Practitioners' Perceptions of the Soccer Extra-Time Period: Implications for Future Research

Qualitative research investigating soccer practitioners’ perceptions can allow researchers to create practical research investigations. The extra-time period of soccer is understudied compared to other areas of soccer research. Using an open-ended online survey containing eleven main and nine sub questions, we gathered the perceptions of extra-time from 46 soccer practitioners, all working for different professional soccer clubs. Questions related to current practices, views on extra-time regulations, and ideas for future research. Using inductive content analysis, the following general dimensions were identified: ‘importance of extra-time’, ‘rule changes’, ‘efficacy of extra-time hydro-nutritional provision’, ‘nutritional timing’, ‘future research directions’, ‘preparatory modulations’ and ‘recovery’. The majority of practitioners (63%) either agreed or strongly agreed that extra-time is an important period for determining success in knockout football match-play. When asked if a fourth substitution should be permitted in extra-time, 67% agreed. The use of hydro-nutritional strategies prior to extra-time was predominately considered important or very important. However; only 41% of practitioners felt that it was the most important time point for the use of nutritional products. A similar number of practitioners account (50%) and do not (50%) account for the potential of extra-time when training and preparing players and 89% of practitioners stated that extra-time influences recovery practices following matches. In the five minute break prior to extra-time, the following practices (in order of priority) were advocated to players: hydration, energy provision, massage, and tactical preparations. Additionally, 87% of practitioners advocate a particular nutritional supplementation strategy prior to extra-time. In order of importance, practitioners see the following as future research areas: nutritional interventions, fatigue responses, acute injury risk, recovery modalities, training paradigms, injury epidemiology, and environmental considerations. This study presents novel insight into the practitioner perceptions of extra-time and provides information to readers about current applied practices and potential future research opportunities

Effect of weight restriction strategies in judokas

Objective/Background: Prior to and surrounding a Judo competition athletes manipulate Body Mass (BM) to gain a theoretical advantage when competing against a weaker opponent using a universally practiced tactic known as rapid weight loss (RWL). RWL is commonly used however there is scarcity of research examining its physiological effects which may include muscle damage and increased risk of injury among others. In addition, psychological effects related to body image, eating behaviours, and emotional responses were found to be attributed to weight restrictions strategies in Judo. The current study aimed to identify the methods used to lose weight, the reasoning behind doing so and the potential effects of those strategies. The physiological and psychological effects related to mental well-being and mood among elite judokas were investigated. Materials and Methods: 12 elite Judo athletes volunteered for this investigation (n = 12, 7 females, 5 males; aged = 20 – 28 years). Qualitative data was gathered with semi structured interviews and was analysed through inductive thematic analysis. Results: Key themes identified were that participants were intrinsically motivated to compete, partake in dehydration, starvation, and hot baths as the main methods of RWL. This negatively affected mood and mental wellbeing causing maladaptive eating behaviours and BM issues. Conclusions: It was evident that a variety of extreme methods used for RWL can have an adverse effect on athletes both physically and psychologically. However, this can be mainly attributed to the lack of knowledge concerning safe weight loss strategies since athletes were receiving guidance and advice from coaches and teammates instead of health professionals. © 2021, Editura Universitatii din Pitesti. All rights reserved

Investigating the reasons for dropping out by competitive artistic gymnastics

Objective/Background: Taking part in sport can help decrease the risk of children developing obesity and related diseases in an enjoyable way, yet 35% of children dropout from sport each year. In particular, artistic gymnastics struggles with a high dropout rate, with the average age to stop the sport being only 9 years old. The aim of this study was to investigate why competitive artistic gymnasts were leaving the sport and explore ways to keep them engaged. Materials and Methods: Following a mixed methods design, 69 participants completed a reasons of attrition questionnaire (Gould et al., 1982) and 7 took part in semi-structured interviews. Descriptive statistics and inductive thematic analysis were used to analyse the quantitative data and qualitative data respectively. Results: The data gathered from the questionnaire showed that participants dropped out due to other commitments, not reaching the level they wanted, and because of their age. The qualitative data showed that a variety of factors influenced the decision of gymnasts to withdraw from the sport. The key themes identified through the interviews were having other priorities, negative social experiences, poor perceived competence, lack of motivation, feeling too old and poor coaching behaviours. Conclusions: Multiple demands and commitments can be an influential factor particularly for young athletes and as such support plans need to in place to prepare and assist them during that period. The nature of gymnastics as an early specialising sport may lead to drop out at a younger age compared to most sports and therefore strategies that facilitate talent transfer could be in place to provide alternative opportunities for the athletes to remain engaged in sport. Lesson plans ensuring skill progressions and classes specifically designed for young adults would also be beneficial for wider participation. Finally, coaches need to undertake continuous professional development to be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills for effective talent development. © JPES

Return to basketball play following COVID-19 lockdown

Due to concerns regarding the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), major sporting events and activities have been temporarily suspended or postponed, and a new radical sports protocol has emerged. For most sports there are few recommendations based on scientific evidence for returning to team-game activities following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, the extended duration of lockdown, and self-training or detraining in the COVID-19 environment, and this is especially true for basketball. A post-lockdown return to the basketball court ultimately depends on the teams— coaches, trainers, players, and medical staff. Nevertheless, our current scientific knowledge is evidently insufficient as far as safety and return-to-play timing are concerned. This situation presents a major challenge to basketball competition in terms of organization, prioritization, maintaining physical fitness, and decision-making. While preparing an adequate basketball return program, the players’ health is the major priority. In this article we briefly discuss the topic and propose multiple strategies. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/)

The effect of a 4-week training regimen on body fat and aerobic capacity of professional soccer players during the transition period

J Strength Cond Res 23(6): 1697-1703, 2009-The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in body fat percentage and aerobic capacity in professional soccer players, after the implementation of a specific 4-week training regimen during the transition period. Fifty-eight professional soccer players of the Greek Premier National Division were separated in experimental (n = 38) and control groups (n = 20). Body composition and maximum oxygen intake were evaluated before and after a 4-week training regimen followed during the transition period. The experimental design used for analyzing weight (kg), percent body fat (%) and Vo2 max values (ml kg-1 min -1) was a 2 × 2(Groups × Measures), with Groups as a between-subjects factor and Measures as a within-subjects factor. The level of significance was set at p ≤ 0.05 for all analyses. Analyses of variances showed that the experimental and the control groups achieved statistically significant (a) increases from pretest to posttest measures in body weight (0.595 kg and 1.425 kg, respectively) and percent body fat (0.25 and 0.82, respectively), and (b) decreases in Vo2max values from pretest to posttest measures (0.81 and 3.56, respectively). The findings of the study revealed that the players who followed the training regimen compared with the players that did not follow any specific training program gained less weight and body fat and exhibited lower reduction in their Vo2 max values. © 2009 National Strength and Conditioning Association

Effects of two different half-squat training programs on fatigue during repeated cycling sprints in soccer players

This study compared the effects of two different half-squat training programs on the repeated-sprint ability of soccer players during the preseason. Twenty male professional soccer players were divided into 2 groups: One group (S-group) performed 4 sets of 5 repetitions with 90% of their 1-repetition maximum (1RM), and the other group (H-group) performed 4 sets of 12 repetitions with 70% of 1RM, 3 times per week for 6 weeks, in addition to their common preseason training program. Repeated-sprint ability was assessed before and after training by 10 × 6-second cycle ergometer sprints separated by 24 seconds of passive recovery. Maximal halfsquat strength increased significantly in both groups (p < 0.01), but this increase was significantly greater in the S-group compared with the H-group (17.3 ± 1.9 vs. 11.0 ± 1.9%, p < 0.05). Lean leg volume (LLV) increased only in the H-group. Total work over the 10 sprints improved in both groups after training, but this increase was significantly greater in the second half (8.9 ± 2.6%) compared with the first half of the sprint test (3.2 ± 1.7%) only in the S-group. Mean power output (MPO) expressed per liter of LLV was better maintained during the last 6 sprints posttraining only in the S-group, whereas there was no change in MPO per LLV in the H-group over the 10 sprints. These results suggest that resistance training with high loads is superior to a moderate-load program, because it increases strength without a change in muscle mass and also results in a greater improvement in repeated sprint ability. Therefore, resistance training with high loads may be preferable when the aim is to improve maximal strength and fatigue during sprinting in professional soccer players. © 2011 National Strength and Conditioning Association

Relationship between the 20-m multistage shuttle run test and 2 soccer-specific field tests for the assessment of aerobic fitness in adult semi-professional soccer players

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of 2 different field tests for the assessment of aerobic fitness in soccer players with the multistage 20-m test used for the evaluation of maximum oxygen uptake. Nineteen semi-professional male soccer players (age: 22.8 ± 2.5 mean ± SD) performed, under similar conditions, 3 field tests in a counterbalanced order 7 days apart. These tests were the multistage 20-m shuttle run test (MSRT), the Bangsbo test, and the Hoff test. Heart rate was recorded in all tests with telemetry, and the Borg scale was introduced at the end of exercise. Finally, 3-minute post-test lactate concentration was determined. Performance was 11.2 ± 0. 9 levels in the MSRT, 1,658.9 ± 119.9 m in the Bangsbo test, and 1,798.2 ± 125.9 m in the Hoff test. There was a significant correlation between the Hoff test and performance in the MSRT (r = 0.49, p < 0.05). The Bangsbo test was not associated with the MSRT score (r = 0.26, p > 0.05). The maximum heart rate achieved in the Bangsbo test was significantly lower compared with that in the MSRT and Hoff test (Bangsbo: 186.6 ± 9.6, Hoff: 192 ± 7.6, MSRT: 190.4 ± 9.3 beats/min, p < 0.05). No difference was found in post-test lactate concentration among the 3 tests. In conclusion, the Hoff test can be used for the assessment of endurance in adult semi-professional soccer players. Coaches and teams could benefit from using the Hoff test that resembles soccer actions for the assessment of players' aerobic fitness. © 2010 National Strength and Conditioning Association

The relationship between physical and technical performance characteristics of young soccer and basketball players: A comparison between two sports

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between physical and technical performance characteristics of young athletes in soccer and basketball, as well as to see the differences in between sports. METHODS: Fifty-seven male players (soccer: N.=30, age 13.53±0.51 years; basketball: N.=27, age 13.56±0.51 years) participated in this study. Anthropometrical (height, weight, BMI, body fat), performance (VO2max, HRmax, perceived exertion, lactate concentration, 10-m and 20-m sprint, agility, vertical jump) and technical (passing, dribbling, shooting) tests were carried out. RESULTS: Anthropometrical, performance and technical tests showed a significant effect of sport type on height, weight, BMI, VO2max, HRmax, perceived exertion, 10m sprint, 20m sprint, vertical jump (P≤0.05), but a non-significant effect on agility (P=0.15) between soccer and basketball players. Soccer players showed significant moderate to strong correlation among the majority of performance and technical characteristics (P≤0.05) but not in basketball players, with the exception of the weak correlation observed between lay-up and VO2max, the weak to moderate correlation between lay-up, vertical jump and 10m sprint and the weak to moderate correlation between 20-m left hand dribbling, 10-m sprint and vertical jump respectively (P≤0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Basketball players indicated different level of anthropometric characteristics than soccer players who predominated in performance characteristics and showed a stronger relationship between performance and technical variables. Basketball players were taller and heavier than soccer players, while soccer players predominate in performance characteristics. Furthermore, a moderate to stronger relationship was found between performance and technical variables for soccer subjects but not in that scale for the basketball counterparts. © 2021 Edizioni Minerva Medica. All rights reserved