Soccer is dominated by game indicators that can influence the performance of teams and their players. Therefore, this study analyzed the influence of game indicators on the partial and final ranking ...of Spanish LaLiga teams, independently for the pre-COVID-19, COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 periods. In addition, the statistical differences between the pandemic periods were identified. A total of 2660 Spanish LaLiga matches played over seven seasons (from the 2014–2015 to the 2020–2021 season) were analyzed. The game indicators analyzed were the yellow cards, red cards, ball possession, total shots, shots on goal, shots off goal, free kicks, corners, offsides, goalkeeper saves, fouls committed, attacks, dangerous attacks, total passes, and tackles. Data were collected from the official Spanish LaLiga website, and recorded on a post hoc observation sheet. The intra-observer concordance was almost perfect (Cohen’s kappa values > 0.83). In each pandemic period, the findings indicated that the statistically significant game indicators had a greater influence on the final ranking, with an intermediate and large effect (η2 ≥ 0.060), than on the partial ranking (little or no effect). In this regard, the LaLiga teams ranked in a European competition position (final ranking) reported a higher ball possession (p < 0.001) and total passes (p < 0.001). A higher ball possession allowed them to take more shots (offensive actions), and therefore to have a better chance of winning. Similarly, these game indicators were higher post-COVID-19, compared to pre-COVID-19 and during COVID-19. This is interesting information for the preparation and management of matches.
The ability of a player to perform high-intensity actions can be linked to common requirements of team sports, and the ability to accelerate can be an important factor in successfully facing the ...opponent. The aim of this study was to determine the acceleration and deceleration profiles of U-18 women's basketball players during competitive matches. This study categorized accelerations and decelerations by playing position and quarter. Forty-eight U-18 female basketball players from the same Spanish league participated in this study. Each player was equipped with a WimuPro
inertial device. Accelerations/decelerations were recorded. The number of accelerations and decelerations, intensity category, and type were recorded. These variables varied between quarters (first quarter, second quarter, third quarter, and fourth quarter) and playing positions (Guard, Forward and Center). The shorter but more intense accelerations took place in the last quarter, due to the tight results of the matches. Besides, players in the Guard positions performed more accelerations and their intensity was greater than that of other positions. An acceleration profile was established for the quarters of a basketball game, and was shown to depend on the playing position, being different for Guards, Forwards and Centers in U-18 women's basketball players.
The menstrual cycle can be seen as a potential determinant of performance. This study aims to analyze the influence of the menstrual cycle in women on sports performance, more specifically on the ...internal and external load of professional women basketball players. The sample consisted of 16 women players and 14 training sessions were recorded. A descriptive analysis of the mean and standard deviation of the variables according to the different phases of the menstrual cycle was performed, as well as an ANCOVA, partial Eta2 effect size criteria, and Bonferroni's Post Hoc test to identify differences among phases. The results establish that ovulation is the phase in which higher values of external load are recorded and, therefore, the late follicular phase is the time of the cycle where a greater intensity in explosive distance, accelerations and decelerations are recorded. Considering women's hormonal cycles, understanding their function and the individual characteristics of each athlete is essential since it allows for the development of specific training, the prevention of injuries and therefore positively affects the performance of women players. To this end, individual training profiles should be created in specific contexts, not following general rules. In addition, psychological factors and the specific position of the athletes should be monitored.
Total concentrations of Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, Zn, and As together with Sr and Pb isotopic compositions of seabed sediments from the worldwide famous tourist destination of Acapulco Bay, ...Guerrero (southern Mexico) were determined to reveal the origin of detritus and toxic elements (TEs), their potential natural and anthropogenic sources, elemental distribution and their ecological risk. Sediments derive entirely from the nearby Acapulco Granite and their concentrations of TEs are variable and rather low, although, several are above the Local Geochemical Baseline in some sites of the bay. The enrichment factor (EF) and Pb isotopes indicate that TEs derive from the Acapulco Granite with contributions of an anthropogenic source represented, very likely, by ship-bottom paints. Wastewaters are a significant source of Pb and Cu. The ecological risk of TEs is low and only Cu represents a moderate ecological risk in a few sites.
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•Detritus of seabed sediments from the Acapulco Bay are of local provenance.•Bottom-ship paint is the most important anthropogenic source of TEs.•Untreated urban water is an additional source of Pb and Zn.•The eastern zone of the Acapulco Bay recorded the highest contamination.•The ecological risk of TEs is low to moderate.
Basketball players should train at intensities similar to those recorded in competition, but are the intensities really similar? This study aimed to quantify and compare the internal and external ...intensities assimilated by professional basketball players, both in training and in competition, according to context and the specific player position. Players from the same team in the Spanish ACB competition were monitored for three weeks. The sample recorded intensities in 5 vs. 5 game situations in both training (n = 221) and competition (n = 32). The intensities, as dependent variables, were classified into kinematic external workload demands (distances, high-intensity displacements, accelerations, decelerations, the acceleration:deceleration ratio, jumps, and landings), neuromuscular external workload demands (impacts and player load), and internal workload demands (heart rate). They were measured using inertial measurement devices and pulsometers. The playing positions, as independent variables, were grouped into guard, forward, and center. According to the context, the results reported a significant mismatch of all training intensities, except jumps, with respect to competition; these intensities were lower in training. According to the playing position, inside players recorded more jumps and landings per minute than point guards and outside players in training. In turn, inside players recorded a higher average heart rate per minute than outside players in this same context. There were no significant differences in intensity according to the playing position in the competition. Considering the context–position interaction, no differences were observed in the intensities. Adjusting and optimizing training intensities to those recorded in competition is necessary.
This study was to analyze and compare the learning acquired by the students in the sport of basketball in two different methodologies. The sample was composed of 40 students divided into two groups. ...The intervention programs had previously been validated. A descriptive analysis of the learning indicators, a t-test for independent samples to identify the differences between the methods, and a t-test for related samples to analyze the differences in each group were performed. There are differences between the performance profiles of students in the Direct Instruction in Basketball program and those in the Tactical Game in Basketball program in nine variables. Significant differences are found in the situations of dribbling, shooting, passing and movement, spacing, off-ball defense, and help and in the performance indicator for decision making, execution, and total, which are favorable to the Tactical Game in Basketball program. The students of the Direct Instruction in Basketball program only improved in three variables after the program, while the Tactical Game in Basketball students improved in thirteen variables. It is recommended that the teachers at the schools use the Tactical Game in Basketball methodology for their basketball teaching lessons, because student learning is better than in the Direct Instruction in Basketball program.
ABSTRACTGómez-Carmona, CD, Bastida-Castillo, A, Rojas-Valverde, D, de la Cruz Sánchez, E, García-Rubio, J, Ibáñez, SJ, and Pino-Ortega, J. Lower-limb dynamics of muscle oxygen saturation during the ...back-squat exerciseeffects of training load and effort level. J Strength Cond Res 34(5)1227–1236, 2020—The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of strength training on lower limb muscle oxygenation. The sample consisted of 12 male subjects (22.4 ± 1.73 years; 1.81 ± 0.08 cm height and 77.76 ± 8.77 kg body mass). Six different strength training stimuli were analyzed, based on the training variablesload (60–75% 1 repetition maximum 1RM) and level of effort (LE) (E14 × 8 20RM, E24 × 12 20RM, E34 × 16 20RM, E44 × 4 10RM, E54 × 6 10RM, and E64 × 8 10RM) in the squat exercise up to 90° with a 2-second stop between repetitions to avoid the myotatic reflex. Oxygen saturation at the beginning of the series (SmO2start), oxygen saturation at the end of the series (SmO2stop), percentage of oxygen saturation loss (▽%SmO2), and reoxygenation time (SmO2recT) were assessed using a near-infrared spectroscopy device. In addition, the percentage of mean propulsive velocity loss (%MPVL) was recorded using a linear transducer. The results suggested an influence of LE and training load on muscle oxygenation. A greater LE was directly associated with SmO2recT (r = 0.864), ▽%SmO2 (r = 0.873), and %MPVL (r = 0.883) and inversely with SmO2stop (r = −0.871). When the same LE was used (E1 vs. E4, E2 vs. E5, and E3 vs. E6), it was found that the stimuli with a higher load had a lower SmO2recT, ▽%SmO2, and %MPVL and a higher SmO2stop. Muscle oxygen saturation was found to be minimal (%SmO2 = 0) in stimuli with a LE greater than 60% (E3 and E6). The SmO2 variables studied in the present research could be considered as an easier and more useful method for understanding skeletal muscle fatigue during resistance training.
The organization of the students and the time taken to execute the learning tasks determine the physical (external load) and physiological (internal load) demands the students support during physical ...education classes. The aim of this study was to determine which organizational and pedagogical elements used to design different learning tasks for soccer provoke greater external (Player Load (PL)) and internal (Heart Rate (HR)) load and thus help the students to fulfil the adequate physical activity recommendations (moderate to vigorous physical activity for ≥50% of class time). The organizational elements studied were (1) the participation type and (2) total task time, and the pedagogical element of (3) the game situation. A total of 40 students from the fifth year of primary education participated in the study distributed into two class groups. The basic analysis units were the data on physical activity recorded in each of the tasks carried out by the students during the practical sessions (1500 records), and they were recorded using WIMU ProTM inertial movement devices. A descriptive and inferential analysis was performed with the Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis H statistical tests. The results recommend the following types of tasks with simultaneous participation: individual games, numerical inequality SSG, numerical equality SSG lasting less than 6 min, numerical equality SSG, and full games lasting between 6 and 10 min. This type of learning task makes the students move more (medium Player Load between 0.80 and 1.20) and at greater intensities (Heart Rate zone 4, between 161 and 181 bpm). Therefore, physical education teachers must take into account the pedagogical and organizational elements studied to make the sessions more intense and associated with health benefits.
The implications of relative age grouping in sport are known as the Relative Age Effect (RAE). This study has the twofold purpose of analyzing RAE in Spanish youth national soccer teams and examining ...the prediction value of being selected for national youth teams to be a professional. The sample was composed of 548 players divided into five groups. A descriptive analysis of distribution and participation, frequencies, mean and standard deviation, crosstabs, Sankey charts, coefficient correlation and Cohen’s effect size criteria and two regression analyses were performed. Results established that the RAE is present in U’17 to U’21 Spanish youth national teams. Talent detection and selection programs are more reliable the closer they are to adulthood, reaching a success rate of almost 100% at the U’21 stage. The selection of players for such programs should be delayed as much as possible, thus, preventing younger players from dropping out and those selected from thinking they have already reached their goal. To this end, they should focus on long-term improvement, not short-term performance. In addition, factors such as the RAE or the maturity level of the athletes should be monitored.
The aim of the present study was to identify basketball game performance indicators which best discriminate winners and losers in regular season and playoffs. The sample used was composed by 323 ...games of ACB Spanish Basketball League from the regular season (n=306) and from the playoffs (n=17). A previous cluster analysis allowed splitting the sample in balanced (equal or below 12 points), unbalanced (between 13 and 28 points) and very unbalanced games (above 28 points). A discriminant analysis was used to identify the performance indicators either in regular season and playoff games. In regular season games, the winning teams dominated in assists, defensive rebounds, successful 2 and 3-point field-goals. However, in playoff games the winning teams’ superiority was only in defensive rebounding. In practical applications, these results may help the coaches to accurately design training programs to reflect the importance of having different offensive set plays and also have specific conditioning programs to prepare for defensive rebounding.
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