Special topics

The aim of this cohort study was two-fold: (i) to analyze within-group changes of final velocity in a 30-15 intermittent fitness test (VIFT), final velocity in a Vameval test (Vvameval), 20-m sprint and countermovement jump (CMJ); (ii) to explore the relationships between VIFT and Vvameval outcomes and their changes with internal and external loads.

The aim of the present study was to compare the acceleration, deceleration, and high-speed running profiles of players during international and domestic matches and to determine if differences were apparent across playing positions (defenders, midfielders, and attackers).

The aim was to determine the influence of a player’s peak/maximum running speed on the team’s final ranking position. A second aim was to investigate differences in maximum running speed among playing positions.

The aim of this study was to investigate the collective and individual responses of professional female soccer players engaged in a preseason training program with the NHE regarding eccentric knee flexor strength and biceps femoris long head fascicle length.

The aims of this study were to (1) quantify the external training load relative to match load in days before a subsequent international game and (2) examine the cumulative training load in relation to match load of U-17 national team soccer players.

This systematic review with a meta-analysis was conducted to compare the effects of small-sided games (SSGs)-based interventions with the effects of running-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT) interventions on soccer players’ repeated sprint ability (RSA).

The purpose of this study was to investigate sports injuries in younger (U9–U11) and older (U12–U13) children playing soccer at an elite level, analysing potential anthropometric and maturity risk factors. 

This study aimed to examine various biochemical biomarkers changes during a shock micro-cycle in soccer players from a university team.

Mental fatigue can impact physical demands and tactical behaviour in sport-related contexts. Small-sided games (SSGs) are often used to develop a specific sport-related context. This systematic review (with a meta-analysis) was conducted to compare the effects of mental fatigue vs. control conditions in terms of the total running distance and tactical behaviour of soccer players during SSGs.

Considering the perceived benefit of early recruitment and the time and resources spent developing youth players, individuals released from talent development programmes are often re-recruited by rival academies. Limited data exists on players deselected from (or reselected to) youth soccer academies.

This study sought to analyse the relationship between in-season training workload with changes in aerobic power (VO2max), maximum and resting heart rate (HRmax and HRrest), linear sprint medium (LSM) and short test (LSS) in U16 soccer players. An additional aim was to explain changes in fitness levels during the in-season through regression models, considering accumulated load, baseline levels, and peak height velocity (PHV) as predictors.

The aim was to investigate the optimal pretaper duration on match running performance in a professional soccer team.

The aim was to compare an eyes-open versus an eyes-closed balance training protocol in professional soccer players with chronic ankle instability

The aim was to assess on pitch external loading of English Premier League (EPL) academy soccer players (U12-U18 age groups) over an entire competitive season.

Forbes has released its bi-annual list of the 20 most valued soccer teams.

The list includes nine teams from the English Premier League, four from the Italian Serie A, three from the Spanish La Liga, two from the German Bundesliga and one from each the Netherlands and France.

The aim was to identify the relationship between growth velocity and injury in elite-level youth footballers.

The aim was to examine the recovery kinetics of exercise-induced muscle damage, neuromuscular fatigue and performance following small-sided games of different densities in football.

The aim was to assess the effects of plyometric training with an agility ladder on components of physical fitness in youth footballers.

The aim was to examine the effects of chronological age and training experience on perception, attention and decision making in young footballer.

The aim was to analyse variations of internal load across small sided games in professional soccer. 

The study investigated the impact of competitive soccer on the short-term changes in isometric strength of the adductor muscle group.

The purpose was to establish if the inclusion of gluteus medius-specific exercises in an abdominal training program is more effective for improving lumbo-pelvic stability and adductor muscle strength.

The aim was to describe the training and match injury incidence and physical demands variables observed during a competition using a multi-camera video analysis. 

The aim was to find within-group differences for game insight in an elite group of youth footballers by means of Game Insight inDicator (GID).

The aim was to evaluate the effect of acceleration on the external and internal load during repeated sprint exercise.

The aim was to compare three different protocols to assess the velocity associated with the maximal oxygen uptake in footballers.

The aim of the study was to develop and validate a specific pictorial perceived exertion scale for soccer players called GOAL scale.

The aim was to assess the change in proportion of children aged 10-13 playing soccer in the US presenting to an Emergency Department (ED) with a concussion in relation to any other injury before and after the ban.

The aim was to analyze the locomtion and metabolic responses of professional players in the top three competitive standards of Spanish soccer during the four weeks before and after dismissal of the coach.

This study aimed to describe the worst-case scenarios (WCS) of professional soccer players by playing position in different durations and analyse WCS considering different contextual variables (match half, -location and outcome)

This study aimed to evaluate commonly used methods to assess BMS within a highly selected sample of youth soccer players.

The aim of this study was to investigate position-specific endurance performance of soccer players.

The aim was to determine whether prospectively measured components of valgus collapse during a deceleration cut can differentiate between female footballers who go on to non-contact ACL injury

The aim of the current study was to investigate whether a moving advertisement positioned behind the goal area would influence the visual attention of participants performing a soccer penalty kick, and, whether this would an effect on subsequent motor performance.

This study aimed to describe the worst-case scenarios of professional soccer players by playing position in different durations and analyse WCS considering different contextual variables (match half and location)

The aim of this study was to provide reference data of variation in external training loads for weekly periods within annual season.

The objective of this study was to determine whether there is a decrease in the physical performance of the players in the most demanding passages (MDP) during periods of competition congestion.

The study aimed at comparing the effects of two training approaches on prepubescent soccer players' sprint performance.

The aim was to investigate if making the skill aquisition phase more difficult or easier would enhance performance in soccer juggling and if this practice has a positive intertask transfer effect to ball reception performance.

The aims of this investigation were to report team average and positional changes to match play physical performance across an European Championsleague season while statistically controlling for situational and contextual variables.

This study aimed to analyse the effect of different starting stance widths and knee flexion angles on movement time, center of mass trajectory and velocity in goalkeepers' diving saves.

The aims were to analyse the physical response of professional soccer players during training considering the contextual factors of match location, season period and quality of opposition.

The purpose was to investigate long corner kicks within the English Premier League that entered the goal area (6-yard box) or the critical are (6-12 yards from the goal-line in the width of the goal area) with the defining outcome occurring after the first contact.

This study analyses the differential perceived match load accumulated by professional soccer players depending on participation in several consecutive matches.

This study aims to quantify and analyze the differences in position-specific performances in games played with three or four defensive players.

The study assessed whether a new, closed-skill dribbling or sprinting task could predict attacking performance.

The aims of the study were to determine the effectiveness of indirect free kicks, identify variables associated with a successful outcome.

The aim of this study was to examine the performance indicators that differentiated between African and European teams in the 2018 FIFA World Cup

The aim of this study was to analyze in-game match statistics on the top-3 and bottom-3 teams ranked in LaLiga.

The aim was to examine strategic time-wasting, a behavior that help teams win games or tie games against superior opponents.

The aim was to investigate the association between  injuries and training load indices in elite footballers.

The aim was to investigate the impact of video speed on the decision making process of association football referees and how this interacts with expertise.

The aim was to compare heart rate, rating of perceived exertion and technical-tactical actions during SSGs played with and without goalkeepers.

The study investigated the effects of a 6-month school-based soccer program on cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors in overweight children.

As previous literature updates, I have performed a PubCrawler search looking for football articles in NCBI Medline (PubMed) and GenBank databases.

Following studies were retrieved for this week:

The main purpose was to assess the relations between training loads and selected blood parameters in professional players during a preseason sports camp.

The aim was to compare physiological parameters and technica-tactical actions during SSGs with and without wildcard players.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between offensive tactical knowledge and the soccer-specific motor skills performance.

Predicting the defensive performance of individual players in one vs. one soccer games.

The aim was to investigate the effects of sleep deprivation on soccer skills.

The aim was to investigate the relationship between motor development in adolescence and future adult performance. 

The aim was to systematically review the predictive value of psychological talent predictors.

The study aimed to identify the differences in technical performance between players from clubs in UEFA Champions League matches.

The aim of this study was to determine the role of FMS in the process of acquiring soccer-specific motor skills.

The study investigates the influence of specific soccer training with the non-dominant leg on mental rotation performance of young soccer players.

The aim of the study was to explore the underlying bases of goal-scoring ability of young soccer players.

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between basics cognitive functions and sports-specific motor skills in elite youth soccer players

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The aim was to examine the contribution of maturity status and body size descriptors to age-associated inter-individual variability in VO2peak and to present static allometric models to normalize in male youth soccer players.

The aim of this study was to determine the optimal recovery time to elicit PAP after a bout of high-intensity resistance exercise in professional soccer players.

The aim was to assess the utility of an inertial sensor for assessing recovery in professional soccer players.

The aim was to examine the dose reponse effect of plyometric training on soccer performance variables.

The study aimed to identify associations between running performance and game performance indicators in professional footballers compared to their playing position.

The aim was to provide in-season training load for different days within a mesocycle in elite soccer players.

The aim was to analyze the effects of 2 resistance programs using the same relative load but different repetition volume.

The aim of the study was to provide seasonal internal and external training load includig the Hooper Index in elite soccer players during an in-season period.

Player readiness can affect the ability to perform and tolerate prescribed training load. Consequently, practitioners need objective evidence to inform readiness to train.

The purpose was to quantify the relationship between daily training load and a range of potential measures of fatigue.

The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of mental fatigue on passing decision-making in professional soccer athletes.

The results of a systematic review.

The study profiled the match-day physical activities performed by substitutes focusing on the pre- and post-pitch-entry periods.

The effects of a Nordic hamstring exercise before vs. after football training was examined.

The purpose was to analyze the day-to-day variance of a typical weekly external training workload of two professional soccer teams from Portugal and Netherlands

The study aimed to describe positional differences in the acceleration and sprint profiles of professional footballers.

A comprehensive 3-year study from English Premier League Footballers

Is there an effect of unbalanced players numbers in SSG on workload and technical/tactical actions in football?

The aim was to determine the effectiveness of sprint interval training on performance and lactate kinetics in soccer players.

Variables assessed passing strategies, field position and possession.

Effects on body composition, strength and sprint performance.

The study investigated the preventive effect of the nordic hamstring exercise on the incidence in male amateur footballers.

The purpose was to investigate the association between physical and technical activities and match status.

The purpose was to investigate the effect of an imagery training programme on the performance of a soccer task by skilled and novice players.

Some considerations and limitations

The study investigated the association between high-speed running and sprinting and injuries in football.

Passing and shooting in the LSST and LSPT.

Effects on the physical performance, psychophysiological responses and technical skills in young soccer players.

A new approach to determine in-game sprinting patterns

Also with regards to positional differences.

Are there positional differences playing a 4-2-3-1 with strong vs. weak oppositions?