TECHNICAL AND TACTICAL ANALYSIS OF GOAL SCORING PATTERNS IN THE 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP IN RUSSIA

The aims of this research are to record and analyze the goals scored during the 64 matches in the 21st World Cup in Russia in 2018, to highlight those factors that are directly related to the teams’ effectiveness in scoring, to record the goals approved after the use of the new technologies, video assistant referee and goal line technology, as well as their effect on the outcome of the game. Chi-square and univariate general linear methods were used for the data analysis. Statistical difference is observed in the number of goals scored between the two halves (X²=8.699, p<0.005). A comparable percentage of scoring in most of the periods with exceptions of the periods in over time, the period 16th to 30th min, the addition time of the first and second half and the period 76th to 90th min of the game is determined (p<0.01). The teams that scored first won 71.4% matches, lost 9.5% and had a tie 19% of the matches (X²=42.000, p<0.001). Most of the goals were scored following a corner kick (24), penalty (22) and free kick scored non-directly (16), which were significantly different from free kick scored directly (6) and throw in (2) (X²=26.857, p<0.001). 19 goals were scored from cross, 19 from a long-range shot (8 of them with the “inner foot”), 18 from a forward pass and 12 from cutback. Statistical differences between the first four groups and all of the others are determined (X²=27.818, p<0.01). Significant differences were found between the goals that “began” from the offensive third, the middle and the defensive third (X²=73.645, p<0.001). 58.9% of the goals are scored following positional play, which is significantly different compared to counter attack (29.5%) and direct play (11.6%) (X²=32.611, p<0.001). Over 59 goals were scored from “the inner part of the foot” or “place”, and 31 from header, which were significantly different from the other types of shot (X²=89.254, p<0.001)

The effect of beach volleyball training on muscle performance of indoor volleyball players

BACKGROUND: Beach volleyball is frequently used as a conditioning activity for indoor volleyball players, but little information exists regarding any performance benefits when transitioning from sand to hard court. The present study examined the effect of 12 weeks beach volleyball training on muscle performance of indoor volleyball players. METHODS: Eleven athletes who completed an indoor volleyball season and were willing to train and compete at beach volleyball, participated in the study. Muscle endurance of knee extensors and plantar flexors (torque at 120°·s-1 following 40 contractions), muscle strength of knee extensors/ flexors (60, 180, 300°·s-1), dorsi/plantar flexors (torque at 60, 120, 180°·s-1) trunk flexors (60, 90, 180°·s-1) and power (squat [SJ] and countermovement [CMJ] jumps performed on sand and hard court surfaces) were assessed pre- and post-12 weeks of beach volleyball training. RESULTS: Knee extensors and plantar flexors endurance was higher post-12 weeks, as less torque decrease was found after 40 contractions for both muscle groups at post-12-week-time points. Knee extensors strength was higher post-12-weeks for 60 and 300°·s-1, while dorsi flexors strength was higher post-12 weeks for all speeds. SJ and CMJ vertical jump height was improved when measured on sand and on hard court. CONCLUSIONS: Twelve weeks of systematic training and competition at beach volleyball can improve muscular endurance of lower limbs and jumping height in indoor volleyball players. More importantly, these improvements are transferrable to hard court, making beach volleyball a very attractive alternative for conditioning indoor volleyball players during the off-indoor volleyball season

An off-season plyometric and resistance training programme to improve vertical jump height in adolescent female volleyball players

Plyometric training has shown to improve vertical jump height, but the design and implementation of a plyometric training programme for adolescents requires consideration of several variables as well as the time of the season. The purpose of this study was to implement a pragmatic programme that improves vertical jump height, and to monitor the effects of a 15 week off-season plyometric and resistance training programme on the vertical jump height in adolescent female volleyball players. Ten adolescent female volleyball players (age: 15.1 ± 0.9 years, height: 1.71 ± 0.04 m, body mass: 63.6 ± 6.0 kg, volleyball training experience: 5.1 ± 1.4 years) underwent 15 weeks of plyometric and resistance training (twice and once a week, respectively). A single-targeted block periodised approach and a linear periodisation model were applied. Vertical jump height was assessed before the programme (T1), after 4 weeks (T2), after 12 weeks (T3) and at the end of the programme (T4). Jump height significantly increased by 8.8% over the full time of the investigation. No significant difference was found between T1 and T2 but for all other pairwise comparisons. Similarly, leg power was observed to increase by 6.5% (P = 0.001). The 15-weeks training programme showed to improve jump height and leg power. In consideration of its practical nature and its results in comparison with similar intervention studies, the programme suggests practical relevance for coaches

Efficacy of cryolipolysis and cryolipolysis/physical exercise combination on abdominal fat and lipid profile in overweight women of reproductive age: a feasibility study

Background: Adipose tissue is a special type of connective tissue dominated by adipocytes. Weight loss results in the removal of only a percentage of local excess fat; the latter could be treated with methods such as physical exercise and cryolipolysis. Aim: To investigate the effect of cryolipolysis (CL) and the combination of cryolipolysis and physical exercise (CL + PE) on localized abdominal adipose tissue and lipid profile in overweight adult women.Materials and Methods: Overweight women of reproductive age (n=16) without other health problems, assigned into CL and CL + PE groups. They were subjected to either CL for subcutaneous adipose tissue reduction (exclusively in the abdominal area) or a combination of CL and PE (specific exercise program focused on abdominal muscles). Somatometric parameters were recorded and lipid profiles were measured at baseline and three months for after the interventions. All women were asked to maintain their usual dietary habits throughout the study.Results: Both interventions resulted in statistically significant improvements p0.05) in somatometric parameters (waist, abdominal and hip circumference) with no difference between them; no changes were apparent in the lipid profile before and after the interventions.Conclusions: A single application of CL results in reductions in waist, abdominal and hip circumferences. The addition of a specific PE program focused on abdominal muscles does not result in additional improvement. The reduction in the waist, abdominal and hip circumferences is not accompanied by increases in the serum lipid concentrations. Further studies are needed to elucidate the long-term effects of CL on abdominal adipose tissue.

Surface Electromyographic Activity of the Rectus Abdominis and External Oblique during Isometric and Dynamic Exercises

Exercises for the abdominal muscles are widely used in athletic activities for strength training and prevention of low back disorders. The timing and volume of muscle activation for various movements have not yet been clarified. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the surface electromyographic activity from the upper (RAU) and lower part (RAL) of the rectus abdominis and the external oblique (EO) muscles during eleven abdominal muscle strength training exercises. Thirty-five healthy male university students with a subspecialty in soccer participated in the study. They performed exercises involving isometric, concentric, and eccentric muscle contractions. The electromyographic recordings were amplified by a factor of 1000, rectified, and integrated. Mean integrated values were calculated by dividing the elapsed time for the five repetitions, to provide the mean integrated electromyographic values for each exercise. Leg movements from a long lying position showed higher activity of the rectus abdominis, compared to the EO (p &lt; 0.001). The dynamic sit-ups showed an obvious dominant activity of the EO, compared to the rectus abdominis (p &lt; 0.001). During eccentric exercise, higher activity was found in the RAU, compared to the RAL (p &lt; 0.001). The results could serve as a basis for improving the design and specification of training exercises. Pre-exercises should be performed before testing abdominal muscle strength

Effects of a Short Half-Time Re-Warm-Up Program on Matches Running Performance and Fitness Test Performance of Male Elite Youth Soccer Players

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of a half-time short re-warm-up (RW) strategy on the performance of young soccer players in tests of physical abilities and running performance during matches. Twenty-three players (under 17) participated in the study. Body temperature, 10 m sprint, 30 m sprint, the Illinois agility test, countermovement jump (CMJ), and squat jump (SJ) were measured, immediately post-warm-up. Then in one condition, the tests were repeated after a passive rest, and in the other condition, after a 12 min passive rest and 3 min RW. Furthermore, the RW was applied at half-time of two of the four matches where the running performance was measured in the first quarter of the two halves. The results showed that the two conditions differed significantly in the 10 m sprint and CMJ performances (p p = 0.049, respectively). After the passive rest, a significant decrease in body temperature and performance in SJ was observed (p < 0.001 for both). No other differences were observed. In conclusion, the short RW program can limit the decrement in performance in power tests such as sprints and jumps

A Novel mHealth Monitoring System during Cycling in Elite Athletes

Background: Cycling is a very demanding physical activity that may create various health disorders during an athlete’s career. Recently, smart mobile and wearable technologies have been used to monitor physiological responses and possible disturbances during physical activity. Thus, the application of mHealth methods in sports poses a challenge today. This study used a novel mobile-Health method to monitor athletes’ physiological responses and to detect health disorders early during cycling in elite athletes. Methods: Sixteen high-level cyclists participated in this study, which included a series of measurements in the laboratory; health and performance assessments; and then application in the field of mHealth monitoring in two training seasons, at the beginning of their training period and in the race season. A field monitoring test took place during 30 min of uphill cycling with the participant’s heart rate at the ventilatory threshold. During monitoring periods, heart rate, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, and electrocardiogram were monitored via the mHealth system. Moreover, the SpO2 was estimated continuously, and the symptoms during effort were reported. Results: A significant correlation was found between the symptoms reported by the athletes in the two field tests and the findings recorded with the application of the mHealth monitoring method.&nbsp;However, from the pre-participation screening in the laboratory and from the spiroergometric tests, no abnormal findings were detected that were to blame for the appearance of the symptoms. Conclusions: The application of mHealth monitoring during competitive cycling is a very useful method for the early recording of cardiac and other health disorders of athletes, whose untimely evaluation could lead to unforeseen events

Two or Four Weeks Acute: Chronic Workload Ratio Is More Useful to Prevent Injuries in Soccer?

This study was conducted to determine if the acute: chronic workload ratio (ACWR) is related to the incidence of non-contact injuries. The purpose is to compare the external load of injured and non-injured soccer players with the same characteristics, such as position and age. The present analysis considers both the four and the two weeks preceding an injury. Physical characteristics were recorded and analyzed through global positioning systems (GPS) evaluation over one season of 24 competitive microcycles, 144 training sessions, and 32 matches in a total of 35 professional soccer players from the Greek Super League 1 and Super League 2. The loads calculated were total distance (TD), 15–20 km/h, 20–25 km/h, 25–30 km/h, accelerations (ACC) > 2.5 m/s2, and decelerations (DEC) > 2.5 m/s2). Nine injured athletes exceeded the critical threshold of an ACWR > 1.3 several times compared with non-injured athletes that did not reach this level. The present study showed that ACWR is related to a subsequent occurrence of injury but that the threshold of an ACWR can vary. This seems to be mainly influenced by assessing the load of the last two weeks compared with that of the four weeks before the injury