The main focus of this paper was to review the available literature on match analysis in adult male football. The most common research topics were identified, their methodologies described and the ...evolutionary tendencies of this research area systematised. A systematic review of Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) Web of Knowledge database was performed according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses) guidelines. The following keywords were used: football and soccer, each one associated with the terms: match analysis, performance analysis, notational analysis, game analysis, tactical analysis and patterns of play. Of 2732 studies initially identified, only 53 were fully reviewed, and their outcome measures abstracted and analysed. Studies that fit all inclusion criteria were organised according to their research design as descriptive, comparative or predictive. Results showed that 10 studies focused predominantly on a description of technical, tactical and physical performance variables. From all comparative studies, the dependent variables more frequently used were "playing position" and "competitive level". Even though the literature stresses the importance of developing predictive models of sports performance, only few studies (n = 8) have focused on modelling football performance. Situational variables like game location, quality of opposing teams, match status and match half have been progressively included as object of research, since they seem to work as effective covariables of football performance. Taking into account the limitations of the reviewed studies, future research should provide comprehensive operational definitions for the studied variables, use standardised categories and description of activities and participants, and consider integrating the situational and interactional contexts into the analysis of football performance.
Abstract
Metaxas, TI. Match running performance of elite soccer players: V̇
o
2
max and players position influences.
J Strength Cond Res
35(1): 162–168, 2021—The aims of this study were (a) to assess ...the relationship between laboratory-measured V̇
o
2
max with total distance covered in a soccer match, (b) to assess the relationship between laboratory-measured V̇
o
2
max with the distance covered at a different running intensity in a soccer match, (c) to quantify different intensity running in various playing positions, and (d) to determine the differences of running performance between halves. Analyzed match running performance of the Greek elite (
n
= 14) soccer players using a global positioning system within the second division professional league. No correlation was found between V̇
o
2
max and match running performance at any velocity. The players covered greater distances in the first half at all speed levels except walking. In the first half, they covered a greater distance than in the second half (1,533 vs. 1,297 m,
p
< 0.001; 879 vs. 708 m,
p
< 0.001; 433 vs. 359 m,
p
< 001; 185 vs. 152 m,
p
< 0.01; 81.4 vs. 65.5 m,
p
< 0.001) when jogging, running, high-intensity running, fast running, sprint and total, respectively. Wide players covered greater distances at fast running (
p
< 0.001) and sprint zone than the players who played at the axon of the field (348 vs. 297 and 186 vs. 113 m, respectively). In addition, midfielders covered a greater distance at high-intensity running zone and at fast running zone than the defenders and forwards (1,768 vs. 1,372 m,
p
< 0.01 and 1,768 vs. 1,361 m,
p
< 0.01; 686 vs. 878 m,
p
< 0.01 and 709 vs. 878 m,
p
< 0.05, respectively). The results demonstrate that match running performance and the distance covered depends on the tactical role of each player in the team. These data provide valuable information for coaches regarding the running profile of the Greek elite soccer players that could be used to design a more effective training program.
The study aimed to compare the physical demands required during the first, second, and third most demanding passages (MDP) of play considering the effect of playing position, type of passage, and ...passage duration. A longitudinal study for three mesocycles was conducted in a professional soccer team competing in
LaLiga123
. Tracking systems collected total distance covered (DIS), high-speed running distance (HSRD), sprinting distance (SPD), total of high-intensity accelerations (ACC
HIGH
), and total of high-intensity decelerations (DEC
HIGH
). The results confirmed that a significant effect of the type of passage (first, second or third MDP of play) on DIS (F
(1.24, 178.89)
= 115.53;
p
= 0.01; ηp
2
= 0.45), HSRD (F
(1.35, 195.36)
= 422.82;
p
= 0.01; ηp
2
= 0.75), SPD (F
(1.43, 206.59)
= 299.99;
p
= 0.01; ηp
2
= 0.68), ACC
HIGH
(F
(1.45, 209.38)
= 268.59;
p
= 0.01; ηp
2
= 0.65), and DEC
HIGH
(F
(1.45, 209.38)
= 324.88;
p
= 0.01; ηp
2
= 0.69) was found. In addition, a significant interaction between playing position, type and duration of the passage was observed in DIS (F
(12.60, 453.47)
= 1.98;
p
= 0.02; ηp
2
= 0.05) and ACC
HIGH
(F
(13.99, 503.78)
= 1.92;
p
= 0.03; ηp
2
= 0.06). In conclusion, significant differences in physical demands between the first, second, and third MDP of play were observed. However, there were some cases (DIS and ACC
HIGH
) in which no significant differences were found between these passages. Therefore, coaches should consider not only the magnitude of these peak intensity periods (e.g., distance covered per minute) but also the number of passages that players may experience during match play.
Futsal, also known as five-a-side indoor soccer, is a team-sport that is becoming increasingly popular. In fact, the number of futsal-related investigations is growing in recent years. This review ...aimed to summarize the scientific literature addressing the match-play demands from the following four dimensions: time-motion/external load analysis and physiological, neuromuscular, and biochemical responses to competition. Additionally, it aimed to describe the anthropometric, physiological, and neuromuscular characteristics of elite and sub-elite male futsal players, contemplating the differences between competition levels. The literature indicates that elite futsal players cover greater total distance with higher intensities and perform a greater number of sprints during match-play when compared to sub-elite players. The physiological demands during competition are high (average intensity of ≥85% maximal heart rate and ~80% maximum oxygen uptake VO
), with decrements between the two halves. Research suggests that neuromuscular function decreased and hormonal responses increased up to 24 h after the match. Considering anthropometric characteristics, players present low percentage of body fat, which seems commonplace among athletes from different on-court positions and competition levels. Elite players display greater values and at VO
with respect to sub-elite competitors. Little is known regarding elite and sub-elite futsal players' neuromuscular abilities (strength, jumping, sprinting, and change of direction COD). However, it appears that elite players present better sprinting abilities compared to lower-level athletes. Futsal players aiming to compete at the highest level should focus on developing maximal speed, lower-body power and strength, aerobic capacity, and lean muscle mass.
The aims of this study were to establish sources of variability in match physical performance of professional soccer players and provide a method for monitoring individual between-match changes. ...Eleven players meeting the final inclusion criteria were monitored through an entire in-season competition phase (n = 240 individual match observations). Ten Hertz global positioning systems were used to measure match total distance (TD), total high-speed running distance (≥ 21 km·h
−1
; HSRD), total accelerations (TAcc) and maximum running velocity (V
max
). Between-player, between-position, between-match and within-player variability were determined through linear mixed effects models. These data were then used to establish the practical significance of individual changes using a Minimum Effects Testing framework. All sources of variability were greater for HSRD (13-36%) when compared with all other metrics (<6%). Using combined between-match and within-player variability along with the smallest worthwhile change (0.2 × between-player SD), between-match individual changes of ±∼10-15% in TD, TAcc and V
max
were established as practically significant. For HSRD, these thresholds were considerably higher (≥60%). In conclusion, the ability for soccer practitioners to identify meaningful changes in match physical performance can aid decision making around player management following competition. Our study provides a method to flag changes beyond the normal match-to-match variability and by a substantial magnitude. This may have implications for recovery but should be combined with other sources of data (internal load and response) and used only as an adjunct to practitioner domain knowledge/experience.
The carbon market has been playing an increasingly important role in mitigating carbon emissions. However, with the tightening of the carbon allowance, where the carbon market will evolve is still ...unclear. Abstracting three agents—Government, Carbon-supplier(‘CS’), Carbon-buyer(‘CB’), this paper intends to investigate the operation mechanism of carbon market from the perspective of the stakeholders. Based on the simulation analysis, it is suggested that: 1) the carbon market in China may become a major “seller's market” when carbon quota experienced dramatic reduction; 2) when the carbon price is constant, CS with excessive carbon productivity will crowd out and exploit CB in the carbon market competition; 3) strict administrative penalties and information disclosure would help promote proactive participation of CS and CB in the carbon market; and 4) the interaction between CS and CB in different strategic scenarios is influenced by the carbon price and the coefficient of demand variation for carbon quota. In contrast with previous studies, this paper has uncovered a dynamic strategic evolution mechanisms of stakeholders in the carbon market at the micro-level, contributing to carbon market governance and providing stakeholders with tailor-made climate policy tools and strategic choices.
•The carbon market in China may evolve into a “seller's market” with a scarcer allowance.•We first identify the phenomenon of carbon exploitation in the carbon market.•Improving the carbon price under buyer's market would facilitate positive participation of three agents.•Carbon accounting, carbon disclosure, and strict administrative penalty help regulate non-compliance actions by enterprises.•The equilibrium of agents' strategy are influenced by dual aspects—parameters and other stakeholders' choices.
Formalism is often used as an all-embracing term covering a range of ontological and methodological approaches in game studies, with little connection to the history or tradition of the approach in ...other fields. This dilutes the usefulness of the approach, and invites (often unfounded) criticism. Videogame Formalism addresses these issues through an exploration of the historical and theoretical roots of formalist approaches to videogame analysis, situating this approach within games studies, and arguing for its importance and applicability as a methodological toolkit and a theoretical framework for understanding the aesthetic experience of videogames. It presents an overview of how formalist approaches can provide insights into the ways games create aesthetic experiences through the use of poetic gameplay devices, and lays out a comprehensive yet flexible methodological framework for undertaking a formalist analysis of games. This approach is then demonstrated through a series of detailed examples and case studies.
There is interest in the accuracy and inter‐unit reliability of position‐tracking systems to monitor players. Research into this technology, although relatively recent, has grown exponentially in the ...last years, and it is difficult to find professional team sport that does not use Global Positioning System (GPS) technology at least. The aim of this study is to know the accuracy of both GPS‐based and Ultra Wide Band (UWB)‐based systems on a soccer field and their inter‐ and intra‐unit reliability. A secondary aim is to compare them for practical applications in sport science. Following institutional ethical approval and familiarization, 10 healthy and well‐trained former soccer players (20 ± 1.6 years, 1.76 ± 0.08 cm, and 69.5 ± 9.8 kg) performed three course tests: (i) linear course, (ii) circular course, and (iii) a zig–zag course, all using UWB and GPS technologies. The average speed and distance covered were compared with timing gates and the real distance as references. The UWB technology showed better accuracy (bias: 0.57–5.85%), test–retest reliability (%TEM: 1.19), and inter‐unit reliability (bias: 0.18) in determining distance covered than the GPS technology (bias: 0.69–6.05%; %TEM: 1.47; bias: 0.25) overall. Also, UWB showed better results (bias: 0.09; ICC: 0.979; bias: 0.01) for mean velocity measurement than GPS (bias: 0.18; ICC: 0.951; bias: 0.03).
Serve and return of the serve are among the most critical technical-tactical factors influencing performance in table tennis (TT). The present study aimed to analyse sex differences in the spatial ...distribution of serve and serve-return in elite TT players. A total of 48 elite TT players (men:
n
= 24; women:
n
= 24) participated in the investigation. A total of 24 matches were recorded and examined, analysing 1,177 plays and 5,319 strokes in the men’s competition and 950 games and 5,097 strokes in the women’s competition. Technical actions were analysed using an observation tool validated by two expert TT coach with a high level of agreement (
K
> 0.80). Men distributed their serves over zones 1 and 2 of the table, while women more frequently selected zone 5 (
p
< 0.05). In men, 30.1% of the serves were near the net, 63.6% in the middle zone of the table and 6.2% in the end zone of the table, while in women, these values were 10.9%, 67.2%, and 21.8%, respectively. As for the technique of the serve-return depending on the zone of the service, in men the action of the cut from zone 1 and 2 predominated, while in women this technique was more frequent from zone 5 (
p
< 0.05). On the other hand, the serve-return with the flip technique in zone 1, 3 and 4 was more frequent in men (
p
< 0.05). As for the return of the serve with the topspin technique, there were differences in zone 3, being more frequent in men (
p
< 0.05). Finally, the serve return with cut and defensive serve-return techniques in zones 3, 4, 5, and 6 were more frequent in women (
p
< 0.05). There are differences between sexes in service and return of serve actions during a match in elite players.
PDF
