Physiological assessments of soccer players in different divisions

Biomedicínská laboratořFaculty of Physical Education and SportFakulta tělesné výchovy a sport

EVALUATION OF THE GOALS SCORING PATTERNS AND THE RELATION BETWEEN TIME AND GOAL SCORING OF FOUR UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TOURNAMENTS

The purpose of this study was to compare time period and patterns of goal scoring in four UEFA Champions League (UCL) tournaments (2013-2017). All matches (n=500) of the four Champions League tournaments were recorded using video and analyzed with the software Sportsscout. Chi-square methods were used for the data analysis and the level of significance was set at p0.05 for the time period, X2=25.350, p>0.05 for open play and X2=7.503, p>0.05 for set play). The 15-min analysis for each tournament did not show any significant difference if we exclude all extra time periods. However, in UCL 2013-2014 and 2015-2016 more goals were scored in the second half (X2=9.696, p<0.05 and X2=7.496, p<0.05, respectively). With open play more goals were scored than set play (75% and 25% average, respectively). The action that scored the most goals in open play was combination and crosses (21.6% and 22.4% respectively) and in set play was corners and penalties (33.9%, all). The results showed that no differences occurred between CLs regarding the scoring patterns and time periods of scoring. However, goal scoring might be time dependent because more goals were scored in the second half. An explanation for this could be the fatigue and the tactical strategy. About the patterns, coaches must focus on training crosses and passing combinations. Also, they should give a lot of attention to corners of set plays

DIFFERENCES IN GOAL SCORING AND MINUTES OF SCORING BETWEEN TWO EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS, ONE AMONG 16 TEAMS (EURO 2012) AND THE OTHER AMONG 24 TEAMS (EURO 2016)

The purpose of this study was to record and compare the goal scoring patterns and the minutes of the game that goals were scored between two Euro Cups (2012 and 2016). All matches (n=82) of both the Euro Cups were video taped and analyzed using the sport software Sportscout. Chi-square methods were used for the data analysis and the level of significance was set at p<0.05. The team that scored the first goal in a match was the winner of that match 70.97% of the time in Euro 2012 and 72% in Euro 2016. In open play, the highs of all the actions were more frequent prior to a goal which involved a cross or a through pass. The 15-min analysis showed that the most goals (20%) were scored between the 46th-60th min of the game in the Euro Cup 2012. Furthermore, in the Euro Cup 2016 the most goals were scored between the 31st-45th minute (19%), 46th–60th minute (19%) and between the 76th-90th minute (18%). No differences between the Euro Cups observed. The results indicated that coaches have to make sure their teams score first, press in the offensive third and prepare their players well in set plays to be more effective.

Vrabas. The Effect of Natural and Artificial Grass on Sprinting Performance in Young Soccer Players

Abstract: The sprint performance on natural and artificial grass of 5 th generation was assessed. Sixty eight young male soccer players, which were divided in two groups according to their age [children (n=36; 12.1±0.5y) and adolescents (n=32; 14.2±0.4y)], performed 30-m sprint tests with and without handling the ball on natural and artificial grass. The performance was recorded during 0-10m, 10-30m, and 0-30m running distances. It was found that children were significantly faster during 0-10m running distance on the artificial compared to natural grass when handling the ball while adolescents revealed no differences in sprint performance between the surfaces irrespectively of the ball condition. In running distances 10-30m and 0-30m, children were significant faster in the artificial compared to the natural grass either with or without ball, while the adolescents were significantly faster in the artificial grass only without handling the ball. Children run faster on artificial than natural grass while adolescent soccer players are faster in artificial grass when they do not have to handle the ball. It is clear that children should be more careful when play soccer on artificial grass because the ball is moving faster and greater skill is needed in order to avoid injuries

Srovnání fyziologických a neuromuskulárních změn u mladých fotbalových hráčů a netrénovanými mladých osob

Biomedicínská laboratořFaculty of Physical Education and SportFakulta tělesné výchovy a sport

Physiological assessments of soccer players in different divisions

Biomedicínská laboratořFaculty of Physical Education and SportFakulta tělesné výchovy a sport

Muscle Strength and Hamstrings to Quadriceps Ratio in Young Soccer Players: A Cross-Sectional Study

The aim of the present study was to examine and compare the concentric isokinetic peak torque of the knee flexors and extensors muscles, as well as their ratio, in young soccer players. Two hundred and sixty-five (n = 265) young soccer players were divided into five groups: U-12 (n = 43, mean age 11.5 ± 0.4 yrs), U-14 (n = 63, mean age 13.6 ± 0.3 yrs), U-16 (n = 64, mean age 15.4 ± 0.5 yrs), U-18 (n = 53, mean age 17.5 ± 0.4 yrs) and U-20 (n = 42, mean age 19.3 ± 0.6 yrs). Three maximal voluntary isokinetic leg extensions and flexions at angular velocities of 60, 180, and 300°·s−1, and H:Q strength ratio was determined. The largest H:Q strength ratio for all ages, with the exception of age group U-12, appears at a slow angular velocity of 60°·s−1, and the smallest H:Q ratio at a fast angular velocity of 300°·s−1. In age group U-12, at an angular velocity of 60°·s−1, the strength of the quadriceps muscle was almost twice the strength of the hamstrings. The H:Q strength ratio was smaller in age group U-12 and greater in group U-20. In age group U-12, the greatest H:Q strength ratio appeared at an angular velocity of 180°·s−1, while in the other age groups, it appeared at 60°·s−1. Strength training of hamstring muscles remains inadequate across ages. The small H:Q strength ratio in younger ages and the large H:Q ratio in older ages suggest that high-intensity training may increase the H:Q strength ratio, which, in turn, may protect the knee joint from excessive and burdensome loads

Goalkeeper Performance: Analysis of Goalkeepers’ Contribution to Their Team’s Build-up under the Opponent’s Pressure in the 2018 World Cup

The purpose of this study was to analyze in FIFA World Cup Tournament 2018 focusing on the technical and tactical offensive actions of the male goalkeepers when being under pressure and to evaluate if their actions correlated with the outcome of the match. The sample consisted of the goalkeepers (n = 41). A descriptive analysis and a hierarchical clusters analysis were performed to identify the goalkeepers’ classes. Furthermore, a factor analysis was conducted to locate the goalkeepers’ style of play and the statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The results showed that the total percentage of correct passes under pressure was 46.5% and that the goalkeepers preferred using the air and long distance passes with one or two touches. In addition, out of the 4 groups that were formed with cluster analysis, the goalkeepers of group 2 and 3 stood out concerning the quality of their actions. The incorrect actions were correlated with defeat and the correct actions were correlated with a win (p < 0.001, r = 0.663). In conclusion, a male goalkeeper, nowadays, needs to have all the technical actions of his feet at a good level so he can contribute to his team’s build-up, especially those of distributing the ball with his feet