Correlation between Official and Common Field-Based Fitness Tests in Elite Soccer Referees

The Effect of Kinesio Taping Applied to Quadriceps and Gastrocnemius Muscles on Speed, Agility and Flexibility: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to examine the effect of kinesio tape (KT) applied to different parts of the body on speed, agility and flexibility.

METHOD

32 male volunteers aged 18-38 years participated in the study. KT was applied to the quadriceps and gastrocnemius muscles of the athletes at 4 different times with intervals of one week. As measurements, 30-meter sprint test, agility T test and sit and reach test for flexibility were performed. Independent samples T-Test and Mann Whitney U test, repeated measures analysis of variance and the Friedman test were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

No significant difference was found between the speed, agility and flexibility values of KT applied to quadriceps and gastrocnemius muscles (p>0.05). It was found that there was an increase in agility performance in both muscle groups in the 48th hour measurements after the KT application, it increased speed performance only in gastrocnemius muscle (p<0.05) and did not increase flexibility performance in both muscle groups. There was no statistically significant improvement in the 30th minute and 24th hour measurements (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

It can be suggested that applying KT to quadriceps and gastrocnemius muscles with 25-50% tension for 48 hours is effective in improving the agility performance.

A Systematic Review of the Physical, Physiological, Nutritional and Anthropometric Profiles of Soccer Referees

BACKGROUND

The importance of soccer referees is widely accepted by international soccer organizations and governing bodies, although there is little research summarizing and appraising the literature on soccer referees. The aim of this study was to systematically review the information related to physical demands, nutrition and physiological profiling of soccer referees.

METHODS

Conforming with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, searches of three electronic databases (Web of Sciences, PubMed and Scopus) were conducted on 24 April 2022. The following search terms were used: (Soccer OR football AND refer*) AND (physical OR physiolo* OR load* OR "body composition" OR "fat mass" OR "fat free mass" OR "body size" OR "nutrition*" OR "nutritional assessment" OR "nutritional intake" OR "macronutrient*" OR "micronutrient*"). The inclusion criteria of the manuscripts written in English were that articles with male and/or female soccer referees and included relevant data concerning performance, physical testing, nutrition, body composition, body size and/or physiology of soccer referees. The tools developed by the National Institute of Health were used to assess risk of bias according to the study design.

RESULTS

In total, 110 manuscripts were included in the present review. Match activities of soccer referees and assistant referees are not comparable. Variation in performance is influenced by competitive level and competitive schedules. Additionally, match performance is often used to validate field protocols. The associations between match indicators and field protocols were not constant across the included studies, particularly in short-maximal tests. An age decline in physical performance was not conclusive. Body size did not discriminate between referees and assistant referees, as well as referees of different competitive levels. Few studies focused on nutritional guidelines among referees, particularly exercise energy expenditure. Energy intake was comparable across studies, but referees did not follow the daily dietary recommendations. Aerobic output was frequently assessed, and it was not comparable to the values for soccer players.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there are decreases in the running profiles of older referees, they maintain the same distances from the ball, and thus, age per se should not be used to define participation at the international level. The assessment of physical fitness warrants future consideration given the levels of fatigue that are apparent at the end of matches. In order to attain ideal levels of body composition, future studies need to provide guidelines for daily energy expenditure and nutritional intake.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The protocol was published in INPLASY (International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols) with the registration number 202280052 and https://doi.org/10.37766/inplasy2022.8.005 .

Exercise Evaluation and Prescription-Second Edition

In the first volume of "Exercise Evaluation and Prescription" in the Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology [...].

Determinants of Y-Shaped Agility Test in Basketball Players

Y-shaped agility test is a reactive agility test that includes both sensory and motor components. However, there is a lack of information about the contribution of these components to reactive agility in basketball players. Therefore, this study investigates: (i) the relationship between Y-shaped agility performance and reaction speed, sprint speed, change of direction speed, muscle strength, and (ii) determinants of this reactive agility test. Eleven male basketball players performed a Y-shaped agility test, 5 m and 20 m sprints, a 505 Agility test, squat, countermovement and drop jumps, and simple and two-choice reaction time tests. The results revealed a significant relationship between the time in Y-shaped agility test and 5 m sprint time (r = 0.795, p = 0.003, R2 = 0.632), 20 m sprint time (r = 0.676, p = 0.022, R2 = 0.457), and reactive strength index (r = −0.619, p = 0.042, R2 = 0.383), but not with simple and choice-based reaction times. These findings indicate that performance in the Y-shaped agility test is more profoundly determined by a motor rather than a sensory component. This may be ascribed to the structure of a predominantly velocity-oriented Y-shaped agility test with a small contribution of responses to visual stimuli. The adaptation of basketball players to training aimed at increasing speed and strength may also play a role. The structure of the Y-shaped agility test should be modified so as to better reflect the sensory component of reactive agility and more sensitively reveal within- and between-group differences.

Running Performance during the Holy Month of Ramadan in Elite Professional Adult Soccer Players in Russia

Religious fasting in the Holy Month of Ramadan is an important element of the Muslim culture during which no eating or drinking is permitted from dawn till dusk. A considerable number of Muslim soccer players abide by these restrictions, which may cause a negative impact on key running performance parameters during competitive matches. Alterations to diet and water intake during the Holy Month of Ramadan may affect various running performance parameters in elite Muslim professional adult soccer players. This study was conducted with two groups of soccer players from the Russian Premier League (RPL): The Exposure Group (EG) consisted of 13 Muslims age 24.0 ± 2.8 years abiding by religious fasting and the Control Group (CG) included 13 non-Muslim age 26.0 ± 4.4 years. Using the Instat system, the running performance of each player was controlled in both groups during matches from the RPL before and in the third week of Ramadan (a total of two matches for every player). None of the measured parameters demonstrated significant changes in any match. In conclusion, restrictions in diet and liquid intake during the Holy Month of Ramadan had no negative influence on the running performance of elite Muslim professional adult soccer players during daytime matches.