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

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

Application of a Structured Training Plan on Different-Length Microcycles in Soccer—Internal and External Load Analysis between Training Weeks and Games

The aim of this study was to apply a training plan to four different-length microcycles (MIC) in soccer and analyze (a) the load within the training weeks and (b) the short-term effect on the matches that were played at the end of each microcycle. An intervention training program applied to microcycles of five, six, seven and nine days during two seasons of the Cypriot Fist Division. The GPS technology and subjective (wellness, RPE) assessments were used to monitor the load throughout trainings and games. In weekly external load, there were differences between the four microcycles, with a lower load in MIC5 for all the parameters and higher on MIC9 in the most of them (p p p p = 0.009). MIC5 also differed from MIC6 (p = 0.001) and MIC7 (p p = 0.035) and MIC6 (60 ± 10 n, p = 0.002); in GSPEF (game speed efforts), between MIC5 (40 ± 17 n), MIC7 (48 ± 14 n, p = 0.004) and MIC9 (48 ± 16 n, p p = 0.009), and MIC9 (p = 0.009); in GMPW5 (game metabolic power efforts), between MIC7 (1307 ± 271 n), MIC5 (1201 ± 340 n, p = 0.035) and MIC6 (1178 ± 261 n, p = 0.001). No differences were found for wellness and perceived exertion. It is important for performance coaches to adapt the training load to the length of the microcycle, applying a lower load to short training weeks and manage the load fluctuation on long training weeks in terms of volume, intensity and recovery. In our study, the results confirmed that this strategy could result in similar performance in the games, regardless of microcycle length