear finite element analysis was performed to determine areas of high strain in relation to ulcer formation. Scaffolds demonstrated precise anatomic appearance and maintenance of integrity of both anterior and posterior auricular surfaces and scaffold projection, with no statistically significant differences in complications noted between the single- and two-staged implantation. While minor superficial ulcers occurred most commonly at the lateral and superior helix coincident with finite element predictions of high skin strains, evidence of robust tissue ingrowth and angiogenesis was visible grossly and histologically. This promising preclinical small animal model supports future initiatives for making clinically viable options for an ear tissue scaffold.

Small-Sided Games Are Not as Effective as Intermittent Running to Stimulate Aerobic Metabolism in Prepubertal Soccer Players.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of the soccer pitch area during small-sided games (SSG) in prepubertal children on physiological and technical demands, and to compare them, for the physiological demands, to high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Ten young soccer players (13.0 [0.3]y) performed a HIIT and 3 SSG of various field sizes (30 × 20m, 42 × 38m, and 51 × 34m). Each SSG was performed with 5 players per team, during 4 × 4-minutes interspaced with 1minute of passive recovery in between. HIIT also followed a 4 × 4-minute protocol with running speed set on an individual basis. Heart rate (HR) was continuously monitored during training sessions. For each exercise modality, time spent above 90% of HRmax (T≥90%,HRmax) was calculated, and technical actions were quantified during SSG by video analysis. T≥90%,HRmax was similar between the 3 SSG (∼587 [276]s; P > .2) but 24% to 37% lower than during HIIT (826 [140]s, P < .05). Coefficients of variations in T≥90%,HRmax were 2.3 to 3.5 times larger in SSG compared with HIIT. For technical actions, greater number of possessions (21 [6] vs ∼14 [4]), and lower ball touches per possession (2.4 [0.6] vs ∼2.9 [0.6]) were found in the small SSG compared with larger SSG, respectively (P < .05). The 3 SSG led to lower acute stimulation of the aerobic metabolism, suggesting a lower potential for chronic aerobic adaptations, compared with HIIT. Moreover, interindividual variability in the physiological response was substantially greater in SSG compared with HIIT, indicating increased heterogeneity among players performing the same training protocol.

Why we need to care about the care: A longitudinal study linking the quality of residential dementia care to residents’ quality of life

BackgroundResidential dementia care staff are often the most important people in a resident’s social world. It is a symbiotic relationship and the work can involve highly emotional interactions as well as physical and technical demands. This study focused on narrowing down the most useful targets for intervention in quality of care (QOC) in order to improve quality of life (QOL) for people with dementia in residential care. MethodOver six months we followed: 247 older adults with dementia from 12 residential care facilities, their families/care partners (n = 225), managers (n = 12) and staff (n = 232). Facilities ranged from 10 to 137 beds, located across remote, rural and metropolitan areas. Measures: Staff surveys, family member and resident interviews, resident file audits, live resident and staff observations and organisational audits. ResultsThe QOC provided had an immediate impact on resident’s pain, depression, QOL scale score, Body Mass Index, ease/engagement with staff, and food and fluid intake. This influence was still evident six months later, with baseline QOC leading to improved ease and engagement with staff, QOL scores, and fluid intake. Restraint use featured heavily as a predictor of poor outcomes for residents. QOC did not significantly impact agitated behaviours, frailty, nor physical/verbal expressions of well-being. ConclusionsWhat staff do and the way they do it has a real and lasting impact on the QOL of residents. The most useful targets for improving QOL are: eradicating physical restraint and supporting and upskilling care staff so that they treat and interact empathetically and humanely with residents.

The physical demands of mixed martial arts: A narrative review using the ARMSS model to provide a hierarchy of evidence

ABSTRACT The physical demands of mixed martial arts (MMA) training and competition is not yet well quantified. The Applied Research Model for the Sport Sciences (ARMSS) provides a framework through which to conduct sport science, determining pertinent questions to test research findings in real-world settings. The aim of this review was to evaluate MMA research within the context of ARMSS to critically analyse our understanding of the physical requirements of MMA training and competition. Research databases were searched, with 70 peer-reviewed articles being discussed in relation to the specific stage of the ARMSS in which their results best fit. MMA research was found to be mostly foundational and descriptive in nature and has generally not developed along systematic lines. The internal and external loads and responses to training and competition have not been adequately identified. Therefore, it is not currently possible to state which variables are key predictors of success, or how coaches can optimally manipulate these variables. We propose that MMA research be refocused to be conducted within ARMSS. Specifically, stage 2 studies describing the physical, physiological and technical demands of MMA training and competition, and stage 3 studies determining the physiological predictors of performance should be initially prioritised.

The Evaluation and Management of the Failed Primary Arthroscopic Bankart Repair.

Primary arthroscopic Bankart repair is a common procedure that is increasing in popularity; however, failure rates can approach up to 6% to 30%. Factors commonly attributed to failure include repeat trauma, poor or incomplete surgical technique, humeral and/or glenoid bone loss, hyperlaxity, or a failure to identify and address rare pathology such as a humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament lesion. A thorough clinical and radiographic assessment may provide insight into the etiology, which can assist the clinician in making treatment recommendations. Surgical management of a failed primary arthroscopic Bankart repair without bone loss can include revision arthroscopic repair or open repair; however, in the setting of bone loss, the anterior-inferior glenoid can be reconstructed using a coracoid transfer, tricortical iliac crest, or structural allograft, whereas posterolateral humeral head bone loss (the Hill-Sachs defect) can be addressed with remplissage, structural allograft, or partial humeral head implant. In addition to the technical demands of revision stabilization surgery, patient and procedure selection to optimize outcomes can be challenging. This review will focus on the etiology, evaluation, and management of patients after a failed primary arthroscopic Bankart repair, including an evidence-based treatment algorithm.

Bringing the Laboratory Home: PANDABox Telehealth-Based Assessment of Neurodevelopmental Risk in Children.

BackgroundAdvances in clinical trials have revealed a pressing need for outcome measures appropriate for children with neurogenetic syndromes (NGS). However, the field lacks a standardized, flexible protocol for collecting laboratory-grade experimental data remotely. To address this challenge, we developed PANDABox (Parent-Administered Neurodevelopmental Assessment), a caregiver-facilitated, remotely administered assessment protocol for collecting integrated and high quality clinical, behavioral, and spectral data relevant to a wide array of research questions. Here, we describe PANDABox development and report preliminary data regarding: (1) logistics and cost, (2) caregiver fidelity and satisfaction, and (3) data quality.MethodsWe administered PANDABox to a cohort of 16 geographically diverse caregivers and their infants with Down syndrome. Tasks assessed attention, language, motor, and atypical behaviors. Behavioral and physiological data were synchronized and coded offline by trained research assistants.ResultsPANDABox required low resources to administer and was well received by families, with high caregiver fidelity (94%) and infant engagement (91%), as well as high caregiver-reported satisfaction (97% positive). Missing data rates were low for video frames (3%) and vocalization recordings (6%) but were higher for heart rate (25% fully missing and 13% partially missing) and discrete behavioral presses (8% technical issues and 19% not enough codable behavior), reflecting the increased technical demands for these activities.ConclusionWith further development, low-cost laboratory-grade research protocols may be remotely administered by caregivers in the family home, opening a new frontier for cost-efficient, scalable assessment studies for children with NGS other neurodevelopmental disorders.

Dynamic maintenance based on functional usage profiles

PurposeFor many decades, it has been recognized that maintenance activities should be adapted to the specific usage of a system. For that reason, many advanced policies have been developed, such as condition-based and load-based maintenance policies. However, these policies require advanced monitoring techniques and rather detailed understanding of the failure behavior, which requires the support of an OEM or expert, prohibiting application by an operator in many cases. The present work proposes a maintenance policy that relieves the high (technical) demands set by these existing policies and provides a more accurate specification of the required (dynamic) maintenance interval than traditional usage-based maintenance.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology followed starts with a review and critical assessment of existing maintenance policies, which are classified according to six different aspects. Based on the need for a technically less demanding policy that appears from this comparison, a new policy is developed. The consecutive steps required for this functional usage profiles based maintenance policy are then critically discussed: usage profile definition, monitoring, profile severity quantification and the possible extension to the fleet level. After the description of the proposed policy, it is demonstrated in three case studies on real systems.FindingsA maintenance policy based on a simple usage registration procedure appears to be feasible, which enables a significantly more efficient maintenance process than the traditional usage-based policies. This is demonstrated by the policy proposed here.Practical implicationsThe proposed maintenance policy based on functional usage profiles offers the operators of fleets of systems the opportunity to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their maintenance process, without the need for a high investment in advanced monitoring systems and in experts interpreting the results.Originality/valueThe original contribution of this work is the explicit definition of a new maintenance policy, which combines the benefits of considering the effects of usage or environment severity with a limited investment in monitoring technology.

Variability Of Heart Rates During Small Sided Games In Female College Soccer Players

Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world that include small sided games (SSGs) as a match specific type of training. Much is known about the physiological demands of official match-play (OM), however less is known about which practice elements most closely mimic OM situations. PURPOSE: To assess differences in HR and soccer performance during SSGs in female college soccer players in comparison to a full competitive match. METHODS: Twenty female collegiate soccer players (mean ± SD; age = 20 ± 1yrs, height = 169 ± 6cm, weight = 64 ± 6kg) were recruited to participate in this study. A commercially available team monitoring system was used to measure HR and determine time spent in various zones based on %HRmax. Player touches (contacting the ball) were based on video analysis of each session. Field size (120m x 75m) for the SSGs were kept constant, but the intensity of the games were influenced by the number of players involved (6 vs 6, 7 vs 7, 8 vs 8, 9 vs 9 and 11 vs 11). RESULTS: A one-way repeated measures ANOVA showed there was a significant main effect of average HR on SSGs, F (4, 64) = 11.248; p < 0.01. The average %HRmax responses increased in concert with the increased number of players in SSGs (6 vs 6 =73 ± 6%, 7 vs 7 = 75 ± 10%, 8 vs 8 = 81 ± 7%, 9 vs 9 = 83 ± 5%, and 11 vs 11 = 83 ± 6%). A one-way repeated measures ANOVA showed there was a statistically significant main effect of group size on the number of touches, F (4, 64) = 12.67, p < 0.001. The number of touches were inversely related to the number of players (11 vs 11 = 46 ± 16, 9 vs 9 = 61 ± 15, 8 vs 8 = 66 ± 22, 7 vs 7 = 78 ± 22, and 6 vs 6 = 86 ± 28. A two-way Mixed Model ANOVA showed there was no significant main effect of position (DEF, MID, STK) on time spent in heart rate zones, F (2, 72) = 1.38, p > 0.05. CONCLUSION: Changes in SSGs game format affect the players Using SSGs can allow coaches to more closely alter physiological and technical demands differently. The greater touches with fewer players may enhance technical ability. However, fewer players in SSGs are also associated with a lower %HRmax. The 9 vs 9 SSGs formats provide players with the opportunity to spend sufficient proportion of time spent in high intensity HR zones that are specific to OM.

Analysis of goalkeepers' game performances at the 2016 European Football Championships.

Despite a substantial body of literature on the physical and technical demands of outfield players in football, there is little information regarding the performance of goalkeepers. The aim of this study was to analyse the game performance profiles of goalkeepers at the 2016 European Football Championships. A total of 30 goalkeepers from 15 games played during the 2016 European Football Championships were analysed using the InStat® video tracking system. The results showed that goalkeepers covered a mean total distance of 4819 m, ranging from 4036 m to 6640 m. Overall, 68% of distance travelled was attributed to walking, whereas 0.8% was due to high-intensity activities. The goalkeepers of teams that lost matches covered significantly (p < 0.05) longer distances while sprinting than those of teams that drew or won the matches. Goalkeepers of teams that drew significantly (p < 0.05) had a greater number of passes than those goalkeepers of teams that won or lost. The current results have implications for soccer coaches to structure training sessions and tactical strategies for goalkeepers. The ability of goalkeepers to meet the physical and technical demands of a match could directly influence the successful execution of skills and the outcome of the competition.