Top Players Research Articles

Exploring External Peak Demands: The Influence of Contextual Factors on Male Basketball Players

Understanding the external load, particularly the peak demands (PDs), experienced by players is essential. Several factors, such as the playing time, team venue, score outcome, and match nature, can influence basketball performance. Accelerometry-based methods allow for the estimation of the load borne by athletes and the peaks they reach. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of these factors on PDs across different time windows (30 s, 1 min, and 3 min). Eleven national-level athletes were monitored during 29 matches using measurement devices. Inertial movement units were used to measure peak PlayerLoad™ (PL) across any time window. Mixed linear models were used to compare the groups, and effect size was calculated to quantify the differences. Significant differences (p < 0.05, small effects) were found between occasional players (who play fewer minutes) and core players (who play intermediate minutes), with the latter reaching higher PDs, though with small effect sizes. Core players also reached higher PDs than top players (who play the most minutes), but the differences were not significant (p > 0.05, trivial effects). In summary, core players reach higher external PDs during competition compared to occasional players, while other contextual factors did not show a significant influence on external PDs.

Will the COVID-19 infection affect the performance of top basketball players? A data-driven analysis

PurposeTo investigate the changes in the game performance of high-level basketball players in NBA league before and after the COVID-19 infection.MethodsAthletic statistics were collected from official database for 68 players (19 forwards, 29 guards, 20 centers; mean age 27.14 ± 3.65 years) in the NBA league for 10 games before and after infection with COVID-19. We used a the Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance to examine the impact caused by COVID-19.ResultsAmong all 68 players, a statistically significant decrease in plus/minus (Z = −2.392, p = 0.017) and free throw shooting (FT% Z = −2.153, p = 0.031), occurred compared to the pre-infection with COVID-19. Among the interior players, we found a statistically significant decrease in free throw shooting FT% (Z = 2.674, p = 0.021), Plus/Minus (Z = −2.371, p = 0.018). Among centers and forwards, there was no statistically significant change.ConclusionThe impact of COVID-19 on players’ fatigue and cardiorespiratory and muscular endurance may have contributed to the decline in performance, and the impact of detraining due to isolation should not be ignored.

Beyond xG: A Dual Prediction Model for Analyzing Player Performance Through Expected and Actual Goals in European Soccer Leagues

Soccer is evolving into a science rather than just a sport, driven by intense competition between professional teams. This transformation requires efforts beyond physical training, including strategic planning, data analysis, and advanced metrics. Coaches and teams increasingly use sophisticated methods and data-driven insights to enhance decision-making. Analyzing team performance is crucial to prepare players and coaches, enabling targeted training and strategic adjustments. Expected goals (xG) analysis plays a key role in assessing team and individual player performance, providing nuanced insights into on-field actions and opportunities. This approach allows coaches to optimize tactics and lineup choices beyond traditional scorelines. However, relying solely on xG might not provide a full picture of player performance, as a higher xG does not always translate into more goals due to the intricacies and variabilities of in-game situations. This paper seeks to refine performance assessments by incorporating predictions for both expected goals (xG) and actual goals (aG). Using this new model, we consider a wider variety of factors to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of players and teams. Another major focus of our study is to present a method for selecting and categorizing players based on their predicted xG and aG performance. Additionally, this paper discusses expected goals and actual goals for each individual game; consequently, we use expected goals per game (xGg) and actual goals per game (aGg) to reflect them. Moreover, we employ regression machine learning models, particularly ridge regression, which demonstrates strong performance in forecasting xGg and aGg, outperforming other models in our comparative assessment. Ridge regression’s ability to handle overlapping and correlated variables makes it an ideal choice for our analysis. This approach improves prediction accuracy and provides actionable insights for coaches and analysts to optimize team performance. By using constructed features from various methods in the dataset, we improve our model’s performance by as much as 12%. These features offer a more detailed understanding of player performance in specific leagues and roles, improving the model’s accuracy from 83% to nearly 95%, as indicated by the R-squared metric. Furthermore, our research introduces a player selection methodology based on their predicted xG and aG, as determined by our proposed model. According to our model’s classification, we categorize top players into two groups: efficient scorers and consistent performers. These precise forecasts can guide strategic decisions, player selection, and training approaches, ultimately enhancing team performance and success.

A detailed analysis of game statistics of professional tennis players: An inferential and machine learning approach.

Tennis, a widely enjoyed sport, motivates athletes and coaches to optimize training for competitive success. This retrospective predictive study examines anthropometric features and statistics of 1990 tennis players in the 2022 season, using 20,040 data points retrospectively obtained from the ATP official source after the end of the season. These data were cross-verified with information from other sources before categorisation to address any discrepancies. Employing various analytical methods, the results emphasize the strategic importance of tournament participation and gameplay for financial gains and higher rankings. Prize money analysis reveals a significant disparity favoring top players. Multivariate Analysis of Variance highlights the need to consider multiple variables for understanding ATP rankings. Multinomial Logistic Regression identifies age, height, and specific service-related metrics as key determinants, with older and taller players more likely to secure top positions. Neural Network models exhibit potential in predicting ATP Rank outcomes, particularly for ATP Rank (500). Our results argue for the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), specifically Neural Networks, in handling complex interactions and emphasize that AI is a supportive tool in decision-making, requiring careful consideration by experienced individuals. In summary, this study enhances our understanding of ATP ranking factors, providing actionable insights for coaches, players, and stakeholders in the tennis community.

Attack efficiency in first league men’s volleyball for playing positions, according to the value level of the teams

Background and Study Purpose. The attack is a crucial technical element in scoring points in volleyball. This research aims to identify differences in attack efficiency and errors based on the value level of teams in the competitive system, considering different playing positions. Material and Methods. The analysis included 86 attacking players from the rosters of 12 teams in the men’s domestic first league. The distribution by positions was as follows: 37 outside hitters, 19 opposites, and 30 middle blockers. Statisticians from each team recorded the data using Data Volley software during three championship matches. For each player, the following parameters were interpreted: Attack Efficiency (E%), Error% (=), Blocked Attack% (/), Poor% (-), Blocked but Recovered% (!), Positive% (+), and Winning% (#). Attack efficiency was analyzed for each playing position across top teams (positions 1-4 in the final ranking), mid-level teams (positions 5-8), and lower-level teams (positions 9-12). Results. Across all three playing positions, top teams demonstrate higher percentages in attack efficiency, winning executions, and positive outcomes compared to average and lower-level teams. Top and average teams also have lower percentages of errors in attack executions. For the outside hitter position, no statistically significant superiority is observed between top and middle teams for any attack variable, indicating a balance in player performance. In the opposite hitter position, top and middle-level players show higher attack efficiency and direct point scores (Winning). They also have lower poor execution rates, despite the lack of statistical confirmation for superiority in many attack variables. Among all positions, top middle blockers exhibit a clear superiority over low-level teams across all attack variables. Conclusions. The findings of the study highlight the critical role of team value level in influencing attack efficiency and execution quality across different playing positions in volleyball. The results underscore the importance of strategic differentiation in training and game planning. This is especially crucial for teams aiming to optimize their performance. Coaches and trainers should focus on tailored approaches that address the specific strengths and weaknesses of each playing position. They should also consider the overall team value level in their strategies. This approach could lead to improved competitive outcomes and a more effective utilization of player potential across all levels of competition.

Captain climate: Australian media coverage of Pat Cummins’ climate change advocacy

In February of 2022, Pat Cummins – the captain of the Australian cricket team and one of the world's top players – published an essay advocating for action on climate change. He would later reinforce this advocacy by refusing to appear in ads for one of the national team's main sponsors. Using a content analysis, this study sought to examine Australian media coverage and framing related to Cummins’ eco-activism. The results showed that media coverage often framed Cummins’ advocacy efforts using ‘debate’ frames – rather than ‘spectacle’ frames – while also focusing on Cummins himself. Finally, the results point to an inflection point in late 2022 surrounding his refusal to appear in ads for the main sponsor. Together, these results highlight a potential shift in how athlete activists are covered while also dovetailing with existing research that points to climate change coverage becoming more focused on individuals rather than broader movements.

The sociology of bridge: Sport recognition for mind sports

The sociology of bridge: Sport recognition for mind sports The game of contract bridge, as we know it today, originated in the 20th century – but what lies ahead for bridge as a mind sport? Professor Samantha Punch, the academic behind “Bridge: A MindSport For All”, provides the answer. Bridge is a trick-taking card game played in partnership that has captured the hearts of hundreds of millions of players worldwide. Top players describe it as a “passion” and an “adrenalin rush.” It involves a very low level of chance and offers a new puzzle to solve every 71⁄2 minutes (the time spent per deal in tournament games). Yet bridge and other mind sports like chess have not gained widespread recognition as sports, and as such, do not stand on an equal footing with traditional sports.

Optimisation of stress regulation through yoga as a complementary mental preparation method for top tennis players: A case study focused on performance and mental well-being

Optimisation of stress regulation through yoga as a complementary mental preparation method for top tennis players: A case study focused on performance and mental well-being

Hip joint motion amplitude control based on exponential product formula

Background: Handball is a team sport, and during a game, there is a lot of direct squabbling and close contact between the players. Objective: The goal of the research is to determine how handball training affected several aspects of physical fitness. The study also investigates the relationship between playing handball, passive hip range of motion (ROM), and the development of radiologically detectable hip osteoarthritis (OA) in formerly elite handball players. The research employed the exponential product algorithm for evaluating bilateral radiographs to classify and diagnose hip OA. This technique most likely evaluated subchondral sclerosis, osteophyte formation, joint space narrowing, and other radiological signs of OA in the individuals’ hip joints. Methods: The relationship among the risk of hip OA in long-term top handball players is explored, as well as the connections among hip ROM, OA, and pain. The research was conducted using a sample size of 20 ex-professional handball players and 39 control subjects. Information on demographics, loading patterns during exercise, and history of lower limb joint injury were gathered via a questionnaire. The inclusion criteria for individuals consisted former professional handball players with significant elite-level competitive experience, as well as control subjects with no background of high-impact sports. Confounding characteristics such as age, gender, and previous lower limb joint injuries were carefully controlled for using extensive demographic and injury history evaluations. To identify and categorize hip OA, bilateral radiographs were analyzed using the exponential product algorithm. The goniometer was used to assess the bilateral passive hip ROM. Long-term participation in elite handball at a high level was found to have a strong correlation with the hip development of osteoarthritis (OA). Sixty percent of handball players had been identified with OA in at least one hip joint, compared to only thirteen percent of control patients. Results: Hip flexion and medial rotation in the handball players were significantly decreased, whereas abduction, extension, and lateral rotation were increased considerably compared to the control values. When doing daily activities, the hip joints of the handball players with OA were less painful than those of the OA-afflicted control participants. Retired handball players seem to be at a much higher risk than the general population for developing early hip OA. Conclusion: The repetitive nature of handball-specific movements may result in anomalies that are seldom seen in the general population, which makes diagnosing pain and discomfort a challenging diagnostic challenge for sports physicians.

A pilot study on bio-banding in male youth ice hockey: Players' perceptions and coaches' selection preferences.

Classifying athletes based on estimates of biological maturation (i.e., bio-banding) as a supplement to traditional age grouping has been shown to be a potential tool for enriching player development in team sports; however, bio-banding has not yet been evaluated in ice hockey. The primary aim was to investigate player experiences and coaches' selection preferences in bio-banding versus age-banding in a group of 12-13-year-old (early growth spurt) male elite players (n = 69). We also examined the relationship between somatic maturity, expressed as a % predicted adult height (%PAH), and fitness performance. Bio-banding was assessed using a questionnaire and 29 coaches selected their top players in each game based on age or bio-bands. %PAH correlated with grip strength (r = .57, p>0.001) and jumping power (r = .63, p<0.001), but not with vertical jump height, sprint time or endurance. Players who played against more mature players in bio-bands than in age groups experienced higher demands, while players who played against less mature players were able to utilize their skills to a greater extent. Coaches generally favored later-than-average maturing players who performed better on performance tests and chronologically older players in bio-banding. We conclude that bio-banding in youth ice hockey has some promising effects and warrants further evaluation.

Analysis of the Technical and Tactical Characteristics of Li Shifeng in 2023

Objective: To explore and understand the skills and tactics used by the world's top badminton players in the competition, so that ordinary badminton lovers can understand and use the skills and tactics of badminton, improve the level of skills and combat, and expect to provide reference for improving the skills and tactics of the athlete Li Shifeng. Methods: Using the literature method, video observation method and mathematical statistics method, we analyzed the serve, reception, front court ball processing, midfield ball processing, back court ball processing and gain and loss in the competition, and summarized the characteristics of his skills and tactics in the competition. Conclusion: 1) Li Shifeng's serve is mainly backhand ball, and the serve is concentrated in areas 1 and 5 in front court; other areas are involved but not frequently. At present, there is a tendency of men's singles in badminton. 2) Li Shifeng's use of receiving service skills and tactics is mainly to rub and put the net and pick the ball, while the use of other technical balls is involved but not much. He has a high sense of defense, but also actively attack, trying to break free of the control of the opponent, actively strive for the initiative of the game, so the net in the return stage is also particularly important. 3) The use of forward ball skills often requires more energy into dealing with the opponent's return to gain the chance to dominate the game. Li Shifeng's front court attack is more active, like to rub the ball and pick the ball skills and tactics, so as to win the advantage in front of the net. 4) There is no obvious technical and tactical gap in the performance of Li Shifeng and his opponents in the midfield, and all the ball techniques are used. The straight line technology before the net is the most used, followed by the diagonal and pick the ball, and the flat ball is the lowest frequency. 5) Li Shifeng in the back using the ball and kill the ball tactical ability is better, the back is Li Shifeng in the back of the highest utilization technology, using the ball back, facilitate the best time to use the ball, and consciously and accurately control the point and Li Shifeng in the back is given priority to with the ball score, steady, fast, drop ball point precision, to the field of control consciousness is strong, control the rhythm of the tactical intention.6) Li Shifeng loses too much points actively, which is in a phenomenon that he wants to actively grab the advantage but loses points due to poor technical treatment.

Enhancing the Probability of Victor for Top Players via Knockout Tournament Fixture

A tournament fixture is an integral part of the tournament rules. It determines the random pairing of contestants, with several matches played per round. The selection of fixture type that optimizes the top player's winning probability significantly affects the financial aspects for organizers, individuals, and participants while also addressing the interests of millions of fans. In addressing this challenge, this study designed a balanced tournament fixture and employed a labeling system to represent each fixture, utilizing a recursive function. By assigning a strength rating to each player, their rankings were established, leading to varied probabilities of winning. It was decided to represent these abilities with randomly selected integers ranging from 1 to 21, with 1 denoting minimum strength and 21 denoting maximum strength. We explore hierarchical knockout tournament fixtures in competitions to develop optimal tournaments that enhance their attractiveness. In this study, we also performed calculations to determine the probability of each player winning in each round, thereby deducing which tournament fixture minimizes or maximizes the likelihood of the strongest player winning. In cases where the number of players is a power of 2, the first half comprises p/2 matches, where p is the total number of players. However, if the number of players is not a power of 2, k matches are played in the first round, with 𝑝 = 2r + 𝑘, where 0 ≤ k &lt; 2r, followed by implementing a balanced tournament fixture. The findings underscore the effectiveness of employing a balanced tournament fixture to maximize the probability of winning in a single-elimination tournament. Keywords: Single Elimination, Binary Tree, Dummy Players, Election Procedures, Hierarchically.

Do Mistakes Provoke New Mistakes? Evidence From Chess

We investigate how the mistakes of professional chess players affect the quality of their further moves in the same game. Using a database of games played by top chess players, Stockfish chess engine evaluations, and an ordered probit regression analysis, we found clear evidence that small inaccuracies lead to less accurate play in future, while more severe mistakes have a weaker effect on the quality of play in the same direction.

Severity of medical conditions of top-level male tennis players: implication for prevention

Although tennis is one of the most popular sports practiced worldwide by millions of players, there are no data on the time necessary to return to playing after injuries or illnesses. To contribute to the discussion regarding time-loss medical conditions (TLC), a retrospective web search was conducted on the first fifty tennis players listed in the ATP ranking on February the 20th 2022, looking for TLC in a five-year period (1-1-2018 to 25-12-2022). We recorded 267 TLC 137(51%) of them occurred during tournaments and 130(49%) during training sessions. Recurrences were 31% affecting 27(54%) players. Most TLC were treated conservatively (N=256; 96%), while 11(4%) needed surgery. The median time loss of all the 267 TLC was 17 days (range 1-378). For conditions requiring surgery (n=11), the median was 61 days (range 10-367). Injuries, as opposed to illnesses, accounted for 81% of all TLC. Players and coaches should know the effects of medical conditions on the career of players and how to set-up an effective prevention program starting from early childhood. Prevention in top players should consider also playing surfaces and overall lifestyle including nutrition and sleep, together with other healthy measures such as vaccinations, especially for players traveling around the world.

Go Nomadism, Evolutionary Computation and Natural Selection: A Reply to Jay Lampert

In response to a 2023 article by Jay Lampert in Deleuze and Guattari Studies, this paper develops the question of what Deleuze and Guattari might make of AlphaGo, the artificial intelligence developed by Google which defeated one of the top human Go players in 2016. It approaches the question in a way that supplements and complements Lampert’s analysis, by noting the well-worn analogy between computer programming and evolutionary biology and then cross-referencing it with Deleuze and Guattari’s attitude towards the latter in A Thousand Plateaus. The results reinforce Lampert’s conclusion that AlphaGo is not ‘nomadic’, but they show that this is precisely because AlphaGo’s algorithms are reminiscent of Darwin’s mechanism of natural selection.

Patinformatics Studies on Tomato Plant Disease

Purpose: Recent advancements in artificial intelligence in agriculture have had excellent results. This paper aims to discuss the patent perspective of tomato plant disease using artificial intelligence and discover the global research scenario. Methodology: Patent documents from Lens.org were extracted for this study. A total of 4793 patent documents were analyzed manually. It also provides state-of-the-art patent documents on the readymix of researchers involved in tomato plant disease. The application used for patent landscape is MS Excel, PatCite, and Origin. Results: The study analyzed the research activities worldwide, top players in the field, and patent landscape analysis. This article focuses on the different facets of the competitive landscape process of intellectual property related to tomato plant disease. Conclusion: This review familiarizes tomato plant diseases with new and changing trends and convinces them of the importance of applying for patents to protect their innovation and the industry’s use of those innovations to promote commercialization.

Profiling Bilateral Skills in High-Performance Male and Female Gaelic Footballers.

Bilateral skill symmetry in sport refers to an individual's ability to successfully perform sporting actions with both sides of the body. Two scarcely researched areas in relation to bilateral skills are the effects of opposition proximity on skill execution and bilateral skill in high-performance female athletes. In this study, we used Nacsport to code all skill executions (hand pass, kick pass, hop, solo and shot) during 121 games by both male and female participants (76 male, 45 female), classified as Tier 1 (n = 181, 134) and Tier 2 (n = 238, 115) high performance, adult Gaelic Football players. Irrespective of the participants' tier group or gender, these players relied upon their dominant side for most skill executions (Kick Pass Dominant Foot Mdn: MT1 = 90%, MT2 = 98.6%, FT1 = 100%, FT2 = 100%; Solo Dominant Foot: Mdn MT1 = 95%, MT2 = 97.3%, FT1: 100%, FT2: 100%; Hand Pass Dominant Hand Mdn: MT1: 83.7%, MT2: 99%, FT1: 95.5%, FT2: 95.5%; Hop Dominant Hand Mdn: MT1: 91.9%, MT2: 94.7%, FT1: 98.1%, FT2: 98.1%; Play Dominant Foot Mdn: MT1: 74.5%, MT2: 94.5%, FT1: 94.7%, FT2: 88.2%). There were no consistent differences between tier groups or genders in relation to dominant side use, but top tier male players were generally less reliant on the dominant limb than were female players from both tiers. In general, top tier male players performed more successfully than either second tier male players or female players in both tiers. Most skills were executed under conditions of low opponent proximity, limiting the requirement for participants to use their non-dominant limbs. These findings illustrate the demands of Gaelic football in relation to bilateral skills, and we identified new research questions for future investigators.

Key structure and processes in esports teams: a systematic review

Why are there numerous cases of esports teams with superstar rosters that have failed? This question highlights that having top professional players with extraordinary individual skills may not be enough to achieve success. Since winning is a primary goal, it is crucial to understand all the variables that positively influence performance. While individual performance is critical to success as part of an esports team, team dynamics, structures, and processes also foster group functioning and performance. Thus, this research aims to conduct a systematic review of the team variables involved in the performance of esports teams. For this purpose, we conducted a literature search following the PRISMA guidelines in Science Direct, Web of Science, and PsycInfo databases since 2023. This search resulted in 371 articles, and after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of twenty-three scientific articles were analyzed. The results were grouped under seven main topics: 1) Organigram, 2) Stages of a team, 3) Team structure, 4) Team variables and processes, 5) Leadership, 6) Lack of experience in team integration, and 7) Holistic and integral perspective. To conclude, more research is needed to study the effect of team dynamics in esports, as well as to highlight the role of the psychologist in fostering group dynamics to improve team cohesion, coordination, motivation, performance, and synergy.

Association Between Total Genotype Score and Muscle Injuries in Top-Level Football Players: a Pilot Study

BackgroundRecently, genetic predisposition to injury has become a popular area of research and the association between a few single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the susceptibility to develop musculoskeletal injuries has been shown. This pilot study aimed to investigate the combined effect of common gene polymorphisms previously associated with muscle injuries in Italian soccer players.ResultsA total of 64 Italian male top football players (age 23.1 ± 5.5 years; stature 180.2 ± 7.4 cm; weight 73.0 ± 7.9 kg) were genotyped for four gene polymorphisms [ACE I/D (rs4341), ACTN3 c.1729C > T (rs1815739), COL5A1 C > T (rs2722) and MCT1 c.1470A > T (rs1049434)].Muscle injuries were gathered for 10 years (2009–2019). Buccal swabs were used to obtain genomic DNA, and the PCR method was used to genotype the samples. The combined influence of the four polymorphisms studied was calculated using a total genotype score (TGS: from 0 to 100 arbitrary units; a.u.). A genotype score (GS) of 2 was assigned to the “protective” genotype for injuries, a GS of 1 was assigned to the heterozygous genotype while a GS of 0 was assigned to the “worst” genotype.The distribution of genotype frequencies in the ACE I/D (rs4341), ACTN3 c.1729C > T (rs1815739) and MCT1 c.1470A > T (rs1049434) polymorphisms was different between non-injured and injured football players (p = 0.001; p = 0.016 and p = 0.005, respectively). The incidence of muscle injuries was significantly different among the ACE I/D (rs4341), ACTN3 c.1729C > T (rs1815739) and COL5A1 C > T (rs2722) genotype groups, showing a lower incidence of injuries in the “protective” genotype than “worse” genotype (ACE, p < 0.001; ACTN3, p = 0.005) or intermediate genotype (COL5A1, p = 0.029).The mean TGS in non-injured football players (63.7 ± 13.0 a.u.) was different from that of injured football players (42.5 ± 12.5 a.u., p < 0.001). There was a TGS cut-off point (56.2 a.u.) to discriminate non-injured from injured football players. Players with a TGS beyond this cut-off had an odds ratio of 3.5 (95%CI 1.8–6.8; p < 0.001) to suffer an injury when compared with players with lower TGS.ConclusionsThese preliminary data suggest that carrying a high number of "protective" gene variants could influence an individual's susceptibility to developing muscle injuries in football. Adapting the training load parameters to the athletes’ genetic profile represents today the new frontier of the methodology of training.

Profiling Bilateral Skills in High-Performance Male and Female Gaelic Footballers

Background: Bilateral skill in sport refers to an individual’s ability to successfully perform sporting actions with both sides of the body. Two scarcely researched areas in relation to bilateral skills are the effects of opposition proximity on skill execution and bilateral skill in high-performance female athletes. Methods: All skill executions (hand pass, kick pass, hop, solo and shot) during 121 games (76 male, 45 female) were coded using Nacsport, with the participants including male and female tier 1 (n = 181, 134) and Tier 2 (n = 238, 115) adult, high performance Gaelic football players. Irrespective of tier or gender, Gaelic football players relied upon their dominant side for the majority of skill executions. Results: No consistent differences existed between tiers and genders in relation to dominant side use, but top tier male players were generally less reliant on the dominant limb than all female players. In general, top tier male players performed more successfully than the other three tiers. Most skills were executed under low opponent proximity, limiting the requirement to use the non-dominant limb. Conclusions: These findings illustrate the demands of Gaelic football in relation to bilateral skill and identify key questions for future research.