16 Mar FSI Selected Publications of the Week
1. Attacking Key Performance Indicators in Soccer: Current Practice and Perceptions from the Elite to Youth Academy Level.
Herold M, Kempe M, Bauer P, Meyer T
Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany.
Attacking Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are used to evaluate the offensive success of a soccer team (e.g. penalty box entries) or player (e.g. pass completion rate). The current study queried practitioners (n = 145) from 42 countries about the assessing of attacking KPIs during matches, finding that from 64.3% of practitioners using them, 83% used event data compared to only 52% of practitioners using positional data, with a preference for shooting related KPIs; showing that practitioners prefer simpler KPIs related to shots, with still low perceived value of newer KPIs afforded by positional data.
DOI: 10.52082/jssm.2021.158 PMCID: PMC7919358 PMID: 33707999
J Sports Sci Med. 2021 Mar 1;20(1):158-169. doi: 10.52082/jssm.2021.158. eCollection 2021 Mar.
2. Past-season, pre-season and in-season risk assessment of groin problems in male football players: a prospective full-season study.
Esteve E, Casals M, Saez M, Rathleff MS, Clausen MB, Vicens-Bordas J, Hölmich P, Pizzari T, Thorborg K.
Universtiy School of Health and Sport (EUSES), University of Girona, Girona, Catalunya, Spain ernestesteve@hotmail.com.
245 male amateur football players suffering from groin pain during the past-season had 2.4 times higher risk of experiencing a groin problem in the new season, and this risk was reduced by 35% per unit (N·m/kg) increase in the long-lever adductor squeeze test (with leg extended and hip in 0º ROM) in pre-season. This information can be quickly obtained during pre-season to identify players with an elevated risk of in-season groin problems. Conversely, player age, short-lever squeeze test and the HAGOS (Sport) scores were not associated with the risk of a groin problem.
DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-102606 PMID: 33692032
3. Effects of a Congested Fixture Period on Speed and Power Performance of Elite Young Soccer Players.
Freitas TT, Pereira LA, Reis VP, Fernandes V, Alcaraz PE, Azevedo PHSM, Loturco I.
Universtiy School of Health and Sport (EUSES), University of Girona, Girona, Catalunya, Spain ernestesteve@hotmail.com.
After a congested fixture period of 14 matches over 8 weeks in n=15 under-20 elite male soccer players, significant impairments in straight and curve sprint velocity, COD speed and deficit, and half-squat mean propulsive power were found, showing that seasonal phases comprising high volumes of soccer-specific training and competition seem to be detrimental to speed-power qualities in under-20 elite soccer players.
DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2020-0280 PMID: 33691286
Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2021 Mar 10:1-7. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2020-0280. Online ahead of print.
4. Is there meaningful influence from situational and environmental factors on the physical and technical activity of elite football players? Evidence from the data of 5 consecutive seasons of the German Bundesliga.
Chmura P, Liu H, Andrzejewski M, Chmura J, Kowalczuk E, Rokita A, Konefał M.
Department of Team Games, University School of Physical Education, Wrocław, Poland.
Data collected on 779 football players competing in the German Bundesliga during 5 seasons, totaling 1530 matches, showed that situational factors (match location, match outcome and strength of team/opponent team) had major effects on the technical performance (especially number of passes performed) but minor effects on physical performance. In turn, environmental factors (ambient temperature, relative humidity, WBGT, ground and weather condition), with temperature being the most sensitive, do affect the physical performance (total distance and sprint efforts) of players in all positions.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247771 PMID: 33690609
PLoS One. 2021 Mar 9;16(3):e0247771. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247771. eCollection 2021.
5. Relationship Between External Load and Self-Reported Wellness Measures Across a Men’s Collegiate Soccer Preseason..
Fields JB, Lameira DM, Short JL, Merrigan JM, Gallo S, White JB, Jones MT.
George Mason University, Frank Pettrone Center for Sports Performance, Fairfax, Virginia.
This study in n=20 collegiate men soccer athletes during pre-season showed that morning ratings of soreness fatigue and mood were predicted by previous afternoon’s practice measures of external and internal load, while morning soreness and fatigue in turn negatively predicted that day’s afternoon practice external and internal load. Using self-reported wellness measures combined with GPS/GNSS load measuring technology may enhance the understanding of training responses and inform program development.
DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003997 PMID: 33677459
PJ Strength Cond Res. 2021 Mar 3. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003997.