The influence of fixture congestion on physical performance response to U23 soccer match-play

This study sought to examine differences in measures of intense periods of physical performance during competitive match-play, between one-match (1 match weeks) and two-match microcycles (2 match week). 1, 3 and 5 min "peak" and mean averages for total distance (TD), high-speed running (HSR) and metabolic power (MP) were analysed for each 15 min period of match-play. Linear mixed models were employed to examine the differences in dependent variables for each method of measurement between the 1 and 2 game microcycles. No differences were reported for "peak" values for all epoch lengths, however, results revealed significantly reduced "average" values, during periods of fixture congestion, for 1, 3 and 5 min epochs for average TD, and 3 min epochs for average HSR towards the end of the match (75-90 min split). There was, however, a trend for the opposite response to occur in the 60-75-min period. The current data suggests that players potentially display altered pacing strategies during periods of fixture congestion, with these observed responses being dependent on sampling method and epoch length.

Appreciating Factors Beyond the Physical in Talent Identification and Development: Insights From the FC Barcelona Sporting Model

FC Barcelona is a multi-sport organization that adopts a talent identification approach that emphasizes the technical, psychological, and perceptual-cognitive attributes. It is unclear within this type of sporting selection model whether the relative age effect (RAE) exists. Consequently, the aim of the study was to evaluate the RAE across multiple sports and age groups at FC Barcelona. The birthdates of all players (n = 6,542) affiliated to each sport [male basketball (n = 1,013), male (n = 3,012) and female (n = 449) soccer, male futsal (n = 761), male handball (n = 999), and male indoor roller hockey (n = 308)] across all age groups from U10 to Senior were recorded. These were then categorized into quartiles from the start of the selection year (Q1 = Jan-Mar; Q2 = Apr-Jun; Q3 = Jul-Sep; Q4 = Oct-Dec) and analyzed for (a) each sport; (b) each age group, irrespective of the sport; and (c) each age group within each sport, using Chi-squared statistics and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Birthdates across the entire club revealed a RAE (Q1 = 46.1%, Q2 = 27.1%, Q3 = 17.1%, and Q4 = 9.7%, χ² = 29.8, P < 0.01), with OR in Q1, Q2, and Q3 representing a 4.76 (95% CIs: 1.96-11.57), 2.80 (1.12-7.03), and 1.77 (0.67-4.63) increased likelihood for selection when compared to Q4, respectively. Despite FC Barcelona's approach to talent identification and development, the RAE was still present within youth age groups (<18 years old). The current findings provide support that the RAE is more prevalent within regionally popular sports and reduces with increasing age; however, given the talent identification processes within FC Barcelona's sporting model, additional factors beyond the physical attributes, such as enhanced psychological and perceptual-cognitive attributes, in those born earlier in the selection year might further influence the RAE. Consequently, current results provide indirect evidence to suggest that sociological and psychological determinants might be a greater influence on the presence of RAE in sporting environments that prefer to consider technical and perceptual-cognitive attributes in their talent development programs.

Analysis of Physical Demands During Youth Soccer Match-Play: Considerations of Sampling Method and Epoch Length

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the physical match profiles of professional soccer players using 3 and 5 min fixed and rolling averages as well as fixed 1 min averages, with considerations to training prescription. Methods: Twenty-nine professional U23 soccer outfield players competed across 17 competitive matches during the 2017/18 season, equating to a total of 130 separate physical match profiles. Match activities were recorded using global positioning system (GPS) devices with integrated micro-electrical mechanical systems (MEMS), recording total distance (TD), high-speed running (HSR), and metabolic power (MP). For each individual match profile and variable, 1, 3, and 5 min peak, post-peak, and average values were calculated using fixed-time epochs (FIXED) and rolling averages (ROLL). Linear mixed models were employed to examine the differences in the dependent variables as a function of the method of measurement. Results: Results revealed significantly higher peak values, for relative TD, relative HSR and relative MP when employing the ROLL sampling method, in comparison to the FIXED method, for both 3 min and 5 min epoch lengths. Analysis of epoch length revealed significantly higher peak values, across all positions, for relative TD, relative HSR and MP for 1 min epochs, in comparison to 3 min and 5 min epochs. Conclusions: The data offers a novel insight into the appropriate identification of physical demands during youth soccer match-play. Researchers and practitioners should consider the sampling method and epoch length when assessing the physical demands of competitive match-play, as well as when designing and prescribing sport-specific conditioning drills.

Between-Game Variation of Physical Soccer Performance Measures in Highly Trained Youth Soccer Players

Doncaster, G and Unnithan, V. Between-game variation of physical soccer performance measures in highly trained youth soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 33(7): 1912-1920, 2019-To assess the between-game variation in measures of physical performance during 11 vs. 11 soccer match play, over a short period, in highly trained youth soccer players. A single-cohort, observational, study design was used. Physical match performance data were collected from 17, male, highly trained, youth soccer players (age, 13.3 ± 0.4 years) over 3, 2 × 20 minutes, 11 vs. 11 matches. Using 10-Hz global positioning systems, the variables selected for analyses were total distance (TD), high-speed running (HSR), very high-speed running (VHSR), number of high-speed running efforts (HSReff), and number of very high-speed running efforts (VHSReff). Match data were also separated into cumulative 5-minute epochs, to identify the peak 5-minute epoch and the mean of the cumulative 5-minute epochs for each match. Variability was quantified using the coefficient of variation (CV), standard error of measurement, and intraclass correlation coefficient. Between- and within-player smallest worthwhile changes (SWC) were also calculated for each variable to aid in the interpretation of the data. Analysis of the variance between games reported a low CV for TD (3.8%) but larger CVs for HSR (33.3%), HSReff (35.4%), and VHSR and VHSReff (59.6 and 57.4%, respectively). Analysis of 5-minute epochs (peak and average) found an increase in the CVs beyond that of the values reported for the whole match. Between-player SWC in high-intensity physical performance data ranged from 24.7 to 42.4%, whereas within-player SWC ranged from 1.2 to 79.9%. The between-game variability of high-intensity and very high-intensity activities in youth soccer players, across 3 soccer matches over a short period (2 weeks), is relatively "large" and specific to the individual, thus highlighting the need for caution when interpreting physical performance data between games and players.