Biology of Sport最新文献

{"title":"Data-driven classification of playing styles and match outcome prediction in UEFA Champions League teams.","authors":"Yonghan Zhong, Ying Xu, Kecheng Zhu, Jorge Diaz-Cidoncha Garcia, Miguel Ángel Gómez Ruano, Qing Yi","doi":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.154944","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.154944","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study proposes a data-driven framework for classifying UEFA Champions League teams into possession-based and counterattacking styles and predicting match outcomes based on key performance indicators (KPIs). Dimensionality reduction via an autoencoder was combined with K-means clustering to identify underlying tactical patterns beyond traditional possession metrics. Feature selection was performed using LASSO, Boruta, and XGBoost to determine the most relevant KPIs. Predictive models, including Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), and LightGBM, were evaluated using AUC and F1 Score. SVM achieved the highest performance for possession-based teams, whereas KNN outperformed other models for counterattacking teams. The results revealed distinct style-specific performance profiles. For possession-based teams, higher possession and key passes correlated negatively with winning probability, while crosses and long-range shots were positively associated with success. In counterattacking teams, increased possession and key passes improved match outcomes, whereas crosses and shots from outside the box showed negative associations. Defensive actions, particularly clearances, were strongly associated with improved defensive stability and match success, especially among counterattacking teams. This framework improves the accuracy of tactical classification and provides interpretable associations between KPIs and match outcomes. The findings can inform style-specific tactical planning and performance monitoring, enabling coaches to adjust offensive or defensive training priorities according to team strategy.</p>","PeriodicalId":55365,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Sport","volume":"43 ","pages":"575-586"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12954490/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147357488","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Can OpenCap deliver valid and reliable kinematic data for motion analysis? A systematic review and three-level meta-analysis.","authors":"Salih Çabuk, Süleyman Ulupınar, İzzet İnce, Serhat Özbay","doi":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.154942","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.154942","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Markerless motion capture systems have gained increasing interest as practical alternatives to gold-standard references systems in clinical and sports contexts. This systematic review and three-level metaanalysis aimed to evaluate the criterion validity of OpenCap and to systematically summarize the available evidence regarding its reliability. A literature search was conducted across Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and EBSCO. Among the 12 studies included in the systematic review, 11 provided sufficient data for the metaanalytic synthesis of criterion validity, encompassing 184 participants, from which 640 effect sizes (ES), 230 Fisher's Z values, and 1087 root mean square error (RMSE) values were obtained. OpenCap demonstrated a statistically significant, yet practically trivial effect compared to criterion devices (ES = -0.140; p = 0.021). Fisher's Z transformation indicated a good-to-excellent correlation with criterion devices (r = 0.845; p = 0.005). The pooled RMSE was 5.877°, which decreased to 5.197° after sensitivity analysis and further to 4.940° following trim-and-fill adjustment. In terms of reliability, test-retest consistency generally ranged from moderate to very good across many joint angles and tasks, although marked variability was observed in certain task-joint combinations, particularly in high-velocity movements and complex joint actions. OpenCap, as a smartphonebased markerless motion capture system, can provide valid and acceptable kinematic measurements when compared to criterion devices. However, its performance varies depending on task complexity and joint-specific demands, underscoring the need for evaluation across diverse populations, a wider range of task types, and within standardized methodological frameworks.</p>","PeriodicalId":55365,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Sport","volume":"43 ","pages":"555-573"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12954493/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147357364","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Injury incidence, burden and associated risk factors in walking football players.","authors":"Maite Lejonagoitia-Garmendia, Iraia Bidaurrazaga-Letona, Iratxe Duñabeitia, Izaro Esain, Rakel Berriozabalgoitia, Begoña Sanz, Xabier Monasterio, Jon Larruskain, Susana M Gil","doi":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.154946","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.154946","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Walking football (WF) is an effective activity for older adults to enhance cardiovascular, metabolic and psychosocial health. However, evidence on injury risks remains limited. This study aimed to describe the incidence and burden of injuries during a WF season and identify potential risk factors, including age, muscle function and blood biomarkers. Sixty-four male recreational WF players aged > 50 years participated. Baseline assessments included anthropometry, muscle strength and blood tests. A prospective follow-up recorded injuries and exposure during training (twice weekly, 1 h) and occasional matches. A total of 2,946 player-sessions were documented. Sixty-two injuries occurred (80.6% during training), with an overall incidence of 19.7 injuries per 1000 hours (95% CI: 15.3-25.2) and 892.4 days of injury burden. The most frequent were muscle injuries (64.5%), mainly in the hamstrings (29%) and calf muscles (25.8%). Most were acute (90.3%), non-contact (85.5%), and classified as moderate or severe. Older participants experienced a greater burden of injuries. Muscle functionality was not associated with muscle injury incidence. In contrast, higher incidence (p < 0.05) was observed among players with low HDL cholesterol, elevated triglycerides, high atherogenic index and elevated glucose. Despite the adapted rules, walking football in older adults is associated with an elevated risk of muscle injuries, particularly in the posterior leg compartment. Older age and adverse metabolic profiles appear to be important contributors. Future research should focus on evaluating the balance between health benefits and injury risks, optimizing warm-up routines and training load, and integrating screening for injuryrelated risk factors to enhance player safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":55365,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Sport","volume":"43 ","pages":"499-510"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12954491/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147357449","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing physical performance with ischemic preconditioning: a systematic review and meta-analysis of moderators and performance outcomes.","authors":"Yilin Zhang, Kai Xu, Hao Kong, Mingyue Yin, Chenghao Liu, Yun Xie, Liam Kilduff, Gustavo R Mota, Olivier Girard","doi":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.154945","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.154945","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study examined the effects of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) on physical performance, considering the influence of timing, warm-up (WU), participant characteristics, and IPC protocols structure. A total of 90 trials (1,439 participants) were retrieved from three databases and assessed using PICOS criteria. Multilevel meta-analyses with cluster-robust variance adjustments were conducted to calculate pooled effect sizes (Hedge's g). Risk of bias and certainty of evidence were assessed using the RoB 2 tool and GRADE framework. IPC produced a trivial but significant improvement in physical performance (g = 0.13, P < 0.01), which persisted after excluding SHAM effects (g = 0.10; P < 0.01). Significant improvements were observed for maximum repetitions, time to failure, and power output, but not for jump ability, strength, or oxygen uptake. Comparable benefits were found for anaerobic (g = 0.15) and aerobic (g = 0.10) exercise, with greater effects in males and less-trained participants. Performance was further enhanced when IPC was followed by WU (g = 0.16), with the optimal IPC-to-WU interval being ~42 minutes. Without WU, the effective IPC window narrowed to 6-7 minutes. In practice, IPC can enhance physical performance, independently of sham effects, moderated by sex, training level, and WU. For competition or testing, the most effective strategy appears to be 3 or 4 × 5-min IPC protocol, followed by a 42-min interval, standardized warm-up, and endurance testing. For mechanistic studies, WU should be excluded, and testing conducted 6-7 minutes post-IPC. Future research should target women, middle-aged individuals, and elite athletes.</p>","PeriodicalId":55365,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Sport","volume":"43 ","pages":"511-554"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12954497/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147357435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Longitudinal cohort study on subsequent injury risk in professional football players in the Qatar Stars League: a probabilistic approach using basic learning.","authors":"Montassar Tabben, Karim Chamari, Khalid Alkhelaifi, Tanvir Alam, Jassim Almulla","doi":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.152345","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.152345","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Better understanding of the biomechanical and physiological mechanisms underlying subsequent injuries could have substantial implications for clinical practice in sports medicine. We investigated subsequent injury risk among professional football players in the Qatar Stars League (QSL), focusing on injury recurrence patterns over nine competitive seasons (2013-2021). Through an observational cohort study, we collected data on time-loss injuries from 1,258 players, recording 4,700 injuries categorized by body part, injury type, and recurrence. Utilizing Markov model, we explored probabilistic links between initial/index and subsequent injuries (defined as those occurring within the same season), highlighting patterns of recurrence in muscle groups prone to biomechanical strain. Our analysis identified 1,599 injuries (34% of total) as subsequent, primarily affecting the thigh (notably hamstrings) and groin. For instance, hamstring injuries exhibited an 7.5% (± 1.3%) probability of recurrence within the same season, while groin injuries had a 2.9% (± 0.82%) probability of resulting in subsequent hamstring injury. Our findings suggest that even basic probabilistic modeling, such as Markov chains, can enhance targeted injury prevention strategies. The high rate of recurrence, particularly in lower limb muscles, underscores the need for tailored rehabilitation programs emphasizing biomechanical stability. This comprehensive study offers a robust evidence base for injury mitigation strategies in elite football, recommending proactive monitoring and data-driven interventions to reduce injury recurrence and enhance player health, availability, and long-term performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":55365,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Sport","volume":"43 ","pages":"489-498"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12954500/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147357428","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Why do parents sign their children up for soccer in the United States?","authors":"José M Oliva-Lozano, John Sullivan, Rick Cost, Felipe Lobelo, George Chiampas","doi":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.154144","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.154144","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Participation in youth sports provides children with a number of physical and psychosocial benefits. With soccer continuing to grow in the United States, understanding why families choose this sport over others can help organizations better serve their communities and promote participation. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing parents' decisions to enroll their children in soccer in the United States. An observational, cross-sectional design was utilized, with data collected through an online survey completed by 5,052 parents and legal guardians of children aged 4 to 18. The survey included questions related to sample characteristics, extrinsic (parent-focused) benefits, child growth and development, well-being, health-related, and other factors asked in ranking and open-ended questions. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data from open-ended questions were thematically coded. Parents highly value child growth and development benefits such as discipline, respect, responsibility and handling pressure. Soccer is seen by parents as a way to keep children busy, allow for a structured schedule and to avoid trouble while using up their energy. Parents have mixed feelings about high aspirations like becoming a professional player or famous athlete, but many hope for college scholarships and personal development. Health benefits are a major reason for parents choosing to enroll their children in soccer, with a focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and preventing chronic illnesses. Soccer was perceived as the team sport with the greatest health benefits, showing a higher collective perception of health value compared to other sports. This study provides practical insights for soccer organizations to design programs that align with parental priorities, such as child development, health, and social interaction. It supports targeted marketing, health promotion, and educational workshops. Additionally, it helps coaches, policymakers, and community centers tailor strategies that emphasize soccer's developmental, physical, and social benefits.</p>","PeriodicalId":55365,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Sport","volume":"43 ","pages":"429-438"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12954489/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147357491","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Match demands and physical qualities of female athletes in Australian football, rugby union, rugby sevens, and rugby league: a scoping review.","authors":"Riley J Brassington, Jocelyn K Mara, Nick Ball, Gordon Waddington, Kiera Paul, Julie Cooke","doi":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.153306","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.153306","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This scoping review explored the physical qualities, and match demands of athletes participating at elite and sub-elite levels in four team-based collision sports played in Australia: Australian football, rugby union, rugby sevens, and rugby league. Fifty-nine studies were analysed to examine anthropometric traits, physical qualities, and match demands of female athletes across these sports. Comparisons were made between elite and sub-elite playing levels. A risk of bias and methodological assessment was also conducted. Findings suggest that elite athletes (as defined by the FTEM framework) in all sports, except rugby sevens, displayed greater height and body mass than sub-elite counterparts. Elite athletes in Australian football, rugby sevens, and rugby league demonstrated superior aerobic capacity, as measured by the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Level 1 (IR1) test. Elite rugby union athletes were faster over 10-metre acceleration efforts and had higher average one-repetition maximum (1RM) bench press scores. The risk of bias assessment showed that 60% of studies had 'unclear' or 'high risk' of confounding due to uncontrolled or unreported contextual factors. All studies had 'low risk' of bias in assessor blinding and selective outcome reporting. These findings highlight the importance of specific anthropometric traits and physical qualities, such as greater body mass, lean mass, and aerobic capacity, as well as performance outcomes like relative running intensity and peak velocity, in distinguishing playing levels. These attributes can inform talent identification, enhance performance, and guide training interventions for sub-elite and elite female athletes.</p>","PeriodicalId":55365,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Sport","volume":"43 ","pages":"405-428"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12954495/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147357496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Energy expenditure and physical activity responses to football for health training in adults with metabolic syndrome: a randomized clinical trial.","authors":"Athanasios Poulios, Lambros Tsiokanos, Dimitrios Draganidis, Konstantinos Papanikolaou, Panagiotis Tsimeas, Niki Syrou, Georgios Metsios, Athanasios Chatzinikolaou, Georgios Ermidis, Athanasios Tsiokanos, Aggelos Pappas, Magni Mohr, Peter Krustrup, Athanasios Z Jamurtas, Ioannis G Fatouros","doi":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.154146","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.154146","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This investigation determined the energy expenditure (EE), physical activity (PA), and physiological responses of football for health training (FFH). Twenty middle-aged males with metabolic syndrome (MetS) completed a 60-min FFH and a control trial using a randomized crossover design. The FFH load and EE were determined using a mobile gas analyzer, heart rate (HR) monitors, blood lactate measurements, a global positioning system, and accelerometry. Participants in FFH run a total distance of ~3.800 m (1,121 m at > 7 km/h, accelerations of 141 m, decelerations of 162 m) using a mean and maximal speed of 4.1 km/h and 20.6 km/h, respectively. FFH demonstrated a moderate-to-vigorous PA of > 41 min and a step count of ~4900. FFH increased (p < .001) the perceived exertion (55.8%, 13.6 ± 2.6), HR_mean (151.1 ± 15.2 beats/min, 83.1 ± 10.9 %HRmax), lactate (80.8%, 5.4 ± 0.9 mmol/L), <math> <mrow> <msub> <mrow><mover><mtext>V</mtext> <mo>˙</mo></mover> <mtext>O</mtext></mrow> <mn>2</mn></msub> </mrow> </math> (88.6%, 1.9 ± 0.3 L/min, 79.9 ± 10.5% <math> <mrow> <msub> <mrow><mover><mtext>V</mtext> <mo>˙</mo></mover> <mtext>O</mtext></mrow> <mrow><mn>2</mn> <mi>max</mi></mrow> </msub> </mrow> </math> , 6.7 ± 0.8 METs), breathing frequency (32.6 ± 3.0 breaths/min), and respiratory exchange ratio (0.98 ± 0.03) compared to the control trial. Total EE reached 524.2 ± 81.0 kcals (mitochondrial energy production: 476.8 kcals; anaerobic energy production: AS 5.4 ± 1.0 kcals; EPOC: 42.0 ± 11.8 kcals). The present results suggest that FFH meets the international PA and EE standards for adults with MetS, with participants taking part in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) for approximately 68% of each session, rendering it a suitable and efficient strategy to lower cardiometabolic risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":55365,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Sport","volume":"43 ","pages":"449-461"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12954501/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147357441","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Changes in physical fitness and body composition of athletes after the COVID-19 lockdown: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression, with assessment of the certainty of evidence.","authors":"Jad Adrian Washif, Khaled Trabelsi, Jeffrey Pagaduan, Marie Stella Louise Perreras, Imen Moussa-Chamari, Narimen Yousfi, David B Pyne, Karim Chamari","doi":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.153307","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.153307","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This systematic review with meta-analysis analysed the effects of COVID-19 lockdowns on physical fitness and body composition in athletes. A comprehensive search was conducted in three databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus) up to January 2025 (included). Studies were included based on PICO criteria, involving adult athletes, original articles, and any quantitative assessment of physical fitness and/or body composition conducted within one month before and two weeks after the lockdown. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist was used to assess the risk of bias, while the Cochrane Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach evaluated the certainty of evidence. A total of 14 studies (261 athletes) with a low risk of bias met the inclusion criteria. Narrative synthesis revealed that the effects of lockdowns on athletes' physical fitness and body composition were varied, with consistent impairments (e.g., endurance-related fitness), relative stability (e.g., body mass, CMJ height, maximal strength), and mixed results (e.g., sprinting). A meta-analysis of 11 studies indicated a non-significant effect of lockdown on body mass (effect size [ES]=-0.115, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.214 to 0.164, P=0.797). Similarly, 10 studies showed a variable, non-significant reduction in CMJ height (ES=-0.303, 95% CI -0.655 to 0.045, P=0.097). However, CMJ relative peak power (six studies) demonstrated a trivial-small negative effect (ES=-0.199, 95% CI -0.341 to -0.058, P=0.019). These findings should be interpreted with caution as the certainty of evidence was very low. While evidence remains limited, targeted and individualised training might help mitigate some of the detraining effects observed during a lockdown, particularly in endurance-related fitness outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":55365,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Sport","volume":"43 ","pages":"463-488"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12954494/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147357412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The relative age effect and transition rates across a national soccer program in male and female youth to senior players. A longitudinal analysis.","authors":"Daniel Nisbet, Mauro Mandorino, Piotr Zmijewski, Toni Modric, José Eduardo Teixeira, Alexandre Moreira, Ryland Morgans","doi":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.154941","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.154941","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to: (1) investigate the prevalence and magnitude of the Relative Age Effect (RAE) across a national team program; (2) assess the transition rates from youth to senior international level, and (3) examine the influence of birth quartile distribution on transition. 1518 male and 487 female soccer players from a national soccer association were examined. All participants were divided into birth quartiles: January- March (BQ1), April-June (BQ2), July-September (BQ3), and October-December (BQ4). Significant RAE were observed across all age groups, with small-to-medium effect sizes (Cramer's V: 0.10-0.19), except for male U-16, female U-16, and U-19 players. Senior teams exhibited the most significant RAE, with odds ratios of 2.27 for male and 1.50 for female players. Transition rates from youth to senior teams were higher for female (30%) than male (20%) players. Contrasting trends by birth quartile were evident with males having the lowest transition rate in BQ1 (17%), while females had the lowest transition rate in BQ4 (25%). The number of youth team appearances in both sexes was a significant predictor of transition probability (β = 0.177), with each additional appearance increasing the likelihood of progressing to the senior team by 19.4%. A significant interaction between sex and youth team appearances indicated that the impact of playing opportunities was less pronounced for male players than females. These findings highlight the influence of the RAE in talent development and underscore the need for equitable opportunities for all players, regardless of sex.</p>","PeriodicalId":55365,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Sport","volume":"43 ","pages":"439-448"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12954492/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147357453","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}