An Approach to Tactical Performance Optimization in a Big Data World

The amount of data collected from an individual player during a football match has increased significantly in recent years, following technological evolution in positional tracking. However, given the short time that separates competitions, the common analysis of these data focuses on the magnitude of actions of each player, while considering either technical or physical perform- ance. This focus leads to a considerable amount of information not being taken into account in performance optimization, particularly while considering a sequence of different matches of the same team. In this presentation, we will present a tactical performance indicator that considers players’ overall positioning and their level of coordination during the match. This performance indicator will be applied in different time scales, with a particular focus on possible practical applications

Dynamic Match Analysis

Recent technological development has enabled research- ers to gather data from different performance scenarios while considering players positioning and action events within a specific time frame. This technology varies from global positioning systems to radio frequency devices and computer vision tracking, to name the most common, and aims to collect players’ time motion data and enable the dynamical analysis of performance. Team sports—and in particular, invasion games—present a complex dynamic by nature based on the interaction between 2 opposing sides trying to outperform 1 another. During match and training situations, players’ actions are coupled to their performance context at different interaction levels. As expected, ball, teammates’, and opponents’ positioning play an important role in this interaction process. But other factors, such as final score, teams’ development level, and players’ expertise, seem to affect the match dynamics. In this symposium, we will focus on how different constraints affect invasion games dynamics during both match and training situations. This relation will be established while underpinning the importance of these effects to game teaching and performance optimization. Regarding the match, different performance indicators based on spatial-temporal relations between players and teams will be presented to reveal the interaction processes that form the crucial component of game analysis. Considering the training, this symposium will address the relationship of small-sided games with full- sized matches and will present how players’ dynamical interaction affects different performance indicators

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN OLDER PEOPLE

Gerontological research has shown that there is a marked decline in health with age and an associated demand for expensive medical services (Shepard, 1993). Some previous studies underline sedentary lifestyle as main responsible factor for hypokinetic diseases and reduction in quality of life (Rejeski et al, 1996). By contrast, among the elderly evidences show a positive relationship between regular physical activity and a high physical fitness on reduction of anxiety and depression levels, improving older peopleʼs quality of life (ACSM, 1998, 2000; Blair et al, 1995). Otherwise, the acquisition and maintenance of motor skills are critical to the preservation of an independent lifestyle and quality of life in the elderly (Rikli and Edwards, 1991). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between physical activity levels, physical fitness and quality of life among institutionalized and non-institutionalized older people. • Older people with institutional community dwelling had lower physical activity levels than non-institutionalized similar individuals. • Physical activity influences older people's functional capacity especially aerobic capacity, and quality of life in several domains. • The above results suggest that caring elderly in their own homes seems to provide higher activity patterns, functional capacities and quality of life

Relative Age Effect of Olympic Athletes in Beijing 2008

Research on expert performance field revealed a strong trend in the association of the birth dates of elite athletes to the first trimesters of the year (Wattie et al. 2008). The aim of this study was to analyze the birth date distribution of all top elite athletes who participated in Olympic Games at Beijing 2008. Athletes (n = 18.132) were divided according to gender, continent and sports. The birth dates of the athletes were divided into quarters. To analyze the distribution of the population by quarter we used the Chi-square test. Results showed statistical differences in the distribution for the total population, and for females and males population, showing a trend for athletes to born in the earlier part of the year. Relatively to the continent, statistical differences appear only in Africa, Asia and Europe. In terms of sports, statistical differences were found in the distribution of 6 sports in females (athletics, badminton, basketball, modern pentathlon, rowing, and swimming) and 9 sports in males (athletics, basketball, canoeing, road cycling, football, handball, rowing, swimming, and volleyball). In all cases, distribution showed a higher participation of athletes born in the beginning of the year. These results show a clear influence of the athlete’s date of birth in the achievement of expert performance, in several sports and continents

How Football Players’ Age Affect Passing Patterns of Play According to Field Location

This study aimed to characterize the passing patterns that support collective tactical behaviour in football players of different ages (U15, U17, and U19) in different field zones. Two hundred and twenty-eight male players, divided into U15, U17, and U19, participated in the study. Cluster analysis was used to group the passes into three sizes (short, medium, and long). The chi-square test was used to analyse the effect of player age on game-passing patterns in each field zone. The results revealed that long and medium passes were used more in areas close to the goals and short passes in the middle area of the field, concerning all ages (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the analysis of the relative distance between the ball carrier and the receiver indicated that older players (U17 and U19) used more distant players to pass the ball in medium and long passes. These results can help coaches design small-sided games according to the players’ ages and adjust to the field’s space and the numerical relationship, thus creating a greater transfer from training to competition.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Heart rate response to duration and players’ number variations in Futsal specific drill

Introduction: Recent findings demonstrate that Futsal is a multiple-sprint sport in which high-intensity exercise constitutes a greater proportion of match time than all other team sports (Barbero-Alvarez et al., 2008), but the research of training intensity is a unknown way. Sport specific drills with variations are constantly used in Futsal practices, however the knowledge about how these variations influence drill intensity is very insufficient (Duarte et al., 2007). Therefore, this study aimed to measure the effects of duration and players’ number variations in a Futsal specific drill by the elicited percentage of maximal Heart Rate (HRmax%) and percentage of time spent in three Heart Rate intensity zones (HRzone185%HRmax). Methods: The studied sample was constituted by eight players from a Portuguese First Division team [age 25.9(4.5); weight 67.6(7.5); height 1.7(0.1); BMI 22.4(2.0)]. The exercise testing consists in a “half-pitch game” with official rules. To test the effect of players’ numerical relations, the drill was played in 4v4, 3v3 and 2v2 conditions, during 4 minutes and followed with an active break (continuous running with low intensity) of 4 minutes. In order to test the effect of exercise duration, the drill was played during 4 minutes and 10 minutes conditions, maintaining an active break of 4 minutes. Results: In players’ number variation statistically significant differences were found in HRmax% [4v4 81.5(10.6) to 3v3 86.8(7.3) and to 2v2 87.9(11.7); p=0.01] and in percentage of time spent in HRzone2 [35.4% in 4v4, 12.5% in 3v3 and 10.4% in 2v2; p=0.01]. In the exercise duration statistically significant differences were found only in percentage of time spent in HRzone3 [50% in 4 minutes and 29.2% in 10 minutes; p=0.04]. Conclusions: The decrease in the number of players resulted in an intensity increase, probably due to the larger ratio of area per player and to the progressive decision making constraint by the limited choices of the ball carrier to cooperating with the teams-mate. The variation of the exercise duration did not induce any change in HRmax%. However, playing the “half-pitch game” during 4 minutes period brings more significant percentage of time spent in higher Heart Rate zone and induce more elevated physiological stimulation. Keywords: Heart Rate, Specific Drill, Futsa

Grading in Portuguese secondary school physical education: assessment parameters, gender differences and associations with academic achievement.

Background: Assessment is crucial for the quality of teaching and learning in physical education (PE). Currently little is known about the students’ level of achievement in PE and about the parameters used for calculating the PE grades. Although there is evidence that boys are more active outside school than girls and participate more in organized sports, few studies have examined possible differences between genders in PE achievement. Furthermore, despite the current interest in the relationship between motor competencies and cognitive functioning, limited research has examined if PE grades are associated with academic achievement. Purpose: Considering the lack of information on the current level of students’ success in PE, the main aim of this study is to examine the PE grades of Portuguese students in secondary school. Specifically, this study analysis the level of students’ achievement in PE, the relation of PE grades with other school subjects’ grades, compares the PE grades between boys and girls, and presents the PE summative assessment parameters used in schools. Method: Participants were 1936 students (57% girls) from the 10th, 11th and 12th grades (16.8±1.3 years old) attending eleven Portuguese secondary schools. Information was gathered on their grades in PE and in the other school subjects at the end of the school year. Information on the specific assessment parameters used in each school was also collected. Results: The average grades in PE were 14.9 ± 2.3 points (20-point scale). Only ∼1% of students with a final PE grade had a negative performance (<10 points). PE grades were relatively higher than in most of the other school-subjects and for most students (68.7%) the PE classification raised their overall average grade. The level of correlation between grades in PE and in other school subjects was statistically significant (r’s=.13 to .29, p<.05) although lower than that between grades in the other school subjects (r’s = .44 to .84, p < .01). There were significant differences between girls’ and boys’ grades in PE (14.3 ± 2.3 and 15.9 ± 2.1 points, respectively). The school assessment parameters prioritize physical performance over participation and attitude.Conclusion: The Portuguese students’ level of achievement in PE seems to be very satisfactory. However, as boys have higher grades than girls it is urgent to find appropriate strategies to tackle this problem. The associations found between PE grades and academic achievement could have relevant repercussions considering the current debate about the status of PE and about the relationship between motor and cognitive competencies. It is also relevant that the schools’ summative assessment parameters are based mainly on skill mastery and not on effort and participation. This study provided a brief glance into some aspects of the assessment of PE in Portugal and is it is desirable that future investigations examine the teacher’s assessment practices

Efeitos do treino compensatório específico no equilíbrio e força dos rotadores dos ombros em jovens nadadoras de natação sincronizada

O equilíbrio muscular é, em qualquer actividade desportiva, de vital importância para a manutenção da funcionalidade das articulações. Na natação pura desportiva, devido ao caráter cíclico da utilização dos músculos dos ombros, existe uma maior propensão para lesões nesta articulação, essencialmente motivadas pelos desequilíbrios musculares entre rotadores internos (RI) e rotadores externos (RE) [1]. No caso da natação sincronizada, constatámos que não existem estudos nesta área. O que pretendemos com este estudo é caraterizar o perfil de força e equilíbrio muscular das nadadoras de sincronizada e verificar os efeitos do treino compensatório específico na força e equilíbrio muscular dos RI e RE dos ombros.O programa de treino de força realizado não produziu efeitos na força nem no equilíbrio muscular dos rotadores dos ombros. O treino de água próprio da natação sincronizada parece ser suficiente para o equilíbrio muscular nos rotadores dos ombros, embora seja insuficiente para o aumento da força. Neste sentido o treino de natação poderá ser fundamental para a manutenção dos níveis de força

Heart rate response to duration and players’ number variations in Futsal specific drill

Recent findings demonstrate that Futsal is a multiple-sprint sport in which high-intensity exercise constitutes a greater proportion of match time than all other team sports (Barbero-Alvarez et al., 2008), but the research of training intensity is a unknown way. Sport specific drills with variations are constantly used in Futsal practices, however the knowledge about how these variations influence drill intensity is very insufficient (Duarte et al., 2007). Therefore, this study aimed to measure the effects of duration and players’ number variations in a Futsal specific drill by the elicited percentage of maximal Heart Rate (HRmax%) and percentage of time spent in three Heart Rate intensity zones (HRzone185%HRmax). The studied sample was constituted by eight players from a Portuguese First Division team [age 25.9(4.5); weight 67.6(7.5); height 1.7(0.1); BMI 22.4(2.0)]. The exercise testing consists in a “half-pitch game” with official rules. To test the effect of players’ numerical relations, the drill was played in 4v4, 3v3 and 2v2 conditions, during 4 minutes and followed with an active break (continuous running with low intensity) of 4 minutes. In order to test the effect of exercise duration, the drill was played during 4 minutes and 10 minutes conditions, maintaining an active break of 4 minutes. In players’ number variation statistically significant differences were found in HRmax% [4v4 81.5(10.6) to 3v3 86.8(7.3) and to 2v2 87.9(11.7); p=0.01] and in percentage of time spent in HRzone2 [35.4% in 4v4, 12.5% in 3v3 and 10.4% in 2v2; p=0.01]. In the exercise duration statistically significant differences were found only in percentage of time spent in HRzone3 [50% in 4 minutes and 29.2% in 10 minutes; p=0.04]. The decrease in the number of players resulted in an intensity increase, probably due to the larger ratio of area per player and to the progressive decision making constraint by the limited choices of the ball carrier to cooperating with the teams-mate. The variation of the exercise duration did not induce any change in HRmax%. However, playing the “half-pitch game” during 4 minutes period brings more significant percentage of time spent in higher Heart Rate zone and induce more elevated physiological stimulation