Latest research in football - week 14 - 2018

#1 Correlation between quadriceps and hamstrings inter-limb strength asymmetry with change of direction and sprint in U21 elite soccer-players
Reference: Hum Mov Sci. 2018 Apr 3;59:81-87. doi: 10.1016/j.humov.2018.03.016. [Epub ahead of print]
Authors: Coratella G, Beato M, Schena F
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between in quadriceps and hamstrings inter-limb strength asymmetry and change of direction, sprinting and jumping abilities in U21 elite soccer players. Twenty-seven soccer players volunteered for this study. Isokinetic quadriceps and hamstrings peak torque was measured at high and low angular velocities, both in concentric and eccentric modalities. Performance in agility T-test, 20 + 20 m shuttle-test, 10 m and 30 m sprint, squat jump (SJ) and counter-movement jump (CMJ), were measured. Overall, time on agility T-test and 20 + 20 m shuttle-test was moderately and positively correlated with the quadriceps and hamstrings inter-limb eccentric peak torque asymmetry, both at high and low angular velocities. In addition, time on 10 m and 30 m sprints was moderately and positively correlated with the hamstrings inter-limb high-velocity concentric peak torque asymmetry. SJ and CMJ showed trivial to small correlations with hamstrings and quadriceps inter-limb peak torque asymmetry. The present results provide further information insight the role of lower-limb muscle strength balance in COD, sprinting and jumping performance.


#2 "Good, better, creative": the influence of creativity on goal scoring in elite soccer
Reference: J Sports Sci. 2018 Apr 6:1-5. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2018.1459153. [Epub ahead of print]
Authors: Kempe M, Memmert D
Summary: This study investigated the level of creativity of goals scored in football. Therefore, all goals in the Football FIFA World Cup 2010 and 2014, as well as the Football UEFA Euro 2016 were qualitatively examined. Three Football experts evaluated the last eight actions before each goal using a creativity scale ranging from 0 to 10 (0 = not creative, 10 = highly creative) of all goals scored via open play (311 goals in 153 matches). Level of creativity was revealed using an Analysis of Variance and the frquency of high highly creative goals using a Kruskall- Wallis Test. The results showed that the closer the actions to a goal, the more creative they were evaluated. Teams that advanced to the later rounds of the tournament demonstrated greater creativity than teams that failed to do so. High creativity in the last two actions before the actual shot on goal proved to be the best predictor for game success. In conclusion, this study is the first one to show that creativity seems to be a factor for success in high level football. Thereby it provides an empirical basis for the ongoing debate on the importance of creativity training in football.


#3 Mental Fatigue and Soccer: Current Knowledge and Future Directions
Reference: Sports Med. 2018 Apr 5. doi: 10.1007/s40279-018-0908-2. [Epub ahead of print]
Authors: Smith MR, Thompson C, Marcora SM, Skorski S, Meyer T, Coutts AJ
Summary: Fatigue is a complex state with multiple physiological and psychological origins. However, fatigue in soccer has traditionally been investigated from a physiological perspective, with little emphasis on the cognitive demands of competition. These cognitive demands may induce mental fatigue, which could contribute to the fatigue-related performance decrements observed during and after soccer matches. Recent research investigating the relationship between mental fatigue and soccer-specific performance supports this suggestion. This leading article provides an overview of the research in this emerging field, outlining the impact of mental fatigue on soccer-specific physical, technical, decision-making, and tactical performances. The second half of this review provides directions for future research in response to the limitations of the existing research. Emphasis is placed on translating the current body of knowledge into practical applications and developing a greater understanding of the mechanisms underpinning the negative impact of mental fatigue on soccer performance. A conceptual model is presented to help direct this future research.


#4 Specific Changes in Young Soccer Player's Fitness After Traditional Bilateral vs. Unilateral Combined Strength and Plyometric Training
Reference: Front Physiol. 2018 Mar 22;9:265. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00265. eCollection 2018.
Authors: Ramirez-Campillo R, Sanchez-Sanchez J, Gonzalo-Skok O, Rodriguez-Fernandez A, Carretero M, Nakamura FY
Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5874317/pdf/fphys-09-00265.pdf
Summary: The aim of this study was to compare changes in young soccer player's fitness after traditional bilateral vs. unilateral combined plyometric and strength training. Male athletes were randomly divided in two groups; both received the same training, including strength training for knee extensors and flexors, in addition to horizontal plyometric training drills. The only difference between groups was the mode of drills technique: unilateral (UG; n = 9; age, 17.3 ± 1.1 years) vs. bilateral (TG; n = 9; age, 17.6 ± 0.5 years). One repetition maximum bilateral strength of knee muscle extensors (1RM_KE) and flexors (1RM_KF), change of direction ability (COD), horizontal and vertical jump ability with one (unilateral) and two (bilateral) legs, and limb symmetry index were measured before and after an 8-week in-season intervention period. Some regular soccer drills were replaced by combination of plyometric and strength training drills. Magnitude-based inference statistics were used for between-group and within-group comparisons. Beneficial effects (p < 0.05) in 1RM_KE, COD, and several test of jumping performance were found in both groups in comparison to pre-test values. The limb symmetry index was not affected in either group. The beneficial changes in 1RM_KE (8.1%; p = 0.074) and 1RM_KF (6.7%; p = 0.004), COD (3.1%; p = 0.149), and bilateral jump performance (from 2.7% [p = 0.535] to 10.5% [p = 0.002]) were possible to most likely beneficial in the TG than in the UG. However, unilateral jump performance measures achieved likely to most likely beneficial changes in the UG compared to the TG (from 4.5% [p = 0.090] to 8.6% [p = 0.018]). The improvements in jumping ability were specific to the type of jump performed, with greater improvements in unilateral jump performance in the UG and bilateral jump performance in the TG. Therefore, bilateral strength and plyometric training should be complemented with unilateral drills, in order to maximize adaptations.


#5 Switching between pitch surfaces: practical applications and future perspectives for soccer training
Reference: J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2018 Apr 4. doi: 10.23736/S0022-4707.18.08278-6. [Epub ahead of print]
Authors: Rago V, Silva JR, Brito J, Barreira D, Mohr M, Krustrup P, Rebelo AN
Summary: Soccer training and completion is conventionally practiced on natural grass (NG) or artificial turf (AT). Recently, AT pitches for training / competition, and of unstable surfaces for injury prevention training has increased. Therefore, soccer players are frequently exposed to variations in pitch surface during either training or competition. These ground changes may impact physical and physiological responses, adaptations as well as the injury. The aim of this review was to summarize the acute physical and physiological responses, chronic adaptations, and injury risk associated with exercising on different pitch surfaces in soccer. Eligible studies were published in English, had pitch surface as an independent variable, and had physical, physiological or epidemiological information as outcome variables. Specific data extracted from the articles included the training response, training adaptations or injury outcomes according to different pitch surfaces. A total of 224 studies were retrieved from a literature search. Twenty articles met the inclusion criteria: 9 for acute physical and physiological responses, 2 for training adaptations and 9 for injury assessment. The literature lacks consistent evidence regarding the effects of pitch surface on performance and health outcomes in soccer players. However, it seems that occasionally switching training surfaces seems a valuable strategy for focusing on specific musculoskeletal queries and enhancing players' fitness. For instance, sand training may be occasionally proposed as complementary training strategy, given the recruitment of additional musculature probably not involved on firmer surfaces, but the possible training-induced adaptations of non-conventional soccer surfaces (e.g., sand) might potentially result into a negative transfer on AT or NG. Since the specific physical demands of soccer can differ between surfaces, coaches should resort to the use of non-traditional surfaces with parsimony, emphasizing the specific surface-related motor tasks, normally observed on natural grass or artificial turf. Further studies are required to better understand the physiological effects induced by systematic surface-specific training, or switching between pitch surfaces.


#6 Shoulder and elbow injuries in soccer goalkeepers versus field players in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, 2009-2010 through 2013-2014
Reference: Phys Sportsmed. 2018 Apr 4. doi: 10.1080/00913847.2018.1462083. [Epub ahead of print]
Authors: Goodman AD, Etzel C, Raducha JE, Owens BD
Summary: Examination of the incidence of shoulder and elbow injuries in the collegiate soccer player population is limited, as is comparison between goalkeepers and field players. We hypothesized that goalkeepers would have a higher incidence of shoulder and elbow injuries than field players. Furthermore, we sought to determine the incidence of shoulder and elbow injuries among National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) soccer players, and to determine injury risk factors. The NCAA Injury Surveillance Program database was analyzed for injuries to NCAA men's and women's soccer players during the 2009-2010 through 2013-2014 academic years. The incidence of injury was calculated per 10,000 athletic exposures (AE) for goalkeepers versus field players, activity, and injury characteristics, and compared using univariate analysis and risk-ratios to determine injury risk factors. While the overall incidence of shoulder and elbow injuries in soccer players was 2.7/10,000AE [95% CI 2.62-2.78], the incidence among goalkeepers was 4.6-fold higher (8.3 vs. 1.8/10,000AE, p<0.0001). Goalkeepers had significantly higher incidences of injury in practice (21.3-fold) and in the preseason (16.1-fold) than field players. Women goalkeepers were disproportionately affected, with injury incidences 7.7-fold higher than women field players, and 1.9-fold higher than male goalkeepers. Acromioclavicular joint injuries, rotator cuff tears/sprains, and elbow and shoulder instability constituted the majority of the goalkeeper injuries. Shoulder and elbow injuries in NCAA soccer players are significantly more common in goalkeepers than field players. Incidence varies widely by position and injury, with a number of associated risk factors. Soccer players sustaining these injuries, along with their coaches and medical providers, may benefit from this injury data to best manage expectations and outcomes. Soccer governing bodies may use this to track injury incidence and response to preventative measures.


#7 The effects of maturation on jumping ability and sprint adaptations to plyometric training in youth soccer players
Reference: J Sports Sci. 2018 Apr 3:1-7. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2018.1459151. [Epub ahead of print]
Authors: Asadi A, Ramirez-Campillo R, Arazi H, Saez de Villarreal E
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of maturation on power and sprint performance adaptations following 6 weeks of plyometric training in youth soccer players during pre-season. Sixty male soccer players were categorized into 3 maturity groups (Pre, Mid and Post peak height velocity [PHV]) and then randomly assigned to plyometric group and control group. Vertical jump, standing long jump, and 20-m sprint (with and without ball) tests were collected before- and after-intervention. After the intervention, the Pre, Mid and Post-PHV groups showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) and small to moderate effect size (ES) improvement in vertical jump (ES = 0.48; 0.57; 0.73), peak power output (E = 0.60; 0.64; 0.76), standing long jump (ES = 0.62; 0.65; 0.7), 20-m sprint (ES = -0.58; -0.66), and 20-m sprint with ball (ES = -0.44; -0.8; -0.55) performances. The Post-PHV soccer players indicated greater gains than Pre-PHV in vertical jump and sprint performance after training (P ≤ 0.05). Short-term plyometric training had positive effects on sprinting and jumping-power which are important determinants of match-winning actions in soccer. These results indicate that a sixty foot contact, twice per week program, seems effective in improving power and sprint performance in youth soccer players.


#8 Passing Decisions in Football: Introducing an Empirical Approach to Estimating the Effects of Perceptual Information and Associative Knowledge
Reference: Front Psychol. 2018 Mar 22;9:361. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00361. eCollection 2018.
Authors: Steiner S
Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5874613/pdf/fpsyg-09-00361.pdf
Summary: The importance of various information sources in decision-making in interactive team sports is debated. While some highlight the role of the perceptual information provided by the current game context, others point to the role of knowledge-based information that athletes have regarding their team environment. Recently, an integrative perspective considering the simultaneous involvement of both of these information sources in decision-making in interactive team sports has been presented. In a theoretical example concerning passing decisions, the simultaneous involvement of perceptual and knowledge-based information has been illustrated. However, no precast method of determining the contribution of these two information sources empirically has been provided. The aim of this article is to bridge this gap and present a statistical approach to estimating the effects of perceptual information and associative knowledge on passing decisions. To this end, a sample dataset of scenario-based passing decisions is analyzed. This article shows how the effects of perceivable team positionings and athletes' knowledge about their fellow team members on passing decisions can be estimated. Ways of transfering this approach to real-world situations and implications for future research using more representative designs are presented.


#9 Concurrent validation of an inertial measurement system to quantify kicking biomechanics in four football codes
Reference: J Biomech. 2018 Mar 21. pii: S0021-9290(18)30212-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2018.03.031. [Epub ahead of print]
Authors: Blair S, Duthie G, Robertson S, Hopkins W, Ball K
Summary: Wearable inertial measurement systems (IMS) allow for three-dimensional analysis of human movements in a sport-specific setting. This study examined the concurrent validity of a IMS (Xsens MVN system) for measuring lower extremity and pelvis kinematics in comparison to a Vicon motion analysis system (MAS) during kicking. Thirty footballers from Australian football (n = 10), soccer (n = 10), rugby league and rugby union (n = 10) clubs completed 20 kicks across four conditions. Concurrent validity was assessed using a linear mixed-modelling approach, which allowed the partition of between and within-subject variance from the device measurement error. Results were expressed in raw and standardised units for assessments of differences in means and measurement error, and interpreted via non-clinical magnitude-based inferences. Trivial to small differences were found in linear velocities (foot and pelvis), angular velocities (knee, shank and thigh), sagittal joint (knee and hip) and segment angle (shank and pelvis) means (mean difference: 0.2-5.8%) between the IMS and MAS in Australian football, soccer and the rugby codes. Trivial to small measurement errors (from 0.1 to 5.8%) were found between the IMS and MAS in all kinematic parameters. The IMS demonstrated acceptable levels of concurrent validity compared to a MAS when measuring kicking biomechanics across the four football codes. Wearable IMS offers various benefits over MAS, such as, out-of-laboratory testing, larger measurement range and quick data output, to help improve the ecological validity of biomechanical testing and the timing of feedback. The results advocate the use of IMS to quantify biomechanics of high-velocity movements in sport-specific settings.