Players\u27 and coaches\u27 perceptions of soccer coaches\u27 specific leadership behaviours

This research has examined players\u27 and coaches\u27 perceptions of the specific leadership behaviours of soccer coaches. The research was comprised two studies, the first a quantitative study and the second a qualitative study. Both studies focused on researching Yuki\u27s (1989, 1994) 14 specific leadership behaviours. These are: (a) team building and conflict management, (b) developing, (c) supporting, (d) rewarding, (e) recognising, (I) motivating and inspiring, {g) delegating. (h) consulting, (i) problem solving, (j) planning, (k) monitoring, (1) clarifying, (m) informing, and (n) networking. Subjects for Study I were 400 randomly selected soccer players and 40 randomly selected soccer coaches. The ratio between the players and the coaches was 10:1. Results of the MANOVA revealed significant multivariate differences between players\u27 and coaches’ perceptions of coaches\u27 behaviours. The univariate ANOVAs revealed that Coaches\u27 and players\u27 perceptions differed significantly on ten of the 14 specific behaviours. The MANOVA results showed significant multivariate difference between players\u27 perceptions and the coaches\u27 years of experience. The univariate ANOVAs test revealed that players\u27 perceptions differed significantly on eight specific behaviours. The results of Bonferroni adjusted t tests indicated that there was a statistically significant difference between players\u27 perceptions of their coaches\u27 behaviours. Results of the MANOVA revealed significant multivariate difference in players\u27 perceptions of their coaches\u27 behaviours and the level of competition. The univariate ANOVAs test revealed that 13 specific behaviours were statistically significant. Results of the MANOVA showed significant multivariate difference between male and female players. The univariate ANOVAs test indicates that players\u27 perceptions differ significantly on six specific behaviours. Results oft he MANOVA revealed significant multivariate difference between junior and senior players. The univariate ANOVAs test indicated that only delegating is significant at the 0.001 level

Change in knee flexor torque after fatiguing exercise identifies previous hamstring injury in football players

Muscular fatigue and interlimb strength asymmetry are factors known to influence hamstring injury risk; however, limb‐specific exacerbation of knee flexor (hamstrings) torque production after fatiguing exercise has previously been ignored. To investigate changes in muscular force production before and after sport‐specific (repeated‐sprint) and non‐specific (knee extension‐flexion) fatiguing exercise, and explore the sensitivity and specificity of isokinetic endurance (ie, muscle‐specific) and single‐leg vertical jump (ie, whole limb) tests to identify previous hamstring injury. Twenty Western Australia State League footballers with previous unilateral hamstring injury and 20 players without participated. Peak concentric knee extensor and flexor (180°∙s−1) torques were assessed throughout an isokinetic endurance test, which was then repeated alongside a single‐leg vertical jump test before and after maximal repeated‐sprint exercise. Greater reductions in isokinetic knee flexor torque (−16%) and the concentric hamstring:quadriceps peak torque ratio (−15%) were observed after repeated‐sprint running only in the injured (kicking) leg and only in the previously injured subjects. Changes in (1) peak knee flexor torque after repeated‐sprint exercise, and (2) the decline in knee flexor torque during the isokinetic endurance test measured after repeated‐sprint exercise, correctly identified the injured legs (N = 20) within the cohort (N = 80) with 100% specificity and sensitivity. Decreases in peak knee flexor torque and the knee flexor torque during an isokinetic endurance test after repeated‐sprint exercise identified previous hamstring injury with 100% accuracy. Changes in knee flexor torque, but not SLVJ, should be tested to determine its prospective ability to predict hamstring injury in competitive football players

Educational outcomes of adolescents participating in specialist sport programs in low SES areas of Western Australia: A mixed methods study

Specialist Sport Programs (SSPs) are an underexamined activity that combines the best features of two different contexts for adolescent development: a sporting program and a secondary school. A mixed-methods study was conducted to determine the influence of participation in SSPs on the educational outcomes of lower secondary students in Western Australia. The results demonstrated a significant improvement in specialist students\u27 mean grade for Mathematics over the course of a year, while their mean grade for all other subjects, and their level of engagement with school, remained stable over the same period of time. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with key stakeholders (e.g., specialist students and their parents, as well as teachers and graduates of the SSPs). Overall, the participants felt that SSPs had a positive influence on students\u27 engagement with school, and that this engagement had a positive impact on their academic achievement. Taken together, the results of this research suggest that there is a role for SSPs in promoting positive educational outcomes for lower secondary students attending public schools located in low SES areas

Reliability and validity of maximal mean and critical speed and metabolic power in Australian youth soccer players

© 2020 Cameron Lord, Anthony J. Blazevich, Chris R. Abbiss, Fadi Ma\u27ayah, published by Sciendo 2020. The reliability and validity of maximal mean speed (MMS), maximal mean metabolic power (MMPmet), critical speed (CS) and critical metabolic power (CPmet) were examined throughout the 2016-2017 soccer National Youth League competitions. Global positioning system (GPS) data were collected from 20 sub-elite soccer players during a battery of maximal running tests and four home matches. A symmetric moving average algorithm was applied to the instantaneous velocity data using specific time windows (1, 5, 10, 60, 300 and 600 s) and peak values were identified. Additionally, CS and CP¬met values calculated from match data were compared to CS and CPmet values determined from previously validated field tests to assess the validity of match values. Intra-class correlation (one-way random absolute agreement) scores ranged from 0.577 to 0.902 for speed, and from 0.701 to 0.863 for metabolic power values. Coefficients of variation (CV) ranged from good to moderate for speed (4-6%) and metabolic power (4-8%). Only CS and CPmet values were significantly correlated (r = 0.842; 0.700) and not statistically different (p = 0.066; 0.271) to values obtained in a shuttle-running critical test. While the present findings identified match-derived MMS, MMPmet, CS and CPmet to be reliable, only CS and CPmet derived from match play were validated to a CS field test that required changes in speed and direction rather than continuous running. This suggests that both maximal mean and critical speed and metabolic power analyses could be alternatives to absolute distance and speed in the assessment of match running performance during competitive matches

Recreational soccer as sport medicine for middle-aged and older adults: A systematic review

Background Strategies to prevent or attenuate the age-related decline in physical and physiological function and reduce chronic disease risk factors are of clinical importance. Objective To examine the health benefits of recreational soccer in middle-aged and older adults. Design Systematic review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Data sources All available records up until 9 June 2017 in PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL Plus, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library databases. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies All randomised trials with or without a control group (randomised controlled trials or randomised uncontrolled trials) and non-randomised controlled trials that used recreational soccer, which includes small-sided soccer games, as the sole or principal intervention, and reported relevant effects in untrained/sedentary, healthy or unhealthy adults aged 40 years and above were included. Results Five trials described in 13 articles were included, which scored 6–9 out of 12 points on the modified Delphi quality rating scale. The duration was from 12 to 52 weeks, with various frequencies, volumes and game formats performed both outdoors and indoors with men and women. The trials indicate that recreational soccer may result in improvement in cardiovascular function, body composition and functional ability, although no significant changes were observed in postural balance. Conclusion Recreational soccer should be considered an alternative exercise modality for untrained, healthy or unhealthy middle-aged and older adults of both sexes to maintain an active lifestyle and mitigate a wide array of physical and physiological age-related changes

Impact of sudden rule changes on player injuries and performance: Insights from Australian Football

This study investigated the effects of reduced quarter time due to COVID-19 pandemic rule changes, on running performance and injuries in Australian Football. Microsensor data for eight matches performed by the same 17 players were compared between the 2019 (standard) and 2020 (COVID-19) seasons using linear and generalised mixed models. Injury rates were assessed in 34 players across the full 2019 season, and 32 players across the full 2020 season. The total distance (ES = 1.28 [0.55 to 2.02]), high-speed (\u3e18 km/h) (ES = 0.44 [-0.24 to 1.12]) and very high-speed (\u3e24 km/h) (ES = 0.27 [-0.41 to 0.94]) distances, PlayerLoad™ (ES = 0.96 [0.25 to 1.67]), high-intensity efforts (ES = 0.48 [-0.20 to 1.16]), and accelerations (ES = 0.33 [-0.34 to 1.01]) were smaller (p ≤ 0.01) for the 2020 than the 2019 season. Expressed relative to playing time, distance (ES=-0.38 [-1.06 to 0.30]), PlayerLoad™ (ES = -0.27 [-0.94 to 0.41]), and acceleration efforts (ES = -0.50 [-1.18 to 0.18]) were greater (p \u3c 0.05) for the 2020 than the 2019 season. No significant differences in maximum ball-in-play periods nor the difference between the 1st and 4th quarters were evident. Injury rates remained similar between 2019 (3.36 per game) and 2020 (3.55 per game). However, the proportion of injuries that led to lost time (missed games) was greater for the 2020 (38%) than 2019 season (24%). The changes in the rules had a profound impact on player performance and increased the likelihood of time loss injuries

Greater loss of horizontal force after a repeated-sprint test in footballers with a previous hamstring injury

OBJECTIVES: To quantify changes in running kinetics and kinematics during a repeated-sprint test in football players, and explore the sensitivity and specificity with which these variables can identify previous hamstring injury. DESIGN: 20 Western Australia State League footballers with previous unilateral hamstring injury and 20 players without completed a 10×6-s repeated-sprint test on a non-motorised treadmill dynamometer. METHODS: Changes in horizontal force, vertical force, contact time and flight time were compared between previously injured and uninjured legs of participants. RESULTS: Mean horizontal force production of the previously injured leg in the injured group was 13% lower (p=0.001), and this magnitude of change was used to identify the injured legs within the cohort with 77% specificity and 85% sensitivity. Furthermore, the area under the Receiver Operating Characteristics curve (0.846) demonstrated that the between-leg difference in mean horizontal force was a good instrument for identifying previous hamstring injury. CONCLUSIONS: There is a greater fatigued-induced change in mean horizontal force during a repeated-sprint test in legs with previous hamstring injury than the non-injured legs of the injured players or the legs of uninjured players. Such asymmetry may contribute to impaired performance in football players returning from hamstring injury and also to the high rate of hamstring re-injury. Rehabilitation and return-to-play strategies should emphasise a reduction in asymmetry, particularly during repeated high-intensity efforts. Furthermore, binary regression and Receiver Operating Characteristic analyses suggest that changes in mean horizontal force could be used to assess risk of hamstring injury, re-injury and/or return to play

Comparing maximal mean and critical speed and metabolic powers in elite and sub-elite soccer

The quantification of maximal mean speed (MMS), maximal mean metabolic power (MMP met), critical speed (CS) and critical metabolic power (CP met) was conducted over full A-League (elite) and National Premier League (NPL; sub-elite) seasons. Comparisons were made between levels of soccer competition and playing positions (i. e. centre backs, full backs, central midfielders, wide midfielders and strikers). A symmetric moving average algorithm was applied to the GPS raw data using specific time windows (i. e. 1, 5, 10, 60, 300 and 600 s) and maximal values were obtained. Additionally, these maximal values were used to derive estimates of CS and CP met. Maximal mean values, particularly during smaller time windows (i. e. 1 and 5 s), were greater in A-League match play. Only MMP met1 was identified as being consistently different between competitions (P = \u3c 0.001 – 0.049) in all playing positions. Significance was only observed in CS (P = 0.005) and CP met (P = 0.005) of centre backs between competitions. Centre backs were identified as the least energy demanding playing position. The present findings suggests that both maximal mean and critical analyses are suitable alternatives to common absolute distance and speed assessments of match running performance during competitive matches. © 2020 Georg Thieme Verlag KG StuttgartNew York