Relative age effect across the talent identification process of youth female soccer players in the United States: Influence of birth year, position, biological maturation, and skill level.

The aims of the study were to examine the relative age effect (RAE) in youth female soccer players in the United States (US) and the influence of birth year, playing position, estimated maturation and skill ratings. The sample consisted of 3,364 youth female soccer players who were active in the 2021-2022 US soccer season across three main stages of the talent identification (TID) process for Youth National Team (YNT) players (i.e.

Effect of COVID-19 on Injury Incidence and Severity in Professional Female Football Players: A Cohort Prospective Study.

Background: Earlier statements suggested a negative impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection on sports performance and injury risk. With the COVID-19 pandemic under control and the dominance of a less-severe strain of the virus, there is a need to confirm whether these adverse effects still apply to the current situation.

Hypothesis: Infected players would have a higher noncontact muscle injury incidence compared with noninfected counterparts.

Blood flow restriction as a post-exercise recovery strategy: A systematic review of the current status of the literature.

The aim of this study was to systematically review the current literature on blood flow restriction (BFR) as a post-exercise recovery strategy. Experimental studies investigating the effect of BFR on recovery after exercise were included. Only studies meeting the following inclusion criteria were selected: (a) studies investigating about BFR as a post-exercise recovery strategy in athletes and healthy individuals; (b) the full text being available in English; (c) experimental research study design.

Summarizing physical performance in professional soccer: development of a new composite index.

The aims of this study were to create a composite index to measure the overall players' physical performance in professional soccer matches and analyze the effect of individual playing time and positional differences on this composite index. A total of 830 official matches from LaLiga men's first division and Spanish Copa del Rey were analyzed, which resulted in 24,980 match observations collected from 1138 male players (forwards, n = 286; midfielders, n = 441; defenders, n = 411). The physical performance variables, which represent the locomotor demands, were collected using electronic performance tracking systems.

Using Microtechnology and the Fourier Transform for the Analysis of Effective Activity Time in Professional Soccer.

Oliva-Lozano, JM, Chmura, P, Granero-Gil, P, and Muyor, JM. Using microtechnology and the Fourier Transform for the analysis of effective activity time in professional soccer. J Strength Cond Res 37(12): 2491-2495, 2023-This study aimed to investigate the use of the fast Fourier transform (FFT) for the analysis of effective activity time in professional soccer by (a) exploring the relationship between this variable and standard external load parameters and (b) analyzing the effective activity time during official professional soccer matches.

Changes in Physical Performance Throughout Professional Soccer Match-Play.

Oliva-Lozano, JM, Granero-Gil, P, and Panascì, M. Changes in physical performance throughout professional soccer match-play. J Strength Cond Res 38(1): 123-127, 2024-The aim of this study was to explore the changes in physical performance by playing position throughout professional soccer match-play.

Comparison of Muscle Activity between the Horizontal Bench Press and the Seated Chest Press Exercises Using Several Grips.

This study aims to compare muscle activity in the pectoralis major, anterior deltoid, and triceps brachii in the horizontal bench press exercise with a prone grip at 150% and 50% of the biacromial width and the seated chest press exercise with two types of grips (a neutral grip at ~150% of the biacromial width and a prone grip at ~200% of the biacromial width). Twenty physically active adults performed a set of 8 repetitions at 60% of the one repetition maximum. The results showed that the clavicular portion of the pectoralis major had significantly greater muscle activity in the seated chest press exercise with a neutral grip (~30% of the maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC)) than in the lying bench press exercise with a prone grip at 150% of the biacromial width (~25% MVIC).

When and How Do Soccer Players From a Semi-Professional Club Sprint in Match Play?

The aims of this study were to investigate the periods in which sprints occurred during official matches and analyze these sprints considering the effect of the playing position and different contextual variables. Electronic performance and tracking systems were used for the analysis of all sprints performed by players. Matches were recorded by video and synchronized with performance tracking data.

Is there any relationship between match running, technical-tactical performance, and team success in professional soccer? A longitudinal study in the first and second divisions of LaLiga.

The aim of this study was to analyze the association between teams' success at the end of the season and match running, and technical-tactical performance in two professional soccer leagues. Match running, and technical-tactical performance data were collected during two consecutive seasons. A Factor Analysis was conducted to reduce the number of performance variables into a fewer number of factors.

Monitoring physical match performance relative to peak locomotor demands: implications for training professional soccer players.

This study aimed to analyse physical performance relative to peak locomotor demands of match play. Data were collected during 13 professional soccer matches. Initially, the 1-minute peak values were registered in each match, including the percentage of the total distance (TD), high-speed running distance (HSRD), sprinting distance (SPD), and high-metabolic load distance (HMLD), and a total of high-intensity accelerations and decelerations (Acc+Dec).

The impact of urinary incontinence on multiple health outcomes: an umbrella review of meta-analysis of observational studies.

Background And Aim: We aimed to capture the breadth of health outcomes that have been associated with the presence of Urinary Incontinence (UI) and systematically assess the quality, strength, and credibility of these associations through an umbrella review and integrated meta-analyses.

Methods: We assessed meta-analyses of observational studies based on random-effect summary effect sizes and their p-values, 95% prediction intervals, heterogeneity, small-study effects, and excess significance. We graded the evidence from convincing (Class I) to weak (Class IV).

Evaluation of Dynamic Spinal Morphology and Core Muscle Activation in Cyclists-A Comparison between Standing Posture and on the Bicycle.

(1) Background: Cycling is characterized by a sustained sitting posture on the bicycle, where physiologic spinal curvatures are modified from standing to cycling. Therefore, the main objective was to evaluate and compare the morphology of the spine and the core muscle activity in standing posture and cycling at low intensity. (2) Methods: Twelve competitive cyclists participated in the study.

Using Inertial and Physiological Sensors to Investigate the Effects of a High-Intensity Interval Training and Plyometric Program on the Performance of Young Judokas.

The use of inertial and physiological sensors in a sport such as judo is scarce to date. The information provided by these sensors would allow practitioners to have a better understanding of sports performance, which is necessary for an accurate training prescription. The purpose of this study was to use inertial and physiological sensors in order to investigate the effect of a plyometric and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) training program on Special Judo Fitness Test (SJFT) performance and speed of execution of throws in young judokas.

Effect of playing position and microcycle days on the acceleration speed profile of elite football players.

The aim of this study was to analyse the differences in the A-S profile of elite football players induced by playing position and the microcycle day. Players belonged to a second division club in the Spanish La Liga competition. They were classified into five playing positions: central defenders (CD), full backs (FB), midfielders (MF), wide midfielders (WMF) and forwards (FW).

Physical demands in Spanish male and female elite football referees during the competition: a prospective observational study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the physical demands of elite male and female field referees in match play and compare the physical demands between male and female football referees in the competition.

Methods: Match data were collected from 36 elite football referees (19 males and 17 females) during a total of 409 football matches. Electronic performance and tracking systems based on global positioning systems (GPS) were used in this research.

Effect of the Length of the Microcycle on the Daily External Load, Fatigue, Sleep Quality, Stress, and Muscle Soreness of Professional Soccer Players: A Full-Season Study.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of the length of the microcycle (ie, training period from the day after the match to the following match) on the daily external load and perceived wellness of professional soccer players (Spanish LaLiga Smartbank).

Hypothesis: The length of the microcycle has a significant effect on the daily external load and perceived wellness.

Study Design: Longitudinal study.

Physical Performance Indicators and Team Success in the German Soccer League.

The aims of this study were (1) to determine the match running performance required by different teams based on their final ranking position and (2) to analyze the association between match running performance variables and team success at the end of the season. A total of 1,224 match observations from professional soccer teams competing during two consecutive seasons in the German Bundesliga were analyzed. In addition, the final league ranking position and the total of points obtained by each team at the end of the season were registered for the analysis of the association between team success and match running performance.

Association between Fitness Level and Physical Match Demands of Professional Female Football Referees.

The aim of this study was to examine the physical demands for elite female referees during competitive matches and to evaluate the relationship between match performance and fitness levels. Seventeen female elite field referees were fitness-tested (29.0 ± 5.

Understanding the FIFA quality performance reports for electronic performance and tracking systems: from science to practice.

The world's football-governing body, FIFA, developed the FIFA Quality Programme to set internationally recognized industry standards for electronic performance and tracking systems (EPTS). The positioning and velocity data from different EPTS, discretized into velocity bands, were validated against criteria measures. Discussions have been ongoing between practitioners regarding the FIFA quality performance reports, particularly when the findings are used to compare accuracy between systems.

Effect of incremental intensities on the spinal morphology and core muscle activation in competitive cyclists.

Cycling is a sport where cyclists predominantly adopt a sitting posture, with the trunk tilted forward. This posture requires a high volume of training and duration in several intensities of effort. This study aims to: 1) evaluate the behaviour of the thoracic and lumbar spine flexion and sacral inclination in the sagittal plane, the thoracic and lumbar spine flexion in the frontal plane, and the trunk torsion in the transverse plane; 2) compare the activation of the core muscles as the intensity of effort increases during an incremental test in cycling, and 3) identify which core muscle has a greater activation in each intensity zone.