27 Mar FSI Football Science Update

 

Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and landing postures during a soccer-specific task.

Akbari H, Shimokochi Y, Sheikhi B.

PLoS One. 2023 Mar 16;18(3):e0283150. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283150. eCollection 2023

In this study on 30 male soccer players, the ankle dorsiflexion DF-ROM was measured by the weight bearing lunge test in degrees using a cell phone app (TiltMeter). and landing patterns were assessed during a soccer-specific task using landing error scoring system items using Kinovea software. A decreased ankle DF-ROM was associated (r = -0.450) with greater landing errors.

 

The effect of ball possession on physical and technical performance in UEFA Champions league matches.

Modric T, Versic S, Chmura P, Andrzejewski M, Konefał M, Raskovic B, Drid P, Sekulic D.

J Sports Sci. 2023 Mar 16:1-10. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2023.2191389. Online ahead of print.

This study on group stage matches of UCL during the 2020/21 season using a semi-automatic optical tracking system found that, compared with high-percentage ball possession teams (HPBPT),  in low-percentage ball possession teams (LPBPT) wide midfielders and forwards covered more total distance, low-intensity running, and achieved greater average speed (all large effect sizes ES). Central defenders and fullbacks covered more high intensity running (small ES), while central midfielders covered less sprinting (medium ES). Players on all playing positions produced greater number of passes and successful passes in HPBPT (large ES), except forwards who produced more passes in LPBPT (small ES). So, both physical and technical performance were highly dependent on ball possession percentages, with evident position-specific changes, indicating that the effect of ball possession is highly position-dependent.

 

Monitoring mood state to improve performance in soccer players: A brief review.

Selmi O, Ouergui I, Muscella A, Levitt DE, Suzuki K, Bouassida A.

Front Psychol. 2023 Feb 22;14:1095238. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1095238. eCollection 2023.

This systematic review on the use of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire that assesses emotional states characterized by positive or negative feelings found 37 final articles. POMS scores were related to variability in training load, intensity of the training period, modality of training exercises, competitive performance, and time of day in soccer players. The POMS allows for monitoring of players’ psychological state.