Special topics

This study aimed to analyze the changes in match performance parameters in professional soccer players after sustaining an injury, which was defined according to injury severity.

Recovery following the extra-time period of soccer: Practitioner perspectives and applied practices.

The aim of this study was to compare weekly accumulative load during the in-season competitive period by professional soccer players according to the amount of time played in official matches (90-min, >60-min, <60-min, and 0-min) regarding the players’ position.

The aim was to determine the age-related effects on curve sprint (CS) performance to both sides, asymmetry, and association with linear sprint (LS).

The study investigated the effect of two warm-up (WU) durations (i.e.10 min: WU10 and 20 min: WU20) in a hot climate (~31 C), on thermal comfort, power output and fatigue after a repeated-sprint test (RSA) in footballers.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of different levels of whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) exposure on subjective and objective measures of post-match recovery in footballers during a chronic exposure period.

I have posted some numbers regarding possible cost/benefit of "Having an academy" previously, which was about the possible revenue from academy players.

This post is about clubs actually utilizing their own players and to what extent.

The purpose of this study was twofold: (i) to analyze the seasonal variations in the physical demands of Turkish Super League teams considering their status in the final rankings and (ii) to analyze the seasonal variations in the technical performance of Turkish Super League teams considering their status in the final rankings.

The aim of the present study was to determine the influence of maturation status on the components of the sprint force-velocity (F-V) profile in young soccer players.

The aim of this study was to compare internal and external load profiles of different game profile based training (GPBT) formats among elite young football players.

The aim of this study was to compare weekly accumulative load during the in-season competitive period by professional soccer players according to the amount of time played in official matches (90-min, >60-min, <60-min, and 0-min) regarding the players’ position.

The aim of this study was to identify how positioning the goals in diagonal configurations on the pitch modifies the external training load and the tactical behaviour of young football players during small-sided games (SSG).

No investigation has examined the influence of soccer training and match-play during the season on isometric hip adductor and abductor muscle strength. The authors hypothesised that maximal hip adductor and abductor muscle strength would increase after the preseason, maintain relatively constant levels across the season.

The aim was to evaluate and compare the acute effects of DS as well as DS followed by FR (DS + FR) on flexibility, dynamic balance, and agility in male soccer players.

Effect of bio-banding on physiological and technical-tactical key performance indicators in youth elite soccer.

The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of a fascial therapy and strength training, combined with kinesio taping, in improving ankle range of motion, pain, strength and stability in footballers with recurrent sprains.

The aims of this study was to investigate a valid and simple method of testing for a unique combination of cognitive and speed abilities for identifying promising soccer players at mid-childhood.

Foam rolling (FR) has become a popular device for recovery to increase range of motion and decrease pain after sport practice and competition. The aim of this study was to analyze acute effects of FR on blood flow parameters (maximal velocity MVel, maximal volume MVol) measured by ultrasonography in footballers.

Association between offensive and defensive playing style variables and ranking position in a national football league.

The aims of the study were to describe the perceived load, fatigue and recovery profiles during congested and non-congested schedules in international football tournaments.

The aims of the study were two-fold: i) examine the validity and reliability of high-speed kicking actions using foot-mounted inertial measurement unit’s (IMU), ii) quantify soccer players within-microcycle and inter-positional differences in both the frequency and speed of technical actions.

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of this direct youth-to-senior pathway by examining the extent to which club-trained players (CTPs) are currently involved in elite male European soccer.

This study analyzed how the physical movement profile of soccer matches evolved throughout a season by assessing the variability of different metrics depending on the season phase. In addition, the evolution of running distances was investigated in the relation to the team performance based on the coaches’ perception.

In 2019, numerous championships of youth categories soccer national teams were held. The aim was to analyzed the existence of the Relative Age Effect (RAE) in four major male championships that.

The aim of this study is to validate a performance indicator, namely D-Def, measuring passing effectiveness.

This study examined the impact of high adherence to a neuromuscular training (NMT) warm-up on the risk of lower extremity (LE) injuries in children’s soccer.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to analyse the influence of young soccer players’ perception of their coach’s autonomy-supportive and controlling behaviours on the satisfaction and frustration of their basic psychological needs (BPN) and sport commitment.

This study aimed to: 1) examine differences in physical performance across birth-quartiles and maturity-status, and 2) determine the relationships among relative age, maturation and performance in young footballers.

This study aimed to compare the effects of 6-weeks combined core strength and small-sided games training (SSGcore) vs. small-sided games (SSG) training on the physical performance of young soccer players.

The aim of the current study was: (i) to compare team’s performance when coached by new and old coaches; (ii) to investigate the impact of a coaching change on performance according to coach- and club-related factors.

The main goal was to determine anaerobic and aerobic improvement of young soccer players after six-week high volume (HVT) or small sided games (SSG) training intervention.

The aim of this study was to analyse the physical demands and technical-tactical actions for each playing position according to game location and final outcome in professional soccer players.

The purpose of this study was to assess the acute effect of Accentuated Eccentric Loading (AEL) on countermovement jump height (CMJH), peak power output (PPO) and peak velocity in male professional footballers using loads of 20% or 40% of body mass (AEL20 or AEL40, respectively).

The aims of this study were to identify whether preseason hip adductor and abductor strength and HAGOS subscale scores of male and female elite youth football players are associated with in-season or historical (lifetime) hip and groin pain.

The aim of this study was to analyze the blood measures changes and their relationships with training loads changes after pre-season training.

The aims of this study were threefold: (a) to describe the weekly variations of training monotony (TrMon), training strain and acute: chronic workload ratio ((ACWR) through session Rated Perceived Exertion (s-RPE); (b) to describe weekly variations of Hooper Index [stress, fatigue, Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) and sleep]; and (c) to compare those variations between playing positions and player status.

The aim of this investigation was to explore the age-category effects on external training workloads, internal training load metrics and tactical individual actions during 4 vs. 4 ball possession small-sided game (SSG) constrained within three different playing areas.

The aim of this investigation was to explore the age-category effects on external training workloads, internal training load metrics and tactical individual actions during 4 vs. 4 ball possession small-sided game (SSG) constrained within three different playing areas.

The aim of this study was to assess antioxidant markers before and after a mid-season of professional soccer players from the 3rd Spanish Division, and to correlate antioxidant markers with competitive performance.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the incorporation of a brief and supplementary training program that involves eccentric, balance, and core exercises into the weekly soccer schedule can cause positive neuromuscular adaptations.

This study's aim was to determine the relationship between lower-limb muscle strength and balance control in elite male soccer players.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 15 weeks (2/week) of two different resistance training (RT) programs [the self-load group (SG) vs. the overload group (OG)] on selected measures of physical performance in young male soccer players.

The current study aims to evaluate potential risk-factors, propose a criteria-based conservative rehabilitation protocol and assess return-to-play outcomes among professional youth soccer players suffering from long-standing (> 6 weeks) pubic-related groin pain (LSPRGP).

This study aimed to investigate the hamstring flexibility rate among prepubertal soccer players from U8 to U12 and the role of age and soccer years of practice on the course of hamstring flexibility.

The purpose of this study was to examine seasonal changes in training load (TL), neuromuscular performance, subjective recovery, and stress state (SS), and to investigate the relationships between acute (ATL) and chronic (CTL) and neuromuscular performance in competitive female soccer players.

The aim was to investigate the relationship between linear deceleration performance and explosive strength capacity of the knee muscles in professional female soccer players.

The Influence of Time Winning and Time Losing on Position-Specific Match Physical Demands in Spanish Football.

This study aimed to investigate the possible influence of RTL on final match outcome in soccer (win, draw, and loss).

The purpose was to investigate the impact of high (HPBPT) and low percentage ball possession teams (LPBPT) on physical and technical-tactical performance indicators in the Chinese Football Super League (CSL).

The aim of this study was to describe the in-season variations of training monotony, training strain, and acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR) through session rating of perceived exertion (s-RPE), total distance (TD) and high-speed running (HSR) according to playing positions in an elite soccer team.

Pitch Configurations Constrain Tactics and the Creation of Goal Scoring Opportunities during Small Sided Games in Youth Soccer Players.

Below is a video of the UEFA Champions League Pre-Match Warm-up of Wolfsburg FC before their game against Sevilla FC in 2021.

Evidence has emerged that a high volume of sprinting during training is associated with an increased risk of non-contact injuries in professional footballers. Training load has been reported as a modifiable risk factor for successive injury in football.

The purpose of the study was : (1) to analyze the influence of anthropometric and 2D:4D ratio on variations of accumulated training load (ATL) and fitness parameters: maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max), countermovement jump (CMJ), isometric muscular strength of quadriceps (ISQ) and hamstring (ISH); along three stages of evaluation of footballers based on playing positions; (2) to analyze the correlations between 2D:4D ratio and mentioned parameters; and (3) to investigate if variance in fitness levels and ATL can explain the 2D:4D ratio.

This study aimed to analyze the variations of fitness status, as well as test the relationships between accumulated training load and fitness changes in women soccer players.

The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of the level of specificity of a CORE stability program on specific football actions.

This study analyses the influence of different area per player on the average metabolic power (MP) and other soccer-related performance variables in relation to the positional roles.

This study aimed to determine the impact of a soccer game on the creatine kinase (Ck) response and recovery and the specific Global Positioning System (GPS)-accelerometry-derived performance analysis during matches and comparing playing positions.

The aim of the present study was to identify the influence of high-intensity accelerations (ACC) and decelerations (DEC) on match performance outcomes (i.e., win, draw, lost).

The present study examined the isokinetic peak torque exerted by both knee extensors and flexors, anterior–posterior imbalance and the magnitude and direction of inter-limb asymmetry in professional and academy soccer players.

This article reports the utility of GPS technology to help develop and monitor incremental increases in training load while transitioning from off-season to in season to reduce musculoskeletal injury.

Players who are able to kick more accurately under various difficulties, i.e. time pressure, shooting distance, have advantages. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of exercise difficulty and time-of-day on perceived task difficulty and kicking performance.

The purpose of this study was to analyze differences between endocrine markers with accumulated training workload training and fitness parameters during early-, mid- and end-seasons.

Effects of ketogenic diet on body composition, strength, muscle area, metabolism and performance in semi-professional soccer players.

The description of current load monitoring practices may serve to highlight developmental needs for both the training ground, academia and related industries. Therefore, this study aims to provide a first overview of the current load monitoring practices in elite women’s football.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are a common severe type of football injury at all levels of play. A football-specific ACL registry providing both prospective ACL injury data according to the skill level and risk factors for vACL injury is lacking in the literature.

Differences in worst-case scenarios calculated by fixed length and rolling average methods in professional soccer match-play.

The purpose of this systematic review with meta-analysis is to examine the relationship between limb dominance and soccer injuries.

We analyse the proximity between professional players during a soccer match. Specifically, we are concerned about the time a player remains at a distance to a rival that is closer than 2m, which has a series of consequences, from the risk of contagion during a soccer match to the understanding of the tactical performance of players during the attacking/defensive phases.

This study aimed to examine the relationships among a set of psychological variables (perceived motivational climate, goal orientation, self-determined motivation and personality) in male and female footballers.

The aim of the study was to determine the between-match and between-halves match variability of various Global Positioning System (GPS) variables and metabolic power average (MPA) in competitions, based on the match results obtained by professional soccer players over a full season.

The purpose of this study was to examine to what extent the physical match performance of professional soccer players is both position and player specific.

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of match location, quality of opposition and match outcome on match running performance according to playing position in a Portuguese professional football team.

Accelerations (ACC) and decelerations (DEC) are important actions in soccer. We aimed to investigate whether ACC and DEC were good indicators of the variation of training loads. Changes in the training load were monitored during two different selected weeks (considered a “low week” and a “heavy week”) during the in-season.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to analyse the influence of young soccer players’ perception of their coach’s autonomy-supportive and controlling behaviours on the satisfaction and frustration of their basic psychological needs (BPN) and sport commitment.

The aims of this cross-sectional study were to assess the perceived and desired parental involvement by children and to examine their satisfaction or dissatisfaction with any specific behaviour.

The present study compared the effects of performing the lateral squat exercise in three different formats from eccentric overload training on concentric/eccentric peak/mean power and inter-limb asymmetries in young soccer players.

The main purpose of the current study was to compare the within-season variations of workload, training duration, acute/chronic workload ratio (ACWR), training monotony and training strain (TS) through session rating perceived exertion (s-RPE) between starters and non-starters.

The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of a fascial therapy and strength training program, combined with kinesiotaping, in improving ankle range of motion, pain, strength and stability in footballers with recurrent sprains.

This study aimed to examine whether menstrual cycle affects body composition and bioimpedance vector analysis (BIVA) patterns, jumping and sprinting ability and flexibility in elite soccer players.

The purpose of this study was to assess neuromuscular performance capabilities over an in-season mesocycle in early career professional soccer players and examine the relationship with training workload.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of core stability based corrective exercises, on gait parameters in elite soccer players diagnosed with middle crossed syndrome.

This study aimed to compare the match running performance between bottom (BR)- and top-ranked (TopR) teams (4 each) in professional soccer players over the 2020 season of the Brazilian National 2nd Division League. This study verified the independent and interactive effects of playing position and contextual factors on running outputs between these teams.

This study aimed to compare the match running performance between bottom- and top-ranked teams (4 each) in  professional soccer players over the 2020 season of the Brazilian National 2nd Division League. This study verified the independent and interactive effects of playing position and contextual factors on running outputs between these teams.

This study aimed to report possible anthropometrical and physical performance differences between youth soccer players with different maturity status and to report the coaches’ expectations, hypothesizing that coaches would expect more from players with advanced maturity.

The aims of this study were to analyze the association between linear sprint, curved sprints (CS) and change-of-direction (COD) speed performances and compare the association and direction of asymmetries between skills.

This study aimed to examine the acute physiological effect of shuttle-run-based high-intensity intermittent exercise (HIIE) performed at the same relative speed (i.e. 100%PST−CAR) on sand (SAND) and grass (GRASS) in male junior soccer players.

We aimed to analyze the magnitude and direction of inter-limb asymmetries in ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM), power (using iso-inertial devices) and a neuromuscular skill (change of direction). Secondarily, we aimed to determine the relationship between inter-limb asymmetry scores for each test and also between these scores and the scores for the different performance tests.

The aim of this study was to examine the duration and information (number of teammates and opponents) of the players’ scanning behavior of four elite football midfield players in an 11 vs. 11 using mobile eye-tracking technology.

The study aimed to identify the effects of situational (match location, match outcome and strength of team/opponent team) and environmental (ambient temperature, relative humidity, WBGT, ground and weather condition) factors on the physical and technical activity of elite football on individual playing positions.

The purpose was to identify risk factors for inversion ankle sprains among male collegiate soccer players.

This study sought to evaluate the training load in different age category soccer players associated with distinct pitch size small-sided games (SSGs).

The current study was conducted to compare muscle damage biomarkers in single- vs. multi-match weeks in elite soccer players for two consecutive seasons. A secondary objective was to analyze the influence of playing position and exposure time on muscle damage in single- vs. multimatch weeks.

Clear decreases in horizontal force production capacity during sprint acceleration have been reported after hamstring injuries (HI) in football players. We aimed to analyze the association between sprint running horizontal force production capacities at low (FH0) and high (V0) velocities and HI occurrence in football.

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between elite youth athletes’ perceptions of coaches’ transformational coaching-behaviours and variables linked to transformational leadership in other settings (i.e., group cohesion, motivational climate, self-regulation of learning and athlete satisfaction.

In football, annual age-group categorization leads to relative age effects (RAEs) in talent development. Given such trends, relative age may also associate with market values. This study analyzed the relationship between RAEs and market values of youth players.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of chronological age on acceleration and deceleration match performance in professional footballers.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate predicted maturity offset (time before age at PHV) and age at PHV (chronological age [CA] minus maturity offset) in a longitudinal sample of 58 under-13 club level soccer players in central Portugal for whom ages at PHV were estimated with the SITAR model.

This study aimed to investigate match running performance in U14 male soccer players in Norway, and the influence of position, competitive level and contextual factors on running performance.

We hypothesized that fatigue induced by acute workload in short and intense games, might in either of two ways: by pushing lower limbs mechanics toward injury or by inducing opposed protective compensatory adjustments. We aimed at assessing the extent to which fatigue impact on joints kinematics and kinetics while performing repeated changes of direction (CoDs) in the light of the ACL risk factors.