Lukas Arenas, Monika Frenger, Sabrina Skorski, Tim Meyer
{"title":"Survey of the current practices of German football academies towards biological maturation assessment.","authors":"Lukas Arenas, Monika Frenger, Sabrina Skorski, Tim Meyer","doi":"10.1080/24733938.2023.2270563","DOIUrl":"10.1080/24733938.2023.2270563","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to examine the importance assigned to assessing and considering biological maturation in thematic areas of player development and provide an overview of current practices in German football academies regarding its consideration in training and competition.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An online survey was sent to 56 elite German football academies. A total of 46 responded to the questionnaire (82% response rate). Six participants provided incomplete information resulting in a total of 40 completed surveys in the period from March to May 2022.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Only 20 of participants regularly carried out maturation assessments, despite 95% recognizing its importance for load management, 90% for player development, and 85% for injury prevention. There was no consistent approach to modifying training and competition formats based on maturity status, with a primary focus on gym-based sessions for load management.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The survey results highlight limited implementation of maturation assessment and training modification based on maturity status in German elite youth football academies. Despite recognizing the importance of load monitoring, reporting to parents, and long-term player development in considering biological maturation, practices are not widespread. The predominant use of the maturity offset method suggests an opportunity to improve accuracy by exploring alternative measurement methods and increasing assessment frequency. Moreover, a lack of established procedures for incorporating maturity status into training and competition exists, hindering comprehensive consideration of biological maturation and injury risk prevention. Further research is needed to understand the reasons for inconsistent approaches in maturation assessment and load modification during training and competition.</p>","PeriodicalId":74767,"journal":{"name":"Science & medicine in football","volume":" ","pages":"351-364"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41241995","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Júlia Barreira, João Eduardo Pereira da Silva Junior, Cristiane Pereira de Souza
{"title":"Research on women's futsal: a scoping review.","authors":"Júlia Barreira, João Eduardo Pereira da Silva Junior, Cristiane Pereira de Souza","doi":"10.1080/24733938.2024.2310503","DOIUrl":"10.1080/24733938.2024.2310503","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The aim of this study was to conduct a comprehensive scoping literature review to provide an overview of the current state of research within women's futsal. We searched four electronic databases (SPORTDiscus, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) up to December 2023. Inclusion criteria comprised original research published in peer-reviewed journals, available in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. The focus was on studies investigating women in futsal, encompassing both players and those in leadership positions, regardless of their age or skill level. The analysis included the authorship (location), population characteristics (number of participants, level of play, and age), themes explored, and primary findings. A total of 692 records were found, but only 175 met the selection criteria. The results highlighted a recent attention in the scientific literature, with the first publications emerging in 2005 and a notable increase since 2016. Strength and Conditioning topics constituted the most frequently explored area, comprising 32% of the studies. Notably, no studies focusing on coaching or management aspects were identified. In terms of the participant population, most studies concentrated on high-level (33%) and senior (84%) players. Few studies have investigated practitioners with disabilities or women in other positions such as coaches or managers. Most of the studies were conducted by Brazilian researchers (60%), indicating the need for investigations in different socio-cultural contexts. The recent academic attention and the upcoming inaugural edition of the FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup<sup>TM</sup> in 2025 reinforce the need for further studies on women's futsal. This review contributes by identifying the scientific gaps that can be explored by future investigations.</p>","PeriodicalId":74767,"journal":{"name":"Science & medicine in football","volume":" ","pages":"405-417"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139682121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Distinguishing skill from technique in football.","authors":"Kyle J M Bennett, Job Fransen","doi":"10.1080/24733938.2023.2288138","DOIUrl":"10.1080/24733938.2023.2288138","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The current commentary adopts a skill acquisition science perspective on the distinction between skill and technique, two constructs often confused in football science and practice. It first positions technique as a coordination pattern. It then argues that experts rarely (if ever) coordinate their neuromuscular system in the same way through evidence of inter- and intra-individual movement variability from football science and other domains of sport science. It concludes by asserting that skill distinguishes itself from technique by its requirement for functional and beneficial coordination patterns, meaning that coaches, sporting practitioners and researchers should consider skill as any technique that an athlete successfully applies to a situation that requires it.</p>","PeriodicalId":74767,"journal":{"name":"Science & medicine in football","volume":" ","pages":"397-400"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138300730","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Christos Pippas, George Gioftsos, Vasileios Korakakis, Andreas Serner
{"title":"Strength effects of the Copenhagen adduction exercise vs an adductor squeeze exercise in male football players - A randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Christos Pippas, George Gioftsos, Vasileios Korakakis, Andreas Serner","doi":"10.1080/24733938.2024.2419659","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2024.2419659","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To examine the effect of assigning male football players to an 8-week Copenhagen Adduction (CA) and Adductor Squeeze (SQ) Pragmatic randomized controlled trial, 57 participants (16.7 ± 0.9 years, 175.9 ± 7.3 height and 66 ± 8.4 weight) were individually randomized to an 8-week progressive dynamic training protocol with the CA or an isometric training protocol with the SQ twice per week. Maximal eccentric (EHAD) and isometric (IHAD) hip adductor torque was tested with a handheld dynamometer. Perceived exertion and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) were recorded throughout the intervention period. In the intention-to-treat analysis, no significant between-group difference was observed for EHAD (<i>p</i> = 0.478-0.833) nor IHAD (<i>p</i> = 0.084-0.118). There was a significant difference in DOMS between groups in the third to sixteenth exercise session, with the CA group reporting higher values (median varying between 0-3 vs 0-1, <i>p</i> = 0.000-0.009). Perceived exertion was greater for the CA group only in the fifteenth exercise session of the protocol (median of 4 vs 3, <i>p</i> = 0.031). No other significant differences between the groups were observed for DOMS nor perceived exertion. An 8-week adductor training program with either the Copenhagen Adduction or Adductor Squeeze exercise performed with two sets twice a week and adjusted for total volume did not result in significant differences in eccentric nor isometric adduction torque between the groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":74767,"journal":{"name":"Science & medicine in football","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142514380","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Danyon Loud, Paul Grimshaw, Richard Kelso, William S P Robertson
{"title":"A mechanical comparison of the translational traction of female-specific and male soccer boots.","authors":"Danyon Loud, Paul Grimshaw, Richard Kelso, William S P Robertson","doi":"10.1080/24733938.2024.2410427","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2024.2410427","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The studded outsole of a soccer boot provides additional traction to players to minimise the risk of slipping while performing high-speed manoeuvres. As excessive traction can lead to foot fixation and injury risk, there has been significant research surrounding the influence of stud configuration on the level of traction generated. This previous research, however, has predominately focused on the stud patterns, foot morphology and lower limb loading patterns of male players. As the popularity of women's soccer increases, the aim of this investigation was to examine the differences in translational traction of female-specific soccer boots and male soccer boots currently available. A custom-built apparatus was used to determine the translational traction on both natural and artificial grass for four different movement directions. It was hypothesised that the female-specific boot in each pair would produce lower levels of translational traction as they are designed to be safer for female players who are more at risk of lower limb fixation injuries compared to males. An independent samples T-test showed that while there were some loading conditions where female boots produced lower translational traction compared to male boots, across all loading scenarios there was no significant difference between male and female boots (<i>p</i> = 0.818), thus the null hypothesis was rejected.</p>","PeriodicalId":74767,"journal":{"name":"Science & medicine in football","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142395845","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kerry Peek, Francesco Aiello, Lewis Avery, Tom Gardner, Harvey Rutherford, Andrew Massey, Julia Georgieva, Thor Einar Andersen, Sara Dahlén, Andreas Serner
{"title":"Characteristics of potential head injury situations at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022<sup>TM</sup>.","authors":"Kerry Peek, Francesco Aiello, Lewis Avery, Tom Gardner, Harvey Rutherford, Andrew Massey, Julia Georgieva, Thor Einar Andersen, Sara Dahlén, Andreas Serner","doi":"10.1080/24733938.2024.2409689","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2024.2409689","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This exploratory video analysis study aimed to review characteristics of potential head injury situations during a men's professional international football tournament. For 64 matches of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ FIFA analysts used match footage to record all potential head injury situations. A potential head injury situation was defined as a player staying down for more than 5 s and/or requesting medical attention, and where the body impact location included the player's head. Characteristics were further recorded for match, player (i.e. player action including aerial duels), medical assessment, and outcome (e.g. substitution). Descriptive statistics are reported as well as Pearson's Chi-squared test (or Fisher's exact test) to explore potential head injury situations more likely to result in medical attention. In total, 149 potential head injury situations occurred in 56 matches (mean 2.33/match, range 0-6) involving 117 players. Eight matches resulted in no incidents. Aerial duels were the most frequent match characteristic leading to a potential head injury situation. Injury stoppage with on-pitch medical assessment occurred in 35 of the 149 potential head injury situations (23%), with pitch-side assessment also occurring in 15 situations (10%), resulting in four concussion substitutions. Players were more likely to require medical attention for potential head injuries sustained when the ball was loose (χ<sup>2</sup> = 6.88; <i>p</i> = 0.038) when the injured player was jumping (FET <i>p</i> = 0.044) and for head-to-head contact (FET <i>p</i> = <0.001). Further exploration of aerial duels during match play which do and do not lead to potential and actual head injuries is recommended.</p>","PeriodicalId":74767,"journal":{"name":"Science & medicine in football","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142382704","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Analysis of match performance of elite soccer players across confederations during the Men's and Women's World Cup.","authors":"Wonwoo Ju, Rick Cost, José M Oliva-Lozano","doi":"10.1080/24733938.2024.2409679","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2024.2409679","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to benchmark and analyze match performance of elite soccer players from various confederations during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 (Men's WC) and FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 (Women's WC). A total of 128 matches were analyzed using an optical tracking system (<i>n</i> = 1,351 player observations). Players from various national teams were categorized into their respective confederations: Europe (UEFA), South America (CONMEBOL), North/Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF), Africa (CAF) and Asia and Oceania (AFC/OFC). Generalized Linear Mixed Models and Linear Mixed Models were employed to assess performance differences between confederations. Data revealed that CONMEBOL players in the Men's WC covered less total distance than UEFA players (<i>p</i> = 0.0396; ES = 0.6). However, no differences were found in high-intensity running and sprinting distances across confederations in both tournaments. UEFA players in both competitions typically demonstrated superior technical/tactical performances. In particular, UEFA players in the Women's World Cup made more passes, had 7-16% higher pass completion rates and achieved 10-15% greater line break completion rates compared to those from CAF, CONCACAF and AFC/OFC (<i>p</i> < 0.0001 to <i>p</i> = 0.0199, ES = 0.5-1.3). These findings suggest that UEFA players may possess a tactical/technical edge in international competitions. However, caution should be exercised when interpreting data due to high variations within confederations. This is the first comprehensive study describing match performance between confederations during the Men's and Women's WC, providing valuable insights into the physical and technical/tactical aspects of elite soccer.</p>","PeriodicalId":74767,"journal":{"name":"Science & medicine in football","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142334047","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gary P McEwan, Viswanath B Unnithan, Mark Carter, James H Dugdale, Naomi Datson
{"title":"Talent identification and development strategies in elite women's soccer: a pan-European perspective.","authors":"Gary P McEwan, Viswanath B Unnithan, Mark Carter, James H Dugdale, Naomi Datson","doi":"10.1080/24733938.2024.2404920","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2024.2404920","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The question of how best to identify and develop youth soccer players has received considerable attention from the scientific community. Existing literature has, however, largely focused on male players, with comparatively little exploration of the specific approaches employed within women's soccer. Accordingly, we sought to investigate the key factors deemed important by elite women's soccer clubs concerning the: 1) identification of potential talent; 2) development of players within the player pathway; and 3) selection of players for the next age group or senior team. Data were generated through semi-structured interviews with 11 key representatives from seven elite women's soccer clubs. Clubs were purposefully sampled to include the highest performing teams (38 domestic titles and 10 UEFA Women's Champions League titles) from five European nations (Spain, France, Sweden, Germany, and Italy). Data were analysed using thematic content analysis, resulting in six higher-order themes: 1) prioritising local talent; 2) recruitment from mixed grassroots leagues; 3) creating challenging developmental environments; 4) ensuring player wellbeing; 5) patience in decision-making; and 6) facilitating the youth-to-senior transition through a top-down approach. A total of 17 lower-order themes were subsequently identified. The present study offers novel insights of key strategies deemed important by some of the most successful women's clubs in top-performing European nations. Future research examining the efficacy of such approaches could help inform the development of evidence-based practices for nurturing the next generation of elite female players.</p>","PeriodicalId":74767,"journal":{"name":"Science & medicine in football","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142302970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exploring decision-making practices during coaching sessions in grassroots youth soccer: a mixed-methods study.","authors":"André Roca, Chris Pocock, Paul R Ford","doi":"10.1080/24733938.2024.2399011","DOIUrl":"10.1080/24733938.2024.2399011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Decision-making ability in players during match-play is mostly acquired through practice activities with the same underlying structure as competition. However, researchers have not fully investigated how coaches design practice sessions at the participation level of the sport (i.e. 'grassroots'), or why they use a particular activity at a specific time point. This study explores the practice activities employed by youth soccer coaches at the participation level in England and aims to understand their underlying intentions. Twelve male coaches working with players aged 9-11 years across ten clubs in the London region participated. Thirty-five practice sessions were filmed and analysed to assess the proportion of time spent in activities involving 'non-active decision-making' (e.g., technical practices, fitness training) versus 'active decision-making' (e.g., small-sided and conditioned games, skills practice with realistic opposition). A brief on-field interview with the coaches about the session purpose took place immediately after each systematic observation. Coaches allocated similar amounts of time to activities with active (<i>M</i> = 41%) and non-active (<i>M</i> = 42%) decision making, with the remaining 17% being transitions. There was a common progression from non-active decision-making activities early in the session towards increased active decision-making later in the session. Interviews with coaches revealed a belief in the necessity of frequent non-active decision-making practices for technique development, despite potential disparities with improving match performance. Findings highlight a potential gap between scientific understanding and coaching practices for young soccer players at the participation level, suggesting implications for coach education programmes and the optimisation of player development strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":74767,"journal":{"name":"Science & medicine in football","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142127575","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Carolina Franco Wilke, Andreas Serner, Andrew Massey, Alan McCall, Mark Fulcher, Craig Rosenbloom, Sean Carmody, Stephen D Patterson, Katrine Okholm Kryger
{"title":"Knowledge, attitude and behaviour around concussion at the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: part 2 - coaches, performance staff and players.","authors":"Carolina Franco Wilke, Andreas Serner, Andrew Massey, Alan McCall, Mark Fulcher, Craig Rosenbloom, Sean Carmody, Stephen D Patterson, Katrine Okholm Kryger","doi":"10.1080/24733938.2024.2385339","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2024.2385339","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The objective of this observational cross-sectional study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of coaches and performance staff (i.e. 'coaching staff'), and players from the 32 teams qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 regarding assessment and management of concussion in football. Two online surveys were developed: 1) coaching staff, and 2) players. The results were analysed descriptively. Eighty-four coaching staff and 229 players completed the survey. Concussion knowledge: 39% of coaching staff and 33% of players were aware of concussion protocol(s). Knowledge: concussion symptom onset time was correctly reported by 18% of coaching staff and 11% of players. Knowledge about risks related to sustaining a concussion or returning to play too soon varied in both groups. Attitude: 26% of coaching staff and 31% of players reported being very confident or confident in recognizing a suspected concussion. Half of the players (52%) reported to always report symptoms of concussion if feeling any. One (1%) member of the coaching staff and 24 (10%) players reported feeling that a player can return to play with mild symptoms after a concussion. Behaviour: Most coaching staff reported they would have supportive behaviour if faced with a suspected concussion on the pitch. Among players, 64% stated that they would leave the assessment to their team's medical staff, and 4% would encourage their teammates to keep playing. In conclusion, coaching staff and players showed limited knowledge about concussion. Most coaching staff reported attitudes and intended behaviour towards protecting players' health; whilst players' responses varied.</p>","PeriodicalId":74767,"journal":{"name":"Science & medicine in football","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142010078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}