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Despite optimal cognitive function being essential for performance, there is a lack of research on the effectiveness of combined cooling interventions on team sport athlete's cognitive function when exercising in the heat. In a randomised, crossover design, 12 unacclimatised men (age: 22.3 ± 3.0 years, body mass: 73.4 ± 5.1 kg, height: 181.0 ± 5.3 cm and V˙O2 $\dot{\mathrm{V}}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ max: 51.2 ± 9.5 mL/kg/min) participated in a control (CON) and combined cooling trial (ice slurry and ice collar; COOL). A battery of cognitive tests were completed prior to, during (at half‐time) and following a 90‐min intermittent running protocol in the heat (33°C, 50% relative humidity (RH)). Perceptual and physiological measures were taken throughout the protocol. In CON, response times were quicker on the Stroop task complex level (p = 0.002) and the visual search test complex level at full‐time (p = 0.014) compared to COOL. During COOL, response times were quicker at half‐time on the Stroop task complex level (p = 0.024) compared to CON. Lower rectal temperatures were seen during COOL (CON: 37.44 ± 0.65°C and COOL: 37.28 ± 0.68°C) as well as lower skin, neck and forehead temperatures (main effect of trial, all p < 0.05). Lower ratings of thermal sensation and perceived exertion and enhanced thermal comfort were recorded during COOL (main effect of trial, all p < 0.05). Whilst minimal differences in cognitive function were found when using the combined cooling intervention, the findings highlight a practical and effective strategy to improving many physiological and perceptual responses to intermittent exercise in the heat. Highlights: Many studies have investigated the use of a combined cooling strategy on endurance exercise in the heat and found positive benefits on physiological, perceptual and cognitive responses to the intervention; however, there is a lack of research on intermittent exercise.The combined cooling intervention, consisting of an ice slurry and ice collar, was successful at lowering rectal, neck, forehead and skin temperatures as well as perceptual ratings of thermal sensation, comfort and perceived exertion.However, the combined cooling strategy did not elicit any consistent findings regarding cognitive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In soccer, skill is significantly influenced by motor skills and physical constitution. In addition, perceptual‐cognitive abilities are thought to affect sport‐specific performance. Nevertheless, there are hardly any studies investigating the relationship of general cognitive abilities with sport‐specific performance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze relationships between general perceptual‐cognitive abilities and soccer‐specific performance in competitive youth sports. Thirty highly talented male youth soccer players aged 12–14 years completed various perceptual‐cognitive (selective attention, cognitive flexibility, inhibition, working memory, peripheral perception, and choice response) and sport‐specific on‐field tests. Cognitive abilities were assessed using a computer‐based test system. Soccer‐specific performance skills were evaluated by two sport‐specific on‐field tests. The relation between perceptual‐cognitive abilities and soccer‐specific performance was examined using a correlation analysis as well as a four‐stage regression analysis. Overall, the expression of general perceptual‐cognitive abilities was found to have an impact on performance in soccer‐specific test situations, particularly cognitive flexibility and selective attention. Our results suggest that general cognitive tests could be an important tool for the evaluation of cognitive abilities in soccer. This study brings together key approaches in expertise research and makes a significant contribution to a better understanding of expertise in soccer. Highlights: This study is one of the few to examine the relationship between general cognitive abilities and sport‐specific performance.The results highlight the relevance of general perceptual‐cognitive abilities for soccer‐specific performance.This study provides a link between different theories of expertise research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights Female soccer players have been identified as presenting with low energy availability (LEA), though the prevalence of LEA may be overestimated given inaccuracies associated with self‐reporting dietary intakes. Accordingly, we aimed to quantify total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) via the doubly labelled water (DLW) method, energy intake (EI) and energy availability (EA). Adolescent female soccer players (n = 45; 16 ± 1 years) completed a 9–10 day ‘training camp’ representing their national team. Absolute and relative TDEE was 2683 ± 324 and 60 ± 7 kcal kg−1 fat free mass (FFM), respectively. Mean daily EI was lower (P < 0.01) when players self‐reported using the remote food photography method (RFPM) (2047 ± 383 kcal day−1) over a 3‐day period versus DLW derived EI estimates accounting for body mass (BM) changes (2545 ± 518 kcal day−1) over 7–8 days, representing a mean daily Δ of 499 ± 526 kcal day−1 and 22% error when using the RFPM. Estimated EA was different (P < 0.01) between methods (DLW: 48 ± 14 kcal kg−1 FFM, range: 22–82; RFPM: 37 ± 8 kcal kg−1 FFM, range: 22–54), such that prevalence of LEA (<30 kcal kg−1 FFM) was lower in DLW compared with RFPM (5% vs. 15%, respectively). Data demonstrate the potential to significantly underestimate EI when using self‐report methods. This approach can therefore cause a misrepresentation and an over‐prevalence of LEA, which is the underlying aetiology of ‘relative energy deficiency in sport’ (REDs). What is the central question of this study? Do self‐reported dietary intakes (via remote food photography method, RFPM) overestimate low energy availability (LEA) prevalence in female soccer players compared with energy intake evaluation from the doubly labelled water (DLW) method? What is the main finding and its importance? Estimated energy availability is greater with the DLW method compared with RFPM, such that the prevalence of LEA is greater when self‐reporting dietary intakes. Accordingly, data demonstrate the potential to misrepresent the prevalence of LEA, an underlying factor in the aetiology of ‘relative energy deficiency in sport’ (REDs). What is the central question of this study?Do self‐reported dietary intakes (via remote food photography method, RFPM) overestimate low energy availability (LEA) prevalence in female soccer players compared with energy intake evaluation from the doubly labelled water (DLW) method?What is the main finding and its importance?Estimated energy availability is greater with the DLW method compared with RFPM, such that the prevalence of LEA is greater when self‐reporting dietary intakes. Accordingly, data demonstrate the potential to misrepresent the prevalence of LEA, an underlying factor in the aetiology of ‘relative energy deficiency in sport’ (REDs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agility, as the ability to react rapidly to unforeseen events, is an essential component of football performance. However, existing agility diagnostics often do not reflect the complex motor–cognitive interaction required on the field. Therefore, this study evaluates the criterion and ecological validity of a newly developed motor–cognitive dual‐task agility approach in elite youth football players and compare it to a traditional reactive agility test. Twenty‐one male youth elite football players (age:17.4 ±0.6; BMI:23.2 ± 1.8) performed two agility tests (reactive agility, reactive agility with integrated multiple‐object‐tracking (Dual‐Task Agility)) on the SKILLCOURT system. Performance was correlated to motor (sprint, jump), cognitive (executive functions, attention, reaction speed) and football specific tests (Loughborough soccer passing test (LSPT)) as well as indirect game metrics (coaches' rating, playing time). Reactive agility performance showed moderate correlations to attention and choice reaction times (r = 0.48−0.63), as well as to the LSPT (r = 0.51). The dual‐task agility test revealed moderate relationships with attention and reaction speed (r = 0.47−0.58), executive functions (r = 0.45−0.63), as well as the game metrics (r = 0.51−0.61). Finally, the dual‐task agility test significantly differentiated players based on their coaches' rating and playing time using a median split (p < 0.05; d = 0.8–1.28). Motor–cognitive agility performance in elite youth football players seems to be primarily determined by cognitive functions. The integration of multiple object tracking into reactive agility testing seems to be an ecologically valid approach for performance diagnostics in youth football. Highlights: The study introduces a novel motor–cognitive dual‐task agility approach (incorporation of multiple‐object‐tracking in agility testing), evaluating its criterion and ecological validity in elite youth football players compared to a standard agility test.The standard agility test was shown to have moderate correlations with attention and choice reaction times, while the dual‐task agility approach additionally incorporates executive functionsWhile the agility test correlates to football‐specific test performance, the dual‐task agility test significantly discriminates players based on their potential ratings and in‐season playing time, highlighting its potential as a valuable tool for assessing performance in youth football.The findings suggest that agility performance in elite youth football is primarily determined by cognitive functionsIncorporating more complex cognitive elements such as multiple‐object‐tracking in agility testing may improve ecological validity and therefore the predictive value of the testing procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the effects of video feedback (VF) as a stand‐alone intervention and video modeling plus video feedback (VMVF) for improving soccer players' static ball control skills. Research has suggested that VF alone and VMVF produce substantial improvements for young athlete's skills, though no studies have compared the two. Therefore, we used a multiple‐baseline‐across‐participants design with embedded alternating treatments to compare VF and VMVF. Two 10‐year‐old female soccer players and one 9‐year‐old male soccer player participated. The first author implemented the VF and VMVF training procedures and assessed the same three target behaviors across participants. The results suggested that VF and VMVF produced similar increases in performance for two of three participants and that VMVF produced slightly greater increases for one participant. In addition, both interventions were effective at substantially improving ball control skills from baseline levels and relative to a control skill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When social pressure leads to favoritism, policies might aim to reduce the bias by affecting its source. This paper shows that multiple sources may be present and telling them apart is important. We build a novel and granular dataset on European football games and revisit the view that supporting crowds make referees help the host team. We find this bias to remain unchanged even in stadiums closed due to Covid‐19. Instead, influential host organizations emerge as the source of social pressure. This has an adverse effect on maintaining the ranking of influential teams and hindering the progress of smaller teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A non‐exercise method equation using seismocardiography for estimating V̇O2peak (SCG V̇O2peak) has previously been validated in healthy subjects. However, the performance of the SCG V̇O2peak within a trained population is unknown, and the ability of the model to detect changes over time is not well elucidated. Forty‐seven sub‐elite football players were tested at the start of pre‐season (SPS) and 36 players completed a test after eight weeks at the end of the pre‐season (EPS). Testing included an SCG V̇O2peak estimation at rest and a graded cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) on a treadmill for determination of V̇O2peak. Agreement between SCG V̇O2peak and CPET V̇O2peak showed a large underestimation at SPS (bias ± 95% CI: −9.9 ± 1.8, 95% Limits of Agreement: 2.2 to −22.0 mL·min−1 kg−1). At EPS no interaction (p = 0.3590) but a main effect of time (p < 0.0001) and methods (p < 0.0001) was observed between SCG and CPET V̇O2peak. No correlation in V̇O2peak changes was observed between SCG and CPET (r = −20.0, p = 0.2484) but a fair agreement in classifying the correct directional change in V̇O2peak with the SCG method was found (Cohen's κ coefficient = 0.28 ± 0.25). Overall, the SCG V̇O2peak method lacks accuracy and despite being able to estimate group changes, it was incapable of detecting individual changes in V̇O2peak following a pre‐season period in sub‐elite football players. The SCG algorithm needs to be further adjusted and the accuracy and precision improved for the method to be applicable for use within a trained population. Highlights: This is the first time a non‐exercise method using seismocardiography for the estimation of V̇O2peak has been validated in sub‐elite football players.The seismocardiography V̇O2peak method lacks accuracy within a trained population as it underestimates V̇O2peak compared to the gold standard measurement in sub‐elite football players.The seismocardiography V̇O2peak method can estimate the group changes in V̇O2peak following the pre‐season training period in sub‐elite football players. However, it is incapable of detecting individual changes.Adjustment of the seismocardiography V̇O2peak algorithm is needed and the accuracy and precision improved for the method to be applicable for use within a trained population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sports performance is relatively robust under high levels of binocular blur. However, the limited research studies investigating monocular impairments has shown it has a larger impact on sport performance. This research study is relevant for classification in sports for athletes with vision impairment (VI), where visual acuity (VA) from the better eye is used during classification. Across two experiments, we aimed to establish the point at which binocular and monocular impairments affected performance in a football penalty kick (PK) through simulating varying severities of degraded VA and contrast sensitivity (CS) in active football players. In experiment one, 25 footballers performed PKs as VA and CS were systematically decreased in both eyes, and in one condition, visual field (VF) was reduced. The most severe VA/CS condition and reduced VF significantly impacted outcome, ball velocity and placement (ball kicked closer to the centre of the goal) (p < 0.05). In experiment two, 29 different footballers performed PKs as VA and CS of only the dominant eye were systematically decreased and in one condition the dominant eye was occluded, and participants viewed their environment through the non‐dominant eye (monocular viewing). No differences were observed when assessing monocular impairments influence on outcome, velocity and ball placement. PKs have a high resilience to VI, but binocular impairment has a more immediate effect, suggesting binocular measures should be used in classification processes in football. Highlights: Penalty kick (PK) performance was relatively robust to severe artificial binocular visual impairment. Performance reduced at 1.96 logMAR, causing the ball to be kicked slower (lower velocity) and closer to the centre of the goal.Monocular viewing or impairment did not influence the velocity at which the ball was kicked or where the ball was placed. Therefore, PK performance was maintained at the habitual level.The evidence suggests that PK performance is more sensitive to binocular impairments than monocular impairments. Therefore, it may be beneficial for footballers with vision impairment to be classified using binocular assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high prevalence of low energy availability (LEA) has been reported in female football players. This is of concern as problematic LEA may evolve into a syndromic pattern known as relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs). Given the difficulties in accurately assessing LEA, our study shifts emphasis to measurable indicators of REDs, serving as proxies for health detriments caused by LEA. The present cross‐sectional study aimed to quantify the risk of REDs and to assess the prevalence of indicators indicative of the syndrome. 60 players (tiers 3 and 4) from three Norwegian football teams were analyzed as a single cohort but also stratified based on player position and menstrual status. The proportion of players at risk for REDs was 22%, that is, 17% with mild, 3% with moderate to high, and 2% with very high/extreme risk, respectively. The majority of the cohort (71%) presented with no primary indicators, while 20%, 7%, and 2% presented with one, two, and three primary indicators, respectively. Regarding secondary indicators, 57% had none, 33% had one, and 10% had two indicators. For associated indicators, 30% had none, 42% had one, 18% had two, 8% had three, and 2% had four indicators. Player position did not affect the prevalence of REDs indicators. Among noncontraceptive users (n = 27), secondary amenorrhea (AME) was reported by 30%. These findings indicate that health and performance teams should prioritize universal health promoting strategies rather than selective or indicative strategies. Particularly, focus on nutritional periodization to secure sufficient energy availability, mitigating the risk of problematic LEA and REDs should be addressed. Highlights: Of the total cohort (n = 60), 22% of players were classified as at risk for REDs, among which 5% demonstrated high to severe risk, while 78% were not at risk.Amenorrhea (AME) was reported by 30% of noncontraceptive users.An individual risk potential for REDs aside, our findings argue for health and performance teams prioritizing universal interventions such as nutritional periodization to decrease unwanted exposure to problematic low energy availability (LEA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corinthian FC (1882–1938) was one of the world's most famous football clubs, despite never winning a league championship or a cup competition. At a time when association football, especially in Britain, was establishing itself as a form of commercialised entertainment with clubs organised as businesses and employing working‐class professionals, the Corinthians became the principal standard‐bearers for gentlemanly amateurism, effectively creating and curating a niche brand which had middle‐class appeal and proved remarkably resilient. Pursuing this analogy focuses attention on the core values with which the club was associated and the strategies pursued to protect the brand it had created. This article seeks to explain the appeal of this elite touring club in England and also overseas, where it focuses especially on its visits to South Africa in 1897, 1903 and 1907. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In this article, we aim to determine whether there are gender differences about the importance of psychological pressure at the time of the penalty kick event in soccer. Soccer is a formidable framework because it is easier to disentangle the psychological aspects from clearly observable actions, strategies, and outcomes. We are interested in identifying whether there is choking under pressure, a phenomenon characterized by individuals performing worse than they would under the absence of factors that trigger stress. Methods: Four different pressure mechanisms are considered and tested using data from all 494 penalty kicks in the top male and female soccer tournament. Results: Our findings show that the stress mechanisms considered affect scoring rates; however, we fail to identify statistically significant differences by gender. Conclusion: Therefore, the design of programs aimed to help choking‐prone individuals should not over‐emphasize gender differences in this setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the cyberbullying behaviour of football fans in Turkey, examining the effects of fanaticism, dark personality traits, demographic factors and team loyalty. The research encompasses a sample of 152 individuals, revealing that marital status significantly influences both cyberbullying and fanaticism. Various factors, such as how fans watch matches, involvement in fan associations, the purpose of social media use, and attendance at amateur matches, contribute significantly to variations in cyberbullying levels. Fanaticism and dark personality traits are positively correlated with cyberbullying. Regression analyses reveal that the purpose of social media use and watching amateur matches account for 9.3% of cyberbullying, while violence (42.9%) and psychopathy (5.2%) explained 48.2% of the total variance in cyberbullying. Concerning team loyalty, factors like match‐watching habits, attendance at amateur matches, social media use intentions, preferred teams, match‐watching frequency and location of match‐watching jointly account for 41% of the total variance in fanaticism. Additionally, cyberbullying (27.2%) and Machiavellianism (6.3%) together accounted for a total of 33.5% of the variance explained in fanaticism. These findings offer valuable insights into the complex dynamics of cyberbullying and fanaticism within the context of football fandom in Turkey, providing a foundation for future research and potential interventions in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) implementation has gained momentum amongst professional sport organisations, including the football industry. Amidst the increasing normative and strategic importance of CSR for professional football clubs, this integrative review aims to consolidate and examine scholarly contributions in this area. Our content analysis performed on 50 studies (published from 2008 to 2022) elaborates on five CSR‐football thematic areas, namely "Implementation and Governance", "Drivers and Barriers", "Impacts and Perceptions", "Communication", and "Measurement". Findings indicate that the extant research on CSR in football is rather limited in various aspects. Our discussion addresses those core areas in need of attention for future research endeavours, specifically the expansion of the research scale and scope, the strengthening of theoretical foundations, the prevalent instrumental approach in CSR implementation, the minimal attention on drivers and barriers, the lack of focus on impact assessment and evaluation, and the lack of emphasis on disclosure and communication issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In modern soccer, fitness and fatigue monitoring tools tend to be focused on noninvasive, time‐efficient and player‐friendly measures. Heart rate variability (HRV) has been suggested as an effective method for monitoring training response and readiness to perform. However, there is still a lack of consensus on HRV monitoring when it comes to soccer. Thus, this scoping review aims to map existing evidence on HRV in professional and semiprofessional soccer settings, and to identify knowledge gaps to inform future research directions. A search of databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar) according to the PRISMA‐ScR statement was employed. Studies were screened for eligibility on inclusion criteria: (1) HRV was among the topics discussed in the article; (2) adult professional or semiprofessional soccer players were involved in the study; (3) both male and female participants; (4) no geographical area exclusion; (5) articles published in English; and (6) article full text available. The search of the selected databases revealed 8456 records. The titles and abstracts of all articles were retrieved for screening of eligibility, leaving 30 articles for further consideration. Following screening against set criteria, a total of 25 studies were included in this review, the sample size of which ranged from 6 to 124 participants. The participants in the included studies were professional and semiprofessional soccer players, interviewed clubs staff, and practitioners. Along with other monitoring strategies, morning vagally mediated HRV analysis via (ultra)short‐term orthostatic measurements may be an efficient way to assess training adaptations and readiness to perform in professional and semiprofessional soccer players. Further research is required to make definitive recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationships between the decision‐making performances of soccer referees and markers of physiological load. Following baseline measurements and habituation procedures, 13 national‐level male referees completed a novel Soccer Referee Simulation whilst simultaneously adjudicating on a series of video‐based decision‐making clips. The correctness of each decision was assessed in relation to the mean heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), minute ventilation (VE), perceptions of breathlessness (RPE‐B) and local muscular (RPE‐M) exertion and running speeds recorded in the 10‐s and 60‐s preceding decisions. There was a significant association between decision‐making accuracy and the mean HR (p = 0.042; VC = 0.272) and RR (p = 0.024, VC = 0.239) in the 10‐s preceding decisions, with significantly more errors observed when HR ≥ 90% of HRmax (OR, 5.39) and RR ≥ 80% of RRpeak (OR, 3.34). Decision‐making accuracy was also significantly associated with the mean running speeds performed in the 10‐s (p = 0.003; VC = 0.320) and 60‐s (p = 0.016; VC = 0.253) preceding decisions, with workloads of ≥250 m·min−1 associated with an increased occurrence of decisional errors (OR, 3.84). Finally, there was a significant association between decision‐making accuracy and RPE‐B (p = 0.021; VC = 0.287), with a disproportionate number of errors occurring when RPE‐B was rated as "very strong" to "maximal" (OR, 7.19). Collectively, the current data offer novel insights into the detrimental effects that high workloads may have upon the decision‐making performances of soccer referees. Such information may be useful in designing combined physical and decision‐making training programmes that prepare soccer referees for the periods of match play that prove most problematic to their decision‐making. Highlights: Soccer referees exhibited an increased likelihood of making a decisional error when: (1) HR ≥ 90% of HRmax; (2) RR ≥ 80% of RRpeak; (3) RPE‐B was rated as "very strong" to "maximal" (75–100 au); and (4) running speeds ≥250 m·min−1 were performed in the 10‐s prior to a decision.In contrast, the accuracy of the referees' decisions was not related to mean measures of HR, RR, or V̇E obtained in the 60‐s preceding decisions.The relationship between the physiological and decision‐making aspects of refereeing performance therefore appears to be a transient one, whereby high internal and external loads experienced immediately prior to infringements may compromise the correctness of the decision.Such information may be used to guide the design and delivery of training programmes aimed at preparing soccer referees for the periods of match play that prove most problematic to their decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is limited research on female football players, especially related to their physical and cognitive performance under different climactic conditions. We analyzed the impact of a hot environmental temperature on physical performance and anticipation in elite female football players during a fatigue‐inducing intermittent protocol. Elite female players (n = 21) performed the countermovement jump (CMJ) and responded to filmed sequences of offensive play under two distinct environmental temperatures (i.e., mild environment temperature‐ 20°C and 30% rh versus hot environment temperature‐ 38°C and 80% rh), interspersed by 1‐week interval. Linear mixed models were used. CMJ performance declined following the intermittent protocol on both temperature conditions (p < 0.05). Moreover, there were significant main effects for protocol on CMJ speed (m/s) (p = 0.001; ηp2 = 0.12), CMJ power (p = 0.002; ηp2 = 0.11), and CMJ Heightmax (p = 0.002; ηp2 = 0.12). After performing the intermittent protocol, exposure to a hot temperature caused a greater decline in anticipation accuracy (mild temperature = 64.41% vs. hot temperature = 53.44%; p < 0.001). Our study shows impaired performance in elite female football players following an intermittent protocol under hot compared with mild environmental conditions. We report decreased performance in both CMJ and anticipation performance under hotter conditions. The results reveal that exposure to hot temperatures had a negative effect on the accuracy of their anticipatory behaviors. We consider the implication of the work for research and training interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The potential consequences of repeated concussions in sport are well documented. However, it remains unclear whether the cumulative impact of sports‐related concussions differs between different contact sports. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate the cumulative effects of sports‐related concussions on clinical and neurocognitive health in different contact sports. Materials and Methods: In a prospective multicenter study, we examined 507 (74 females) active professional athletes between 18 and 40 years of age from five different contact sports (soccer, handball, American football, basketball, and ice hockey). Data collection involved concussion history, clinical symptom evaluation, neurocognitive assessment, and the collection of other sports‐related information. Composite scores were built for clinical symptoms (such as neck pain and balance disturbances) and for neurocognitive symptoms (such as memory and attention impairments). Results: Athletes having suffered 3+ concussions in the past showed disproportionally higher clinical symptom severity than athletes with less than three concussions across all sports. The level of clinical symptom burden in athletes with 3+ concussions indicated mild impairment. The number of past concussions did not affect neurocognitive performance. Discussion: Repeated sports‐related concussions appear to have a cumulative impact on clinical—but not cognitive—symptom severity. Although clinical symptom burden in athletes with 3+ concussions in the past was not alarmingly high yet in our sample, increased caution should be advised at this point. Despite few exceptions, results are similar for different contact sports, suggesting a similar multidisciplinary concussion management across all types of sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In Football, the high‐intensity running bouts during matches are considered decisive. Interestingly, recent studies showed that peak fat oxidation rates (PFO) are higher in football players than other athletes. This study aimed to investigate whether PFO increases following a pre‐season. Secondarily, and due to COVID‐19, we investigated whether PFO is related to the physical performance in a subgroup of semi‐professional male football players. Methods: Before and after 8 weeks of pre‐season training, 42 sub‐elite male football players (18 semi‐professionals and 24 non‐professionals) had a dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry scan and performed a graded exercise test on a treadmill for the determination of PFO, the exercise intensity eliciting PFO (Fatmax) and peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak). Additionally, the semi‐professional players performed a Yo‐Yo Intermittent Recovery Test level 2 (YYIR2) before and after pre‐season training to determine football‐specific running performance. Results: PFO increased by 11 ± 10% (mean ± 95% CI), p = 0.031, and V̇O2peak increased by 5 ± 1%, p < 0.001, whereas Fatmax was unchanged (+12 ± 9%, p = 0.057), following pre‐season training. PFO increments were not associated with increments in V̇O2peak (Pearson's r2 = 0.00, p = 0.948) or fat‐free mass (FFM) (r2 = 0.00, p = 0.969). Concomitantly, YYIR2 performance increased in the semi‐professional players by 39 ± 17%, p < 0.001, which was associated with changes in V̇O2peak (r2 = 0.35, p = 0.034) but not PFO (r2 = 0.13, p = 0.244). Conclusions: PFO, V̇O2peak, and FFM increased following pre‐season training in sub‐elite football players. However, in a subgroup of semi‐professional players, increments in PFO were not associated with improvements in YYIR2 performance nor with increments in V̇O2peak and FFM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this prospective cohort study was to investigate the influence of types of motivation, basic psychological needs satisfaction and of a coach‐created motivational climate on continued participation in youth sports across types of sport, competitive levels, ages, and gender. Methods: Participants were 7110 adolescent (age 12–20 years) members of leisure time club organized in basketball, handball, football, badminton, and gymnastics in Denmark. Motivational regulation was measured with BRSQ‐6, basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration were measured with PNSS‐S, and coach‐created climate was measured with the EDMCQ‐C. The participants' continuation or dropout was measured at the beginning of the following season with a short electronic questionnaire. Results: Intrinsic motivation, identified behavior regulation, experiences of competence, relatedness, and autonomy, as well as a coach‐created empowering motivational climate, were associated with continuation both in the sport and in the club the following season across different sports, genders, age groups, and competitive levels. Introjected and external behavior regulation, frustrations with the need to experience competence, relatedness, and autonomy, as well as a disempowering coach‐created climate, were associated with dropout. Conclusion: In Danish youth sports, autonomous motivation, satisfaction of basic psychological needs, and an empowering coach‐created motivational climate have a positive impact on the continuation of the sport and the club the following season. In contrast, controlled types of motivation, needs frustration, and a disempowering coach‐created climate are associated with dropout. This is the case at both elite and recreational levels, for boys and girls, adolescents, and youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the prevalence, incidence, and burden of groin injuries in the Norwegian women's premier football league and to describe their clinical and imaging characteristics. Methods: During the 2020 and 2021 seasons, players in the Norwegian women's premier league reported groin injuries weekly, using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Questionnaire on Health Problems (OSTRC‐H2). We calculated weekly prevalence, incidence, and burden of groin injuries. The team physical therapists classified the player‐reported injuries based on the Doha classification system. Injuries with more than 3 days' time loss or reported in 2 consecutive weeks were eligible for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results: On average, 3.9% (95% CI: 3.4–4.4) of players reported a groin injury at any time; of which 78% caused time loss. The incidence rate was 1.6 injuries/1000 h (95% CI: 1.3–2.0) and their burden was 11 days lost/1000 h. The physical therapists examined 67 of 124 player‐reported groin injuries (53%). Adductor‐related injury was most common (55%) followed by iliopsoas (15%) and rectus femoris‐related (12%). Pubic‐related injuries caused most time loss (median: 24 days, IQR: 5–133). In this study, 42 injuries were investigated with MRI; 8 (19%) showed no changes, 6 (14%) an acute musculotendinous lesion, and 32 (76%) a nonacute finding (e.g., central symphyseal disc protrusion, tendinopathies). Conclusion: The incidence rate and burden of groin injuries were high. Adductor‐related injuries were most common, but pubic‐related injuries caused most time loss. Most MRI examinations demonstrated nonacute findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the football‐based health education program "11 for Health" on health knowledge and well‐being in the setting of a 10‐week residential stay in a Danish charity home for socially vulnerable children. Six hundred and fourteen children participated in the study, of which 305 took part in the standard program plus "11 for Health" (SG+: 12.4 ± 1.4 (mean ± SD) years) and 309 took part in the standard program (SG: 12.4 ± 1.6 years). We used a crossover design over two full years. The study examined changes in health knowledge and well‐being through questionnaires. Overall health knowledge increased more in SG+ than SG over 10 weeks (6.6 vs. 3.4%, p < 0.05). The overall well‐being scores were markedly improved (p < 0.05) by 4.54 ± 7.17 AU in SG+ and 4.51 ± 7.16 AU in SG, with no between‐group differences. Specific improvements (p < 0.05) were seen in all well‐being subcategories, raising the well‐being scores to the national average. In conclusion, a 10‐week stay at a Danish charity home, the Christmas Seal Home, markedly affected health knowledge and well‐being of socially vulnerable children. When the football‐based health education program—11 for Health—was added, there were additional positive effects on health knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Football is the only sport in which the ball can be played with the head. Therefore, compared to other ball team sports, head injuries are quite common. Headers and head injuries are dreaded to cause severe neurological impairments in long‐term, but there is still a lack of data on how often headers are performed in different levels and how often head injuries occur. In a prospective cohort study, all heading situations as well as incidents with a propensity of injury (critical incidents) of 45 elite‐level international matches were analyzed using a standardized video analysis protocol and compared to existing data from German professional leagues. A total of 3670 headers were recorded in 4050 match minutes (0.9 headers/minute). A mean of 81.5 headers per game (SD = 18.4) and 3.7 headers per player and match (SD = 0.8) was found. Compared to a cohort group of the German Bundesliga and 2nd Bundesliga, a significant reduction of −33.8 headers per game (p < 0.01) and 1.7 per player and match was found. A total of 18 risk of injury situations were recorded giving a rate per match of 0.4 (SD = 0.6). In comparison to the German league data, this also displayed a reduction. The incidence rate was 266 risk of injury situations per 1000 h match exposure, which was far below the rates of German national data (314/1000 h) and correlated with the frequency of headers performed. Highlights: This study found a significant reduction of frequency of headers with an increasing level of play. The number of acute head injuries correlated with the number of headers.Furthermore, central defenders had to perform the most headers, and therefore, they were exposed to a higher risk of suffering a head injury. Most headers appeared in defensive situations, and the penalty areas were found to be the most dangerous spots on the field.The frequency of headers found was far below the data in the existing literature. The results enable further experimental studies to be adapted to real match situations. The risk factors identified in this study provide an incentive for prevention such as stricter rule interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article augments the literature on the analysis of competitive balance, encompassing its measurement, comparisons across leagues and seasons, and ramifications for league management. Central to our examination is the notion of competitive balance, which is intimately tied to the concentration concept. This concept can be depicted as a dual metric—capturing both inequality and the number of competing teams. Historically, its magnitude has been gauged using standardised measures of inequality and concentration. Among these, the Herfindahl–Hirschman index and its subsequent refinements stand out. We employ the distance‐to‐competitive‐balance index, which, contingent upon the metric space chosen, qualifies either as an inequality or concentration measure. Our analysis spans the 2009/2010 to 2018/2019 seasons for both the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) championships in the pre‐COVID‐19 era. We discern a tangible and significant correlation between the competitive equilibrium of leagues and the performance metrics of national teams. Both the disparities in strengths of teams and the number of participating teams emerged as paramount variables shaping this competitive balance. Further, we delineate the elasticities of competitive balance relative to these determinants. Our insights bear implications for designing football championship structures and delineating sports policies; thus, they are valuable for relevant sports governing bodies and federations. The strategic decision to enlarge team count vis‐à‐vis curtailing discrepancies in team competencies is nuanced, varying across federations and confederations. The Big Five European leagues display heightened sensitivity to inequality factors (with interventions such as financial fair play, salary caps or revenue distribution yielding pronounced effects), whereas for CONMEBOL, elasticity in relation to team count holds greater significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The participation of people with intellectual disabilities in Special Olympics sports and training opportunities offers numerous benefits for health and inclusion. However, little is known about the impact of such training on physical activity behaviour. Here, we evaluate the differences in physical activity volume and intensity of Special Olympics athletes between Unified and non‐Unified football training. Method: Accelerometer data of 12 male athletes from eight standardised training sessions (four Unified, four non‐Unified) were analysed. Results: While there was no statistically significant difference for the main part of the training, athletes showed higher levels of physical activity intensity (MVPA: Mdiff = 11.74%; 95% CI = 5.50–17.97) and volume (average acceleration ENMO: Mdiff = 112.82 mg; 95% CI = 24.73–200.90) in a Unified compared to non‐Unified endurance‐related exercise task. Conclusion: Understanding physical activity participation in different training types can help to design and implement future training programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Cardiac adaptations in elite, male adolescent youth soccer players have been demonstrated in relation to training status. The time course of these adaptations and the delineation of the influence of volatile growth phases from the training effect on these adaptations remain unclear. Consequently, the aims of the study were to evaluate the impact of 3 years of elite‐level soccer training on changes in left ventricular (LV) structure and function in a group of highly trained elite youth male soccer players (SP) as they transitioned through the pre‐to‐adolescent phase of their growth. Methods: Twenty‐two male youth SP from the highest Level of English Premier League Academy U‐12 teams were evaluated once a year for three soccer seasons as the players progressed from the U‐12 to U‐14 teams. Fifteen recreationally active control participants (CON) were also evaluated over the same 3‐year period. Two‐dimensional transthoracic echocardiography was used to quantify LV structure and function. Results: After adjusting for the influence of growth and maturation, training‐induced increases in Years 2 and 3 were noted for: LV end diastolic volume (LVEDV; p = 0.02) and LV end systolic volume (LVESV; p = 0.02) in the SP compared to CON. Training‐induced decrements were noted for LV ejection fraction (LVEF; p = 0.006) and TDI‐S′ (p < 0.001). Conclusions: An increase in training volume (Years 2 and 3) were aligned with LV volumetric adaptations and decrements in systolic function in the SP that were independent from the influence of rapid somatic growth. Decrements in systolic function were suggestive of a functional reserve for exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a genetic disease characterised by progressive fibrofatty tissue replacement of the myocardium. Several arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) phenotypes are now recognised, including right‐dominant, biventricular, and left‐dominant variants, which led to the development of the 2020 International criteria (Padua criteria). Raising awareness of these variants is crucial as their clinical entity can be concealed. This is particularly important in the athletic population. Exercise can promote the development of the phenotype and accelerate disease progression, resulting in left ventricular (LV) involvement and systolic dysfunction, which can cause ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death. Case Description: A late adolescent male was escorted by paramedics to an emergency department following a medium‐speed motor vehicle accident. A multimodality approach was implemented involving a 12‐lead electrocardiogram (ECG), transthoracic echocardiography (ECHO) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. An unknown cardiomyopathy was revealed with diagnostic clues suggesting biventricular ACM in a recreational soccer player, when using the Padua criteria. Conclusion: ACM should be considered in the evaluation of an unexplained cardiomyopathy presenting with possible syncopal events. This case describes the clinical features of an ACM patient, emphasising the utility of ECG, ECHO and CMR in determining biventricular involvement. CMR is a powerful tool for the diagnosis of ACM and the identification of myocardial fibrosis with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). The use of 12‐lead ECG and 2‐dimensional (2D) strain imaging may also raise suspicion of biventricular phenotypes and predict LV involvement with significant myocardial fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high cognitive and/or emotional demands of competition can lead to a state of mental fatigue which has shown to be detrimental to soccer performance. However, there is a need to further understand the true mental demands of soccer players. The aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of motivation and the perceived requirements of the next match on mental fatigue perceived by soccer players over the passing of a season. The combined effect of both variables on the perception of mental fatigue, as well as the influence of the time of the season on perceived mental fatigue, were also analyzed. Twenty‐six semi‐professional Spanish male players (M = 26.31 ± 5.18 years) participated in the present study, conducted during the 2020–2021 season. Perceived mental fatigue and motivation were measured at each training session. The perceived requirements of the next match were also measured in each of the competitive weeks. Linear mixed models were run with R Studio to examine the influence of motivation and the perceived difficulty of the next match on perceived mental fatigue, the combined effect of both variables on perceived mental fatigue, and the influence of the passing of the season on perceived mental fatigue. The results showed a negative and significant influence of motivation on perceived mental fatigue (p < 0.001) and a positive and significant influence of the perceived requirements of the next match on perceived mental fatigue (p < 0.001). Regarding the combined effect, there was a positive and significant effect (p < 0.01) of the perceived difficulty of the next match on the relation between motivation and perceived mental fatigue. A negative influence of season passage on perceived mental fatigue levels was found (p < 0.001). We recommended coaches to consider using the most motivating training tasks when higher next‐match requirements are perceived and to be careful with avoidance strategies for mental fatigue, especially at the beginning of the season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Special Olympics is a sport organisation spearheading efforts to increase physical activity accessibility through inclusive sport. The Unified Sports® initiative brings together Special Olympics athletes (with intellectual disabilities) and Unified partners (without a disability) in sport training and competition on the same team. The study aims to objectively evaluate differences in on‐field physical activity levels between athletes and partners during the 2022 Special Olympics World Unified Cup, an international soccer (i.e., football) competition. Participants were Special Olympics athletes (n = 96; 44 females, 52 males) and Unified partners (n = 70; 34 females and 36 males) competing in the women's and men's tournaments. Methods: On‐field actigraph accelerometry measured physical activity from 166 players, over 29 matches, and totalling 493 player‐matches. Results: In the women's tournament, nearly identical estimates of moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity levels (MVPA) were observed between athletes and partners (P =.409). However, a significant group difference was observed within a specific physical activity intensity category as partners accrued more minutes of very vigorous physical activity than athletes (P <.001). In the men's tournament, no significant differences were also observed between athletes and partners for minutes of MVPA (P =.341), but athletes engaged in significantly more vigorous physical activity (P <.001), and partners had more minutes of very vigorous physical activity (P <.001). Conclusions: The results suggest that on‐field physical activity levels were similar between players with and without intellectual disabilities during Unified Sports competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The hamstring muscles have a key function in the stability of the knee, limiting the anterior translation of the tibia. Therefore, to better perform rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery, it is important to develop a specific program based on hamstring strength recovery. It is possible to increase strength and muscle hypertrophy through high load exercises (HL); the recommended load is about 60%–80% of a maximum repetition (MR). Although low‐load resistance training (LL) is ineffective at reproducing these values, the use of Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) with LL exercises appears to allow athletes to increase strength and muscle hypertrophy. This could limit functional decline and mitigate muscle atrophy allowing to optimize the recovery path and load management in post‐operative patients. Recent scientific evidence, as far as the increasingly frequent use of BFR in rehabilitation and sports rehabilitation is concerned, suggests that these devices could represent one of the most significant innovations in the physiotherapy field. The aim of this study was to increase the strength of the hamstrings in the early phases of ACL rehabilitation with an LL‐BFR training protocol for speeding up the development of adequate muscle strength. Case descriptions: The patient, a 25‐year‐old male professional footballer, suffered from ACL injury during a football match, and after three months, he underwent a reconstruction ACL surgery with medial Hamstring tendon autograft. The athlete engaged a pre‐operative program to restore a full active and passive knee range of motion and increase muscular strength. The first rehabilitation phase was supported by the adoption of BFR for hamstring strengthening, starting from the sixth week post‐surgery (T0). A complete assessment of posterior hamstring muscles was performed through a hand‐held dynamometer and load detection platforms. Three different types of exercises, focusing on the hamstring muscles, were chosen. Two further assessments were performed over time (T1 ant T2), highlighting different changes that occurred. Results: Interesting results showed a significant increase between T0 and T1 for all the assessed outcomes; in this case an average increase in strength of 59.87% between the beginning and the end of 4 weeks rehabilitation protocol was obtained in the first interval (T0‐T1), while only 25.26% resulted in the second interval (T1‐T2). However, the collected data should be considered with caution due to some limitations: the single experience of a single patient can hardly be generalized. Moreover, the reliance on isometric measurement of maximal strength and the absence of a direct strength measurement of the hamstrings during squat remain questionable. Conclusion: The final results suggest the capacity of the LL‐BFR exercises to recreate a condition of a high intensity muscular effort with respect to load management, especially after surgery. This highlights the need to further investigate BFR adoption as it allows the patients to speed up their rehabilitation goals in developing adequate muscle strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a person‐centered approach, the present study aimed to investigate the coping profiles of adolescent football players involved in elite football training centers. The purposes were to (1) identify coping profiles based on the reported use of multiple coping strategies in response to competitive stress, (2) explore whether emotional competencies and psychological need satisfaction would predict coping profile membership, and (3) examine the extent to which coping profiles were differently associated with individual and team perceived stress, interpersonal coping, and subjective team performance, as well as demographic characteristics. A sample of 416 young French football players (males = 282; females = 134; Mage = 16.2; SDage = 1.2) from 12 elite football training centers participated in this study. Latent profile analysis results yielded three coping profiles allowing players to be grouped according to their preferences for a combined use of certain strategies (i.e., low copers, high disengaged copers, and high task copers). Results provided further insight into each coping profile membership by indicating the role played by intrapersonal emotional competence and psychological need satisfaction. Finally, differences between coping profiles have been shown in terms of individual perceived stress intensity, interpersonal coping approach, and gender. These findings provide a deeper understanding of adaptive coping profiles within a population of adolescent football players involved in elite training centers. Implications for developing and tailoring psychoeducational interventions for adolescent football players exhibiting a maladaptive coping profile (i.e., disengagement‐oriented coping profile) are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: How the physical metrics, especially physical intensity, and possession interact with each other, and subsequently combine to influence performance remains opaque. Therefore, we investigated the interrelationship of possession, physical metrics, and team performance in elite soccer. Methods: Four seasons of a top European league were used to derive 80 team league performances (points), together with possession and physical data. Physical metrics were absolute distances (m) during the whole match and ball‐in‐play, and rates of distance covered (m⋅min−1) as the index of physical intensity, notably when in‐possession/out‐of‐possession, in total and within five speed categories. Interrelationships of possession, physical metrics, possession, and performance were assessed with Pearson's correlations and mediation analysis. Results: Overall possession (r = 0.794) and time out‐of‐possession within the defensive third (r = −0.797) were most strongly correlated with performance. The strong relationships between in‐possession distances and performance appeared coincidental due to greater time in‐possession. Physical intensity had a complex relationship with possession and performance, with opposite relationships according to possession status: lower physical intensity when in‐possession and higher physical intensity when out‐of‐possession were associated with possession and performance. Mediation analysis revealed the direct, independent importance of possession for team performance; however, the association of physical intensity with performance was largely (>79%) mediated by possession. Conclusion: Based on these findings, we propose a novel model of the interrelationships between possession, physical intensity, and performance, whereby higher possession is the largest, direct contributor toward enhanced team performance, with lower physical intensity in‐possession a consequence of higher possession, but greater physical intensity when out‐of‐possession a cause of increased possession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored sports‐related factors predicting organized sports participation in emerging adulthood. In the Finnish Health Promoting Sports Club (FHPSC) study, 354 sports club participants aged 15 at baseline reported their main sport, onset age, training volume, current competitive level, and future competitive orientation and participated in the follow‐up study at age 19. There were differences in the proportions of maintainers and dropouts in a few sports: football (maintainers 58.6%), and among females, skating (maintainers 60.7%), and swimming (dropouts 80.0%). A binary logistic regression analysis showed that those who had started their main sport by school age (females OR 3.05/95% CI 1.34, 6.98; males OR 3.97/95% CI 1.48, 10.64) and had competed at national top level plus had aimed at success at the adult level competitions in future (females OR 3.42/95% CI 1.16, 10.09; males OR 3.58/95% CI 1.12, 11.41; among females, also had competed at national top level plus had aimed at success at junior level competitions [OR 3.42/95% CI 1.20, 9.78]) were more likely maintainers than dropouts. Early onset in the main sport and competitiveness were related to maintained sports participation while the opposites were related to dropouts in the current organized sports system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the acute effect of a competitive football match on jump performance and kinematic parameters during jump landing in semiprofessional female football players. Twenty‐two semiprofessional players (20 ± 3 years) underwent a drop jump task for a posterior video analysis of the landing phase. These measurements were obtained at (1) baseline, (2) after, and (3) 48 h after a competitive football match. A one‐way ANOVA with repeated measures was employed to detect differences over the time. There was a main effect of time for maximal knee flexion angle during drop landing (p = 0.001). In comparison with baseline, maximal knee flexion angle was reduced immediately post‐match and was still reduced 48 h after the match (63.4 ± 8.6 vs 57.0 ± 11.7 vs 48.9 ± 19.1, p ≤ 0.038). There was also a main effect of time for drop jump height (p < 0.001). Drop jump height was reduced immediately post‐match and remained low 48 h after the match in comparison with baseline (27.3 ± 3.6 vs 24.5 ± 2.8 ~ 25.5 ± 3.0 cm, p ≤ 0.002). There was a main effect of time on hip flexion angle during landing (p = 0.001), but the pairwise comparison revealed that this variable was not affected immediately post‐match but was lower 48 h after the match than at baseline (50.1 ± 10.1 ~ 50.8 ± 13.2 vs 38.1 ± 17.8 °, p ≤ 0.005). A competitive football match worsened jump performance and several landing biomechanical parameters in female football players, which were still decreased in comparison with baseline even 48 h after the match. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muscle typology is heterogeneous among national level football (soccer) players, but positional differences remain unclear. Furthermore, fast typology (FT) individuals fatigue more than slow typology (ST) individuals in lab conditions. Therefore, we investigated if muscle typology is different between playing positions and if the decay in high‐intensity activities from the first to the second half is larger in FT football players than in ST players. We estimated muscle typology in 147 male professional football players by measuring soleus and gastrocnemius muscle carnosine via proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Players were classified as ST, intermediate typology (IT) or FT and categorized as goalkeeper, center back, full back, midfielder, winger or forward. Across four seasons in‐game distances covered in multiple running speed, acceleration and deceleration zones were collected during the first and second half. We found no differences in muscle typology between positions (p = 0.412). FT players covered 10.9% more high acceleration distance (>3 m.s−2) in the first half than ST players (p = 0.021) and high acceleration distance decay was larger for FT players (−12.4%) than ST (−7.7%; p = 0.006) and IT players (−7.3%; p = 0.010). Moreover, the decline in distance covered in several high‐intensity zones tended to be larger in FT players (−11.2% high‐intensity >15 km.h−1; −12.7% high deceleration <−3 m.s−2; −11.5% medium acceleration 2‐3 m.s−2) than in ST players (−7.1% high‐intensity; −8.1% high deceleration; −8.1% medium acceleration; 0.05 < p < 0.1). In conclusion, possessing a particular muscle typology is not required to play any football position at the national level. However, there are indications that FT players might fatigue more toward the end of the game compared to ST players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the differences in acceleration and deceleration demands between three different warm‐up (WU) strategies (Reaction speed [exercises with reaction to a stimulus], Run [self‐paced running], and Speed [exercises such as shuttle running or circuits]) applied to highly trained soccer players. Nineteen players were monitored for 4 weeks using a 10 Hz Global Positioning System. Accelerations and decelerations magnitudes were classified as low (25%–50%), moderate (50%–75%), and high (>75%) intensities. Additionally, efforts were analyzed according to their respective starting speeds (<5, 5–10, 10–15, 15–20, 20–25, and >25 km h−1). Differences between WU strategies were estimated via paired mean differences along with effect sizes. The three WU strategies led to few efforts starting >15 km h−1 and high‐intensity efforts (<1 effort per minute). Players performed more high‐intensity accelerations during Speed than Reaction Speed (ES: 0.74 [90% CI: 0.21, 1.33]); more moderate‐intensity accelerations during Reaction Speed than Run (ES: 1.29 [90% CI: 0.72, 2.00]); more moderate‐intensity decelerations during Reaction Speed than Run (ES: 0.64 [90% CI: 0.04, 1.32]) and Speed (ES: 0.89 [90% CI: 0.37, 1.50]); more decelerations started at 20–25 km h−1 during Speed than Reaction Speed (ES: 0.81 [90% CI: 0.20, 1.49]) and Run (ES: 0.76 [90% CI: 0.42, 1.18]); and more decelerations started at >25 km h−1 during Speed than Reaction Speed (ES: 3.57 [90% CI: 2.88, 4.58]). In conclusion, Speed elicited higher acceleration and deceleration demands than the Reaction Speed and Run WU strategies, and this should be considered when designing training sessions. Highlights: Soccer warm‐ups (WUs) use different training strategies, which should be monitored independently as they elicit different acceleration and deceleration demands.Speed exercises (such as shuttle running and circuits) may expose players to more high‐speed displacements and high‐intensity accelerations.Practitioners should choose WUs strategies considering the subsequent activity to avoid under or overloading players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recidivism costs society, communities, families and individuals. Sport is heralded as an accessible way to engage and incentivise people convicted of crime to change their lifestyles. One high‐profile intervention designed to reduce reoffending rates is the Twinning Project, which invites people serving custodial and community sentences to participate in a football‐based programme to gain accredited qualifications with a major football club in their local region. Our primary objective was to investigate how football, which uses some of the biggest brands and regional allegiances in the United Kingdom, might help to bridge the gap between community and paths to desistance. Using a realist approach, we present interview data from people serving sentences in the community and the coaches and probation officers facilitating intervention programmes at two major British football clubs. Specifically, we conducted interviews with staff and service users serving community sentences in a large British city. Based on social identity perspectives on social exclusion/inclusion, we carried out thematic analysis with the focus on social support, social bonding and resulting future orientation. Thematic analysis revealed four themes: (a) gaps in social support; (b) coach as a role model; (c) increased future orientation; and (d) new ways forward. These themes evidenced the struggles people often face before entering the justice system as well as the capacity of high‐level coaching around a meaningful shared social identity to reduce the salience of these hurdles and elicit a sense of optimism towards the future. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a cross‐sectional study investigating whether sport identification predicts different forms of collective action intentions aimed to redress the unfavourable condition faced by disadvantaged individuals. In doing so, moral perceptions (moral convictions, moral violation and moral obligation) were tested as mediators. Participants were young football players from the grassroots of a professional Italian club (N = 111). Results revealed that sport identification was indirectly associated with greater willingness to engage in both normative and non‐normative solidarity‐based collective action via stronger moral obligation perceptions; moral convictions mediated the relationship between sport identification and normative collective action, while no mediation effects emerged for moral violation. We discuss findings in relation to collective action and sport research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article critically employs the case of association football in England, from 1980 to 2023, as a social movement timescape, to examine the political consciousness and long‐term mobilisations of a generation of football supporter activists, and their capacity to influence politics, and respond to new, emerging, critical junctures, through networks of trust and shared memories of historical events. This is of crucial importance to sociology because it reveals the tensions between what are considered legitimate and illegitimate social practices which characterise contemporary society's moral economy. Focusing on temporal contestations over regulation, policing, governance and cultural rituals, the article deconstructs the role of generations in social movements, and critically synthesises relational‐temporal sociology and classic and contemporary work on the sociology of generations, to show how legacy operates as a multifaceted maturing concept of power and time. In English football's neoliberal timescape, the supporters' movement has reached a critical juncture; the future will require a new generation of activists, to negotiate, resist and contest the new hegemonic politics of social control and supporter engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study whether outcome bias persists in markets with actors who are financially incentivized to make optimal decisions. We test whether inherently noisy match outcomes from European football are correctly incorporated into prices from a betting exchange market. We find that market prices overestimate (underestimate) the winning probability of teams that previously overperformed (underperformed) in terms of match outcomes compared to their performance based on "expected goals." This pattern is mirrored in negative (positive) betting returns on overperforming (underperforming) teams. These results suggest that even competitive market mechanisms fail to completely erase outcome bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of both general and sport-specific perceptual-cognitive abilities in soccer players has been investigated in several studies. Although these perceptual-cognitive skills could contribute significantly to soccer players' expertise, the underlying cortical mechanisms have not been clarified yet. Examining activity changes in the prefrontal cortex under different cognitive demands may help to better understand the underlying mechanisms of sports expertise. The aim of this study was to analyse the prefrontal activity of soccer experts during general and sportspecific cognitive tasks. For this purpose, 39 semi-professional soccer players performed four perceptual-cognitive tests, two of which assessed general cognition, the other two assessed sport-specific cognition. Since soccer is a movement-intensive sport, two tests were performed in motion. While performing cognitive tests, prefrontal activity was recorded using functional nearinfrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) (NIRSport, NIRx Medical Technologies, USA). Differences of prefrontal activity in general and sport-specific cognitive tasks were analysed using paired t-tests. The results showed significant increases in prefrontal activity during general cognitive tests (novel stimuli) compared to sport-specific tests (familiar stimuli). The comparatively lower prefrontal activity change during sport-specific cognition might be due to learned automatisms of experts in this field. These results seem in line with previous findings on novel and automated cognition, "repetition suppression theory" and "neural efficiency theory". Furthermore, the different cortical processes could be caused by altered prefrontal structures of experts and might represent a decisive factor for expertise in team sports. However, further research is needed to clarify the prefrontal involvement on expertise in general and sport-specific cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown that the school-based physical activity programme entitled "11 for Health" has been effective in improving the physical fitness, well-being and overall health profile of European children. The main purpose of the present study was to examine whether the "11 for Health" programme can have a positive impact on the physical fitness of primary school pupils in China. A total of 124 primary school pupils aged 9-11 years were included in the experiment, randomly divided into the experimental group (EG, n = 62) and the control group (CG, n = 62). EG carried out three weekly 35-minute sessions of small-sided football for a total of 11 weeks. All data were analysed by a mixed ANOVA with the Student-Newman-Keuls post hoc test. The results showed greater improvements (p<0.001) in EG than CG in relation to systolic blood pressure (-2.9 vs +2.0 mmHg). Moreover, greater improvements (all p<0.05) were observed in postural balance (13 vs 0%), standing long jump (5.0 vs 0.5%), 30-metre sprint (4.1 vs 1.3%) and Yo-Yo IR1C running performance (17% vs 6%). In both EG and CG, physical activity enjoyment was observed to be higher (P<0.05) compared to the start of the intervention with increases of 3.7 and 3.9 AU respectively. In conclusion, the study revealed that the "11 for Health" programme has positive effects on aerobic and muscular fitness, and it appears to be a relevant tool in the physical activity promotion in the Chinese school system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This descriptive epidemiological study aimed to quantify the incidence, characteristics and costs of head, neck and dental injuries in non‐professional football players. Methods: Injury data were coded (using Orchard Sports Injury and Illness Classification System) from a de‐identified insurance database containing three seasons (2018–2020) of data. Cost data included direct and indirect costs presented by type of injury, age group and sex using means ± SD, range of costs ($AU) and total costs ± SE. Chi‐squared tests were used to analyse the data (significance level p <.05) with injury incidence rates (IR) calculated per 1000 match hours and per 1000 injury insurance claims. Results: A total of 388 injuries affecting 240 players were sustained. Of these, 43% (n = 102) of players also sustained one or more secondary injuries, mainly to the head or neck area. Dental injuries (n = 143, 39%, IR = 0.008) accounted for the highest number of primary and secondary injuries and the highest mean direct cost per injury ($AU1152), while head and facial injuries accounted for the highest proportion of total costs ($AU434,101). Players who sustained one or more secondary injuries had the highest direct and indirect mean cost per injury. Conclusions: Given the frequency and cost of dental injuries in non‐professional football players, injury prevention initiatives warrant further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction: The risk of traumatic injury in football has been suggested to be affected by field conditions. This study, therefore, aimed to investigate whether near surface water content of the football field, influenced the risk of traumatic injuries during a youth football tournament. Methods: At Dana Cup, an annual international youth football tournament in Denmark, all injuries were registered and classified at the on‐site emergency department over 7 years. The incidence rate of traumatic injury was computed. Meteorological data and soil characteristics were used to simulate near surface water content of the playing fields. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) between water content and injury incidence rate was analyzed using a multivariate Poisson regression, controlling for tournament stage and demographical parameters. Results: About 2704 injuries were recorded corresponding to a risk time of 284 905 player hours. An inverse relation between water contents and the incidence rate of traumatic injury was found (IRR = 0.24 95% CI 0.1–0.7, p = 0.01). The incidence rate of traumatic injury increased with advancing tournament stage, that is, for the finals (IRR = 4.30 95% CI 2.8–6.6, p < 0.001). Also we found an interaction between dry fields and the final stage of tournament, further exacerbating this effect. Conclusions: Our data suggest that the incidence rate of traumatic injury is increased with drier field conditions and advanced tournament stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postural adjustments performed in anticipation of uncertain visual events is a common sensorimotor control problem in open sport skills. In this study, we examined how expert soccer goalkeepers and non-athletes learn a whole body visuomotor rotation during postural tracking of constant and variable visual target motions. Twenty-one (21) soccer goalkeepers (18 ± 15 years, 75 ± 12 kg) and 25 age-matched non-athletes (18 ± 12 years, 75 ± 15 kg) practiced lateral weight shifting on a dual force platform while tracking the motion of a constant (11 goalkeepers and 12 non-athletes) or a variable (10 goalkeepers and 13 non-athletes) visual target with provision of online visual feedback (VF). After 40s of tracking (baseline), the visual presentation of the VF signal reversed direction relative to the participant's motion (180° visuo-motor rotation) for 60s (adaptation) and then returned to its veridical direction for another 20s (washout). During adaptation, goalkeepers reduced the spatiotemporal error to baseline levels at an earlier time block (3rd block) compared to non-athletes (6th block), but this difference was significant only for groups tracking of the constant and not the variable target motion. Only the groups tracking the constant target increased the spatiotemporal error during the 1st washout block demonstrating a significant aftereffect. It is concluded that goalkeepers adapt faster to the feedback rotation due to their prior field knowledge of relevant visuomotor transformations in anticipation of deceptive visual cues. This expertise advantage however is present only in a stable visual environment possibly because learning is compromised when tracking uncertain motion cues requiring closed loop control. Highlights We examined how expert goalkeepers and non-athletes adopt to a novel whole body visuomotor rotation when tracking a constantly or variably moving target Goalkeepers adopted faster to the visuomotor rotation than non-athletes Expertise related differences were evident only for groups tracking the constant target motion Groups tracking the variable target motion did not learn the visuomotor rotation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2021, Birmingham County Football Association (BCFA) in partnership with Newman University carried out a quantitative online review to assess coaches, volunteers, parents and young people's understanding of safeguarding information, policies and procedures in relation to football. This paper examines the findings from the children (aged 5–11) and young people (aged 12–17) using the Six Principles of Safeguarding to assess the current safeguarding measures in place to protect children and young people (CYP) playing grassroots football. The review found that whilst most CYP felt safe when playing organised football, there were some concerns raised from the young people in relation to angry parents, abuse and racism. Most children in both groupings had heard of the term safeguarding, but fewer had heard of the term welfare, and struggled to explain what welfare meant. A key finding and concern is that many CYP are not aware of the role of the Club Welfare Officer at their football club or that this might be someone to whom they can disclose issues concerning them. Furthermore, it became evident that further research, awareness raising and implementation of listening to and acting on children's voices needs to be fully embedded into safeguarding practice in children and young people's organised football. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intermittent team sports, involving high metabolic and mechanical demands, elicit prolonged impairments in neuromuscular function which persist for ∼48–72 h. Whether impairments in neuromuscular function are exacerbated when such exercise is repeated with incomplete recovery is unknown. This study assessed the neuromuscular, heart rate and metabolic responses to two bouts of ∼90 min modified team sport match simulations separated by 48 h in 12 competitive football players. Before and 2 min after both bouts, knee extensor isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), contractile function (Qtw,pot) and voluntary activation (VA) were measured. Heart rate (HR), sprint time, blood lactate and glucose were measured throughout both bouts. MVC was reduced relative to baseline at post‐bout 1 (21 ± 12%; P = 0.003) and pre‐bout 2 (14 ± 11%; P = 0.009), and was lower post‐bout 2 (33 ± 14%; P < 0.001) relative to post‐bout 1 (P = 0.036). Qtw,pot was reduced post‐bout 1 (30 ± 11%; P < 0.001) and pre‐bout 2 (9 ± 6%; P = 0.004), and was not different post‐bout 2 (28 ± 8%; P < 0.001) relative to post‐bout 1 (P = 0.872). VA was reduced post‐bout 1 (8 ± 7%; P = 0.023), recovered pre‐bout 2 (P = 0.133) and was lower post‐bout 2 (16 ± 7%; P < 0.001) relative to post‐bout 1 (P = 0.029). Total sprint time was longer, and HR, blood lactate and glucose were lower during bout 2 than bout 1 (P ≤ 0.021). Thus, impairments in neuromuscular function are exacerbated when high‐intensity intermittent exercise is performed with incomplete recovery concurrent with accentuated reductions in VA. The lower blood lactate and glucose during the second bout might be due, at least in part, to reduced glycogen availability upon commencing exercise and consequently a greater reliance on glucose extraction. New Findings: What is the central question of this study?There is limited evidence on whether impairments in neuromuscular function are exacerbated when prolonged high‐intensity intermittent exercise is repeated with incomplete recovery: what are the neuromuscular consequences of performing two bouts of a modified team sport match simulations separated by 48 h?What is the main finding and its importance?Impairments in knee extensor force generating capacity are exacerbated concurrent with accentuated reductions in nervous system activation of muscle when prolonged high‐intensity intermittent exercise is repeated with 48 h recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Restricted dorsiflexion range of motion (DFROM) could impact dynamic balance in sports. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between dorsiflexion range of motion and the Y‐Balance Test (YBT) in elite futsal players. Methods: Sixty‐one asymptomatic male futsal players (mean age 26.57 (5.64) years, a mean body mass index of 25.40 (2.69) kg/m2) were included. DFROM was measured by the weight‐bearing lunge test (WBLT). DFROM data were obtained using smartphone‐based motion capture. The Pearson correlation coefficient verified the correlation between the variables. Results: Dominant and nondominant leg ankle DFROM was significantly correlated with the anterior component of YBT (r = 0.27 and 0.51, respectively). The posteromedial component and the composite score of the YBT were also significantly correlated with nondominant leg ankle DFROM (r = 0.31 and 0.34, respectively)]. The other measures were not statistically significant. DFROM explained between 7% and 24% of the variation of the distances reached in the YBT. Conclusion: Dorsiflexion range of motion measured by weight bearing lunge test is positively correlated with dynamic balance in futsal players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slater et al. (2018. Singing it for "us": Team passion displayed during national anthems is associated with subsequent success. European Journal of Sport Science, 18(4), 541–549. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2018.1431311) found that the perceived level of team passion displayed during (pre-match) national anthems at UEFA Euro 2016 predicted team performance during the match. Teams that displayed greater passion conceded fewer goals and team passion predicted the likelihood of victory during the knockout (but not group) stages. Here, we replicate Slater et al. using a larger sample of matches from the FIFA World Cup (n = 415), and apply more appropriate analyses, and control for potential confounds. We also extend the original study to consider additional performance-related outcome variables (fouls, bookings, and possession). We find no evidence that anthem passion was a reliable predictor of performance outcomes (i.e. match outcome, goals scored/conceded, fouls, bookings, possession) in competitive international soccer matches. HIGHLIGHTS Failing to replicate previous research, we find no evidence that the amount of collective passion displayed by a team during the national anthem predicts performance outcomes in soccer matches. Collective passion was unrelated to goals scored, goals conceded, match outcome, fouls, possession, and expected goals. The effect of passion on these outcomes was not moderated by the stage of competition. The reported null effects may be because verbal and non-verbal behaviours during the national anthem are poor signals of collective passion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess measurement agreement between FELS and Tanner‐Whitehouse (TW) II skeletal ages in male youth soccer players from the Middle East. Methods: We examined agreement between FELS and TW‐II skeletal ages using data collected between‐ and within‐subjects (n = 1057 observations) for 409 male, full‐time, academy student‐athletes recruited as part of the Qatar Football Association national soccer development programme (chronological age range, 9.8 to 18 years; annual screening range, one to seven visits). The Bland–Altman method for repeated measurements estimated the limits of agreement describing the expected range of differences for 95% of pairs of future FELS and TW‐II skeletal ages determined on similar individuals from the reference population. Results: The mean difference for TW‐II versus FELS protocols was 0.02 years (95% confidence interval, −0.04 to 0.08 years) with lower and upper limits of agreement ranging from −1.39 years (95% confidence interval, −1.48 to −1.30 years) to 1.43 years (95% confidence interval, 1.34 to 1.52 years). Conclusion: Differences for 95% of pairs of future skeletal ages determined with FELS and TW‐II methods in this population could be as high as ~3 years for some people that suggested protocols may not be interchangeable in youth Middle Eastern athletes. Justification of skeletal age protocol selection rests on knowledge of measurement bias and variability of expected growth estimations for rationalized application to a population of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]