COVID-19 Confinement Effects on Game Actions during Competition Restart in Professional Soccer Players.

The main objective of the present study was to compare high-intensity actions in a week of three matches before and after the COVID-19 lockdown. The observational methodology was used. This study analysed 551 professional soccer players from 22 different Spanish teams (LaLiga Smartbank 2019−2020) by a multi-camera tracking system and associated software (Mediacoach®, Spain).

Correction: García-Aliaga et al. Comparative Analysis of Soccer Performance Intensity of the Pre-Post-Lockdown COVID-19 in LaLiga™. 2021, , 3685.

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...

Under-exposure to official matches is associated with muscle injury incidence in professional footballers.

External workload from matches is considered one of the most important muscle injury risk factors for football teams. However, there is scarce published evidence to support this belief. This study examined whether a particular profile of external match workload existed prior to a muscle injury.

Comparative Analysis of Soccer Performance Intensity of the Pre-Post-Lockdown COVID-19 in LaLiga™.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) forced a stoppage in the 2019/2020 season of LaLiga™, possibly influencing performance indicators in the return to competition. Therefore, here, we evaluated whether the stoppage due to the coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) lockdown influenced physical performance compared to the start of LaLiga in terms of high-intensity efforts. Using a semi-automatic, multiple-camera system, running activities during 22 matches were analyzed.

Effects of an eccentric overload and small-side games training in match accelerations and decelerations performance in female under-23 soccer players.

Background: The aims of this study were: 1) to investigate the impacts that an eccentric overload training (EOT) and a small-side game training (SSGT) have on the characteristics of the accelerations (ACC) and decelerations (DCC) of the players in a soccer match; and 2) to determine if EOT and SSGT could affect the ACC and DCC reduction over time in a soccer match.

Methods: Twenty-three female soccer players from a Spanish professional club were split into three groups: a small-sided game training group (SGG), an eccentric overload training group (EOG) and a control group (CG).

Results: The SSG improved the high intensity distance performed (ES [CI]=0.

Elite Soccer Players Do Not Cover Less Distance in the Second Half of the Matches When Game Interruptions Are Considered.

Rey, E, Kalén, A, Lorenzo-Martínez, M, López-Del Campo, R, Nevado-Garrosa, F, and Lago-Peñas, C. Elite soccer players do not cover less distance in the second half of the matches when game interruptions are considered. J Strength Cond Res 38(4): 709-713, 2024-This study aimed to analyze quantitative differences in the physical demands of male elite soccer players between the first and second halves during official matches, accounting for effective playing time (the duration of play after subtracting the game interruptions) and playing positions.

Effects of fatigue induced by repeated-sprint on kicking accuracy and velocity in female soccer players.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of fatigue induced by repeated sprint in the kicking accuracy and velocity in female soccer players. Eighteen Under-23 female soccer players from a Spanish professional club were subjected to a fatigue protocol based on a repeated-sprint ability (RSA) test. Measurements of the kicking velocity (maximal ball velocity) and accuracy (Loughborough Soccer Shooting Test) were taken before and after fatigue induction.