Exploring collective spatial distribution in basketball

this study aimed to analyse players’ spatial distribution according to their performance outcomes in basketball. Three competitive games of U14 portuguese basketball teams were filmed and then analysed in order to select 10 sequences of play ending in successful offense or successful defence. Movement displacement trajectories of performers were digitized in order to access their real world coordinates using TACTO software. This procedure allowed computing the number of attackers, defenders and ratio attackers/defenders on each of seven court locations (A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6 and A7) throughout the sequence of play, on a moment-to-moment basis. We found that player’s spatial distribution proceeds in function of the relative position to the basket. Particularly, defensive numerical superiority in closer areas to the basket (A3) was related with higher offensive efficacy. These results suggest that interacting constraints, probably related with the proximity to the basket, inefficacy of defensive skills and superior attacker mobility might have shaped distinctive collective patterns of spatial distribution

Tactical analysis of elite football teams - a mixed method aproach

El fútbol es un juego con una naturaleza aleatoria intermitente, por la cual los elementos críticos del juego a veces se determinan por casualidad. La investigación sobre el análisis de partidos en este deporte se ha centrado principalmente en la descripción de las acciones físicas, fisiológicas y técnicas del juego como un intento de cuantificar la actividad de los jugadores. Se ha llevado a cabo menos trabajo sobre las actividades de los jugadores de fútbol, en particular la cuantificación de los patrones de movimiento fundamentales de los jugadores durante las secuencias de juego ofensivas (para revisión, véase Sarmento et al., 2014). Objetivos: Este estudio tuvo como objetivo detectar y analizar patrones regulares de juego en el contraataque de equipos de fútbol, mediante la combinación de la técnica del análisis secuencial y entrevistas a los entrenadores portugueses de la primera liga.Soccer is a game with a random intermittent nature, whereby critical elements of the game are sometimes determined by chance. Research on match analysis in this sport has been mainly focused on the description of physical, physiological and technical game actions as an attempt to quantify the activity of players. Less work has been carried out on the match activities of soccer players, particularly the quantification of fundamental movement patterns of players during offensive sequences of play (for review see Sarmento et al. (2014). Objectives: This study aimed to detect and analyse regular patterns of play in the counterattack of football teams, through the combination of the sequential analysis technique and interviews to first League Portuguese coaches.peerReviewe

Are martial arts and combat sports a school for life? Relationships between sport attitudes and quality of life (intermediate results)

[EN] Quality of Life (QoL) is an indicator of health status and represents a multidimensional..

Biomecãnica e economia de corrida: estudo da ligação em alunos universitários

La economía de carrera en atletas entrenados se encuentra asociada a un menor porcentaje de la frecuencia cardíaca máxima (Pate, Macera, Bailey, Bartoli & Powell, 1992). En el caso de los atletas (Di Michele, 2008), puede verse afectada por cambios en la técnica de carrera (Tartaruga et al., 2012), en particular por los aspectos biomecánicos (Kyröläinen, Belli & Komi, 2001). Objetivo: Verificar la existencia de relación entre las variables cinemáticas de la fase de contacto de la carrera con las variables psico-fisiológicas ligadas a la economía de carrera, en alumnos universitarios. Conclusiones: El ángulo de la rodilla en el “toe-off” se presentó como un indicador de rendimiento asociado a la técnica y economía de carrera, de tal forma que la extensión de la rodilla en el “toe-off” puede ser entendida con un indicador de fatiga en ejercicios realizados en intensidad subyacente.Race economy in trained athletes is associated with a lower percentage of the maximum heart rate (Pate, Macera, Bailey, Bartoli & Powell, 1992). In the case of athletes (Di Michele, 2008), it can be affected by changes in race technique (Tartaruga et al., 2012), particularly by biomechanical aspects (Kyröläinen, Belli & Komi, 2001). Objective: To verify the existence of relationship between kinematic variables of the contact phase of the race with psycho-physiological variables linked to race economy, in university students. Conclusions: The angle of the knee in the "toe-off" was presented as an indicator of performance associated with the technique and running economy, in such a way that the extension of the knee in the "toe-off" can be understood with an indicator of fatigue in exercises performed in underlying intensity.A economia de corrida em atletas treinados encontra-se associada a uma menor percentagem da frequência cardíaca máxima (Pate, Macera, Bailey, Bartoli & Powell, 1992). Esta tem uma grande importância para a performance dos atletas (Di Michele, 2008) e pode ser afetada por alterações na técnica de corrida (Tartaruga et al., 2012), nomeadamente por aspetos biomecânicos (Kyröläinen, Belli & Komi, 2001). Objetivo: Verificar a existência de relação entre variáveis cinemáticas da fase de contacto da corrida com variáveis psico-fisiológicas ligadas à economia de corrida, em alunos universitários. Conclusões: O ângulo do joelho no toe-off apresentou-se como um indicador de performance associado à técnica e economia de corrida, de tal forma que a extensão do joelho no toe-off pode ser entendido com um indicador de fadiga em exercícios realizados em intensidade submáxima.peerReviewe

The effects of a sled push at different loads on 20 metre sprint time in well-trained soccer players

This study determined the effects of a single sled push at different loads on sprint performance in competitive male soccer players. Twenty male competitive outfield soccer players (age 19.6±1.3y, body mass 73.6±8.2kg) were split into experimental (n=10) and control groups. In the experimental group, 20m linear sprint time was measured immediately before and 5, 6 and 7minutes after the sled push with either 50 or 100% body mass. The control group performed the 20m sprints only. A repeated measures ANOVA comparing control and experimental groups revealed no effects of time, group or time by group interaction for either experimental condition (all P>0.05). The repeated measures ANOVA compared the experimental conditions revealed effects of time (P=0.034) and group (P=0.002), but not time by group (P>0.05). The effects sizes demonstrated within group effects on sprint time that were small to moderate (-0.26 to 0.71) and trivial to small (-0.31 to 0.09) for the 50% and 100% body mass condition, respectively. These findings demonstrate that a sled push has no significant effect on 20 m sprint time in competitive footballers. If coaches continue to prescribed a sled push before sprinting, a single 15 m push with 50% body mass could have positive benefits

Enhancing high-intensity actions during a basketball game after a strength training program with random recovery times between sets

To examine the effects of a strength training program with random recovery times between sets in consideration of several physical parameters, high-intensity actions (HIA), and spatial exploration index during a simulated basketball game. Twenty male basketball players (age: 19.45 ± 4.36 years) were assigned randomly, either to strength training group (n = 10), or a control group (n = 10). The strength training included: parallel back squat and bench press exercises, twice a week for the duration of 10 weeks, with two blocks of 5 sets × 5 repetitions interspersed with variable passive recovery (range = 15–35 sec.) between sets, and constant passive recovery (3-min) between blocks with the load that maximized propulsive power output. The pre- and post-test assessments included jumping (bilateral and unilateral), change-of-direction, straight sprinting, and a 5-on-5 full-court situation. The external training load was assessed using the local positioning system, and the internal load was recorded with the use of individual heart rate monitors. A significant interaction effect (group x time) was observed on countermovement jump (CMJ), unilateral right hops, high-intensity accelerations and decelerations, and peak accelerations and decelerations in the 5-on-5 full-court situation. Relative improvements observed and recorded in the training group on unilateral right hops, accelerations, and decelerations were correlated. Similar results were observed on 0–25m sprints, high-intensity decelerations, peak accelerations, and decelerations. Strength training paired with random recovery times enhanced physical and game-related aspects in the observed basketball players

Correlação entre ensaios com câmara termográfica e resistógrafo na avaliação da integridade de vigas antigas de madeira

Este trabalho de investigação pretende dar um contributo no campo das técnicas não destrutivas de inspecção e de diagnóstico de vigas antigas de madeira. Para o efeito, correlacionou-se os resultados obtidos através do uso do resistógrafo e da termografia no estudo de uma viga recolhida num edifício de habitação unifamiliar que foi sujeito a um processo de remodelação. Verificou-se que poderá haver uma cerca correlação entre ensaios. Contudo, também se recomenda a realização de um número mais expressivo de ensaios de amostras para ser possível apresentar uma conclusão mais fidedigna. A relevância desta possível correlação prende-se com o facto de poder haver uma alternância na realização destes ensaios consoante os condicionalismos do cenário de obra

Group versus Individualised Minimum Velocity Thresholds in the Prediction of Maximal Strength in Trained Female Athletes

This study examined the accuracy of di erent velocity-based methods in the prediction of bench press and squat one-repetition maximum (1RM) in female athletes. Seventeen trained females (age 17.8 1.3 years) performed an incremental loading test to 1RM on bench press and squat with the mean velocity being recorded. The 1RM was estimated from the load–velocity relationship using the multiple- (8 loads) and two-point (2 loads) methods and group and individual minimum velocity thresholds (MVT). No significant e ect of method, MVT or interaction was observed for the two exercises (p > 0.05). For bench press and squat, all prediction methods demonstrated very large to nearly perfect correlations with respect to the actual 1RM (r range = 0.76 to 0.97). The absolute error (range = 2.1 to 3.8 kg) for bench press demonstrated low errors that were independent of the method and MVT used. For squat, the favorable group MVT errors for the multiple- and two-point methods (absolute error = 7.8 and 9.7 kg, respectively) were greater than the individual MVT errors (absolute error = 4.9 and 6.3 kg, respectively). The 1RM can be accurately predicted from the load–velocity relationship in trained females, with the two-point method o ering a quick and less fatiguing alternative to the multiple-point method