Search Results (188)

This study investigated associations between substitutions and match running performance (MRP) under the new five-substitution rule, utilising running data from the 2022 FIFA World Cup involving all 32 participating men’s national teams, comprising elite professional football players at the highest international competitive level. A paired sample t-test compared running performance among entire match players (EMP), replaced players (RP), and substitute players (SP) per team per match. A linear mixed model (LMM) was used to analyse the association between substitutions and MRP while also considering match-related factors associated with MRP as covariates and controlling for team variations. The main finding was that substitute players exhibit superior running performance compared to RP and EMP. Running metrics related to match outcomes indicate that more substitutions are associated with increases in total running distance and the number of sprints. This study highlights the importance of substitutions on team running performance under the new rules in modern elite football. Coaches can optimise their substitution strategies and physical training according to the new rules to meet the high-intensity demands of the game. Full article

Background: Body composition assessment is important in professional football as a measure of overall adaptation of the athlete to the training demand and calorie intake. However, it is operator-dependent, relying on subject positioning and the focus angle of the X-rays. In addition, the usual appendicular lean mass index (ALMI) does not include the pelvitrochanteric muscles, which are often implicated in athlete injuries. Methods: Three independent operators compared the reproducibility of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) including pelvi-trochanteric muscle mass in twenty professional football players, using the standard and a new method. Results: Mean age, weight, and height of the footballers were 25.9 ± 4.9 years, 79.4 ± 9.4 kg, and 1.83 ± 0.09 m. Using the standard method, the ALMI was 9.28 ± 0.62, 9.20 ± 0.65, and 9.13 ± 0.64 kg/m² for the first, second and third operator, respectively. When including the pelvi-trochanteric muscles, the ALMI values were 11.90 ± 0.66, 11.84 ± 0.63, and 11.83 ± 0.65 kg/m² for the three operators. The difference between the two methods was significant (p < 0.001). The mean inter-operator difference was similar regardless of the method used (0.099 ± 0.06 kg/m²). The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) (A,1) were 0.949 [0.881; 0.979] for the standard method and 0.977 [0.951; 0.990] for the new method. The ICC (C,1) was 0.960 [0.918; 0.983] for the standard method and 0.979 [0.957; 0.991] for the new method. Conclusions: Thus, both new and conventional methods showed excellent reproducibility. However, reproducibility and inter-operator variability were better with the adjustment of the new scan lines. Moreover, the inclusion of a larger gluteal and adductors muscle mass was easy to achieve, providing additional information that could potentially be useful for early diagnosis and/or prevention of future muscular injuries in elite athletes. Full article

In the present study, 96 teams’ performances across 48 matches in the group stage of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 were analyzed. Teams scoring first won 62.5% of matches (p < 0.05), while goals were evenly distributed between halves (p > 0.05) and showed marginal variation across six 15 min intervals, peaking near the 30–45 and 75–90 min marks. Parametric analyses revealed a significant effect of match outcome on possession, with winning teams exhibiting higher average possession (53.3%) compared to losing and drawing teams. Non-parametric analyses identified significant differences between match outcomes for goals scored, attempts at goal, total and completed passes, pass completion rate, defensive line breaks, receptions in the final third, ball progressions, defensive pressures, and total distance covered. Winning teams scored more goals and registered more attempts on target than losing teams, although some metrics showed no significant difference between wins and draws. Logistic regression analysis identified attempts at goal on target, defensive pressures, total completed passes, total distance covered, and receptions in the final third as significant predictors of match success (AUC = 0.85), correctly classifying 80.2% of match outcomes. These results emphasized the crucial role of offensive accuracy and possession dominance in achieving success in elite football. Full article

The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the external load demands of players from the Spanish women’s national football teams across the U-17, U-20, and senior categories during their respective FIFA World Cup participations. Key kinematic variables were assessed via global positioning systems (GPS), including total distance (TD), high-speed running (HSR; ≥18 km·h⁻¹), sprint distance (≥21 km·h⁻¹), accelerations (>3 m·s⁻²), decelerations (<–3 m·s⁻²), and high metabolic load distance (HMLD) during 3 world cups (U17, U20 and senior). Significant differences were observed between the senior team and both U-20 and U-17 in nearly all variables, with greater magnitude as the intensity of the metrics increased, showing effect sizes ranging from moderate to very large (d = 0.95 to 4.76). Positional analysis by categories showed that senior full backs (FB) and central midfielders (CM) showed higher demands compared to U-20 and U-17. For TD, senior covered more than U-17 (FB: p = 0.001; d = 1.11 | CM: p = 0.023; d = 0.97), with small differences vs. U-20 (d ≤ 0.54). In HSR, both positions outperformed U-17 and U-20 (FB: p ≤ 0.007; d = 0.87–1.15 | CM: p ≤ 0.031; d = 0.71–1.11). In HMLD, both FB and CM displayed very large differences compared to U-17 and U-20 (all p < 0.001; d = 2.54–6.16). These findings underscore the need for progressive development of locomotor capacities from early stages, considering both age category and playing position, to facilitate a more seamless transition to elite-level football. Full article

Football performance results from the dynamic interaction between physical, tactical, technical, and psychological dimensions—each of which also influences player well-being, recovery, and readiness. However, integrated monitoring approaches remain scarce, particularly in youth and sub-elite contexts. This systematic review screened 341 records from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, with 46 studies meeting the inclusion criteria (n = 1763 players; age range: 13.2–28.7 years). Physical external load was reported in 44 studies using GPS-derived metrics such as total distance and high-speed running, while internal load was examined in 36 studies through session-RPE (rate of perceived exertion × duration), heart rate zones, training impulse (TRIMP), and Player Load (PL). A total of 22 studies included well-being indicators capturing fatigue, sleep quality, stress levels, and muscle soreness, through tools such as the Hooper Index (HI), the Total Quality Recovery (TQR) scale, and various Likert-type or composite wellness scores. Tactical behaviours (n = 15) were derived from positional tracking systems, while technical performance (n = 7) was assessed using metrics like pass accuracy and expected goals, typically obtained from Wyscout^® or TRACAB^® (a multi-camera optical tracking system). Only five studies employed multivariate models to examine interactions between performance domains or to predict well-being outcomes. Most remained observational, relying on descriptive analyses and examining each domain in isolation. These findings reveal a fragmented approach to player monitoring and a lack of conceptual integration between physical, psychological, tactical, and technical indicators. Future research should prioritise multidimensional, standardised monitoring frameworks that combine contextual, psychophysiological, and performance data to improve applied decision-making and support player health, particularly in sub-elite and youth populations. Full article

The rapid proliferation of wearable sensors and advanced tracking technologies has revolutionized data collection in elite sports, enabling continuous monitoring of athletes’ physiological and biomechanical states. This study proposes a comprehensive big data analytics framework that integrates data acquisition, processing, analytics, and decision support, demonstrated through synthetic datasets in football, basketball, and athletics case scenarios, modeled to represent typical data patterns and decision-making workflows observed in elite sport environments. Analytical methods, including gradient boosting classifiers, logistic regression, and multilayer perceptron models, were employed to predict injury risk, optimize in-game tactical decisions, and personalize sprint mechanics training. Key results include a 12% reduction in hamstring injury rates in football, a 16% improvement in clutch decision-making accuracy in basketball, and an 8% decrease in 100 m sprint times among athletes. The framework’s visualization tools and alert systems supported actionable insights for coaches and medical staff. Challenges such as data quality, privacy compliance, and model interpretability are addressed, with future research focusing on edge computing, federated learning, and augmented reality integration for enhanced real-time feedback. This study demonstrates the potential of integrated big data analytics to transform sports performance optimization, offering a reproducible and ethically sound platform for advancing personalized, data-driven athlete management. Full article

This study aimed to examine whether managerial changes and their training methodology influence the physical attributes of soccer players and determine if these changes significantly impact the overall physical performance of the team. Twenty-seven male elite-level football players competing in the Eastern Mediterranean region (age: 28.12 ± 5.5 years, height: 179.3 ± 6.25 cm, body mass: 75.8 ± 6.6 kg) participated in this study. To analyze the impact of managerial changes on elite football players’ physical performance, this study evaluated and compared physical attributes during weekly microcycles and official games across three different coaching regimes over an entire season. Data were collected using a 10 Hz GPS tracking technology and included the following external load (EL) parameters: total distance, high metabolic load distance, high-speed running, sprint distance, accelerations, and decelerations. A one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was utilized to assess differences in physical performance across the three coaching methods. Significant differences were evident in high metabolic load distance during games [F(2,27) = 7.59, p < 0.05]. High-speed running distance also varied significantly across the three coaching regimes, both during training sessions [F(2,27) = 5.89, p < 0.05] and games [F(2,27) = 4.31, p < 0.05]. Furthermore, sprint distance showed significant differences during training [F(2,27) = 4.62, p < 0.05] and games [F(2,27) = 3.37, p < 0.05]. The findings of this study suggest that managerial changes can have a significant effect on the physical performance of soccer players. The results highlight the importance of aligning coaching strategies with physical conditioning techniques for optimizing performance. These findings provide a deeper understanding of the potential benefits and risks associated with managerial changes in professional soccer. Nevertheless, a limitation in this study is that all metrics of EL were interpreted as absolute values rather than relative-based threshold values, which may affect the interpretation of the players’ physical capacities. Full article

Background: High-intensity actions like accelerations and decelerations, often performed unilaterally, are crucial in elite female football but increase the risk of interlimb asymmetries and injury. Flywheel resistance training enhances eccentric strength, yet limited research has assessed how different inertial loads affect mechanical outputs in unilateral exercises. Purpose: This study investigated how two inertial loads (0.107 kg·m² and 0.133 kg·m²) influence power, acceleration, speed, and asymmetry during unilateral hip extensions in elite female footballers. Methods: Eighteen professional players (27 ± 4 years, 59.9 ± 6.5 kg, 168.2 ± 6.3 cm, BMI 21.2 ± 1.8) completed unilateral hip extensions on a conical flywheel under both inertia conditions. A rotary encoder measured peak/average power, acceleration, speed, and eccentric-to-concentric (E:C) ratios. Bilateral asymmetries between dominant (DL) and non-dominant (NDL) limbs were assessed. Paired t-tests and Cohen’s d were used for analysis. Results: Higher inertia reduced peak and mean acceleration and speed (p < 0.001, d > 0.8). Eccentric peak power significantly increased in the NDL (p < 0.001, d = 3.952). E:C ratios remained stable. Conclusions: Greater inertial loads reduce movement velocity but increase eccentric output in the NDL, offering potential strategies to manage neuromuscular asymmetries in elite female football players. Full article

This study aimed to compare the external peak physical demands (PDs) of under-19-year-old (U19) and professional male football players according to playing position. Positional data derived from Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking during 15 matches in the 2023/24 season for both groups were analyzed. The following variables were measured: total distance, high-intensity running distance, sprint distance, acceleration count, and high-intensity actions. A linear mixed-effects model was employed, with category and playing position included as fixed effects to compare these metrics at the player level. The results revealed only a few significant differences in physical demands between the U19 and professional players. Notably, central defenders and central midfielders exhibited lower performance in HSR distance compared to other positions, with the professional players registering higher values than their U19 counterparts. However, no significant differences were observed for total and relative sprint distances, the number of accelerations, high intensity and relative sprint running efforts. These findings highlight the overall similarity in physical demands between U19 players and professional players, suggesting that elite youth athletes may be adequately prepared to meet the physical challenges of professional competition, with the exception of HSR distance. These conclusions have practical implications for coaches and performance staff, supporting the development of position-specific training programs, optimizing workload management through GPS monitoring, improving microcycle planning, and enhancing injury prevention strategies. Full article

Emotional processes and sleep quality have become fundamental aspects of performance in Paralympic sports among elite and youth athletes. The objective of this study was to compare levels of depression, stress, anxiety, and sleep quality among youth and adult athletes with cerebral palsy (CP) belonging to the national CP Football team in Chile. A total of 10 adult and 12 youth national team athletes participated, completing the DASS-21, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale questionnaires. The athletes were competing in their respective categories at the 2024 Parapan American Games. A cross-sectional design was used to compare the parameters of depression, stress, anxiety, and sleep quality of youth and adult male athletes with CP of a national team selected to compete in a regional event. Significant differences were found where young athletes had lower levels of depression (χ² = 4.77, p = 0.02, OR = 11.0) and anxiety (χ² = 6.71, p = 0.01, OR = 16.5). Similar differences could be observed in favor of young athletes in sleep latency (p = 0.04; d = 0.34), bedtime (p = 0.02; d = 0.20), total hours of sleep (p = 0.04; d = 0.10), subjective sleep quality (p = 0.002; d = 0.56), and objective sleep quality (p < 0.001; d = 0.65). This study suggests that adult para-athletes from a national CP Football team exhibit higher levels of depression and anxiety compared to their youth counterparts. Additionally, objective and subjective measures show that adults experience poorer sleep quality. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions by psychological support teams, aiming to enhance athlete performance by promoting healthy habits that address these mental health challenges. Full article

Over the past 20 years, the use of the global positioning system (GPS) in football has become widespread. This technology has facilitated the tracking of external load both during training sessions and matches. Creating an external load profile for each playing position within specific formations can assist the coaching staff in shaping the training load of the microcycle according to the demands of each position. The purpose of this study was to create the running performance profile for high-level young football players based on their playing position in the 1-4-2-3-1 formation and to investigate potential differences between positions. Additionally, the study aimed to compare the players’ running performance across the two halves of the match. The study involved 22 Under-19 players from the academy of a professional football team. Only matches where the team used the 1-4-2-3-1 formation were analyzed (10 matches). The playing positions were categorized as: Central Defensive Fielders (CDFs), Central Midfielders (CMFs), Forwards (FWDs), Wide Defensive Fielders (WDFs), and Wide Midfielders (WMFs). Player movement was tracked using GPS devices and categorized into four velocity zones: (Zone 1: 3.6–10.8 km/h, Zone 2: 10.9–18.0 km/h, Zone 3: 18.1–25.2 km/h, Zone 4: >25.2 km/h). Depending on whether normality was present in our data, either a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) or a Kruskal–Wallis test was conducted. A subsequent analysis was performed to compare the performance between the first and second halves of the match, using either the independent samples t-test or the Mann–Whitney U test. The results showed that CMF players covered the greatest total distance and had the highest movement velocity (distance/min) compared to all other positions (p = 0.001). In high-speed running (>18 km/h), CMF again covered the greatest distance, followed by WDF. In sprinting, CDF covered the shortest distance and reached the lowest maximum speed (p = 0.001). CMF performed the most accelerations and decelerations across all positions (p = 0.001). As for the entire team, total distance, movement rate, and the number of accelerations and decelerations decreased in the second half. All players except the WDF also showed a decrease in total distance, while midfielders experienced a notable drop in sprint distance. In conclusion, this study underscores the positional specificity of physical demands in elite football and the systematic decline in physical output as matches progress. While all positions demonstrated some level of second-half performance deterioration, midfielders experienced the most significant decreases in both volume and intensity-related metrics. These insights offer valuable implications for position-specific physical condition, recovery planning, and substitution strategies, helping to optimize performance and manage player load in elite football environments. It should be reiterated that the results of the present study apply exclusively to the 1-4-2-3-1 formation. Full article

This study investigated physiological differences in cardiorespiratory and metabolic performance parameters between professional football players from top- (TR) and mid-ranked teams (MR) in the Serbian Super League. A total of 55 male outfield players (TR: n = 29; MR: n = 26) were assessed in March 2022 using a maximal multistage treadmill protocol and lactate analysis. The key cardiorespiratory variables included maximum oxygen uptake (VO₂max), heart rate at the anaerobic threshold (HR AT), and recovery heart rate metrics, while the metabolic variables focused on lactate concentrations and efficiency indices. The results indicate that the TR players achieved significantly lower HR AT values (162 ± 10.26 vs. 168.77 ± 7.28 bpm; p = 0.017) and demonstrated superior second-minute recovery (%Re 2′: 66.62 ± 14.08% vs. 34.53 ± 9.13%, p < 0.001). In contrast, the MR players exhibited higher VO₂max (62.65 ± 4.48 vs. 60.06 ± 3.29 mL/kg/min; p = 0.017) and greater cardiorespiratory efficiency scores. The lactate parameters were comparable between the groups, except for the metabolic efficiency index (Index ME), which were favorable among the TR players (p = 0.011). These findings highlight that while MR players possess higher aerobic capacity, TR players demonstrate superior physiological recovery and metabolic control, reflecting adaptations to different tactical demands and match intensities. The results offer practical implications for individualized training design and performance monitoring in elite football settings. Full article

Background and Objectives: Acute infections among elite athletes are predominantly attributed to upper respiratory tract pathogens. From a practical standpoint, medical personnel responsible for the healthcare of professional football players should be aware of this and develop infection prevention strategies. This pilot study aimed to investigate the prevalence of respiratory infections in football players using multiplex rapid diagnostic tests targeting four respiratory pathogens. Materials and Methods: The mean age of the participants was 32.76 ± 10.96 years. Among the participants, 32 were professional football players, with a mean age of 26.5 years, SD + 5.3, and 18 were members of staff, with a mean age of 44.3 years, SD + 8.6. In the present study, participants were followed up over a period of 6 months (from October 2024 to March 2025). Results: Among the participants and among a total of 1078 tests, 10 tests were found to be positive. We recorded a proportion of 0.46% for Flu-A, 0.27% for Flu-B, 0.18% for SARS-CoV-2, and 0 positive tests for RSV and adenovirus. There were six days of absence for players and staff and the proportion of total absenteeism was calculated as 3.7%. Univariate analysis revealed no statistically significant difference in infection risk between staff and players (odds ratio: 0.3795; 95% confidence interval: 0.07843–1.735). Conclusions: The multiplex rapid diagnostic test platform has a demonstrated ease of use and appears to be a reliable and safe method for distinguishing contagious symptomatic individuals from non-contagious individuals in occupational settings. Early identification of respiratory infections facilitates improved clinical management, thereby enhancing the quality of care for both athletes and supporting staff. Full article

Physiological characteristics such as VO_2max, running economy (RE), maximal aerobic speed (MAS), maximal sprinting speed (MSS), anaerobic speed reserve (ASR), and player profiling (based on MSS and MAS) have been proven to be important for training prescriptions in football. However, previous studies on player profiling have neglected the absolute values of MSS and MAS. The objectives of this study were to compare the aforementioned physiological variables among player roles, create benchmarks, and provide normative data to help coaches categorize players, ultimately proposing a new player profiling method. We analyzed 195 male professional football players (50 forwards, 59 midfielders, 44 full-backs, and 42 center-backs). Multivariate analysis of variance with Tukey’s post hoc tests revealed positional differences. Center-backs exhibited lower VO_2max than midfielders and full-backs. Both center-backs and forwards showed poorer RE and MAS compared to midfielders and full-backs. Full-backs achieved higher MSS than midfielders and center-backs, and forwards outperformed center-backs. Finally, midfielders demonstrated lower ASR than all other positions. Benchmarks based on T-scores for all variables were provided. Finally, in the new profiling method proposed—also based on T-scores—players were classified as “speed”, “endurance”, or “hybrid” if their MAS and/or MSS T-score exceeded 60, “in development” if both were below 45, and “average” if both scores were between 45 and 60 without any value above 60. The normative data provided can assist coaches in identifying specific areas for improvement in players’ physical conditioning—particularly valuable for youth athletes or those returning from injury. Additionally, the new profiling method offers insights into individual player characteristics, enabling more tailored and effective training interventions. Full article

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between acute and chronic loads, and the fatigue response within male elite professional football players. Design: 40-week longitudinal study across the 2021–2022 season in the English Championship. Methods: Twenty-three outfield football players had workload measured using global positioning system (Distance, High-Intensity Distance and Sprint Distance) and perceived exertion. Load-response was measured via a perceived wellbeing questionnaire, counter-movement jump (CMJ) and salivary immunoglobulin A. Results: General estimating equation models identified 18 significant interactions between workload and load-response markers. Thirteen significant interactions were found between acute and chronic workloads and CMJ variables, jump height, eccentric duration and flight contraction time. A poor CMJ was observed when acute sprint workload was >+1 standard deviation and chronic distance increased. However, when chronic perceived exertion increased, and acute sprint workload was >+1 standard deviation an advantageous response was detected on counter movement jump variables. The S-IgA response to acute and chronic workload was more variable; when chronic loads were >+1 standard deviation above mean values and acute workload increased, salivary immunoglobulin A was both suppressed and elevated depending on the interacting acute variable. Higher chronic workload was associated with better perceived wellbeing, even when acute workload was >+1 standard deviation above the mean. Conclusion: In general, low chronic workloads and acute spikes in workload were associated with poorer neuromuscular and immune function. Furthermore, CMJ performance and perceived wellbeing improved when chronic workloads were higher, despite the occurrence of acute spikes in workload. Full article