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Purpose: This study aimed to compare players' performances when manipulating the external markings of the pitch during football small-sided games. Methods: Ten under-15 players performed a 5-a-side (plus goalkeepers) under three conditions: (i) Lines, the game was played in a pitch in which the external boundaries were painted with full lines; (ii) Dashed, the game was played in a pitch in which the external boundaries were painted with dashed lines; (iii) Corners, the game was played in a pitch were the external boundaries were delimited by one marker at each pitch corner. Players' positional data was used to compute tactical and time-motion variables. Also, technical analysis was comprised using video footage. Results: Results showed similar tactical, physical and technical performances between the Lines and Dashed conditions. In contrast, the Lines condition showed small higher effects than Corners scenario in the time spent synchronized in longitudinal and lateral displacements, game pace, total distance covered, distance covered while jogging, number successful dribbles and shots on target. The Lines scenario has also revealed a lower effective playing space, distance covered at walking and running and a lower number of passes (small effects) compared to Corners. Conclusions: These results highlight that these changes in informational perception constraints modify players movement behavior. Accordingly, pitches with more visible boundaries were likely to decrease team dispersion, which may optimize team synchrony and technical performances, while decreasing the distance covered at higher speeds. Coaches may use this information to modify the types of pitch external boundaries markings, exposing the players to different environmental information.

This study examined the effects of game schedule, travel demands and contextual factors on team game-related statistics during a full season. The top 10 teams competing in the 2020–2021 Euroleague basketball season were included where game-related statistics from their respective national competitions and the Euroleague competition were retrieved (761 games). Hierarchical linear regression models were computed to evaluate the effects of distance travelled, game schedule and contextual factors for the previous and current games (league, season phase, opponent level, game outcome, score differential) on key performance indicators (points, shooting, rebounds, assists, turnovers, fouls). Several significant models (p < 0.05) yielded R2 values ranging from 0.05 to 0.22 with small-to-medium effect magnitudes. Analyses revealed significant associations between longer durations separating games and less free-throws being made and between further distances travelled and worse 3-point shooting, more offensive rebounds and more fouls. Regarding contextual factors, favourable outcomes for shooting, assists, steals, fouling and turnovers were significantly associated with team success. Playing higher-level teams and competing in playoffs or finals was associated with several diminished outcomes. These results emphasize the multi-factorial nature of performance in elite European basketball, with game schedule, travel and various contextual factors requiring consideration in developing holistic operational plans for teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to contextualise players' high-intensity activities (HIA) with individual tactical actions during match play with reference to playing positions. Tracking data was obtained using local positioning system devices from 19 male elite futsal players (28.8 ± 2.4 years). The HIA measures included high-intensity acceleration (ACC; ≥3 m · s−2), deceleration (DEC; ≤−3 m · s−2), and high-speed running (HSR; ≥18 km · h−1). Tracking data and match footage were synchronised using the SPRO™ to code players' physical performance and technical-tactical actions. A small statistically significant association was observed between HIA and players' actions with or without the ball (χ2 = 183.27 (2, N = 4234), p<.001; Cramer's V = 0.21). When players have the ball, the number of DEC efforts tends to increase with a corresponding decrease in ACC and HSR. When the players do not have the ball, ACC and HSR running tend to increase with a corresponding decrease in DEC. A comparison between HIA revealed that futsal performance requires greater mechanical efforts (ACC + DEC) than kinematic efforts (HSR). This underscores the importance of mechanical efforts within short space for futsal performance. Moreover, the diverse tactical actions associated with different player positions contribute to distinct activity profiles and physical requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to describe the fixation location and the time of the longer fixation of expert and novice futsal coaches before the ball was in play in futsal set pieces. Methods: A total of 10 experts (ages 48 ± 5) and 10 novice coaches (ages 40 ± 7) participated in the study. They observed that 38 video clips were created to mimic the attack and defensive set-piece moments of the game. Data were collected in a standardized video analysis task using the pupil invisible eye tracker and processed through the pupil cloud platform. The Mann-Whitney test was conducted to evaluate differences in gaze duration between game moments (attack and defense set pieces) and groups (expert vs. novice). Gaze duration was also compared for gaze location between groups. For further comparisons, the game moments (attack and defense set pieces) and the gaze location were summarized in two-dimensional graphics using correspondence analysis. Results and discussion: The results revealed higher values of gaze duration for attack and defense set pieces for the group of experts than for novices. When considering gaze duration, expert coaches had higher values than novices for the attacker 3, defender 3, barrier 1st, and barrier 2nd gaze locations. The correspondence analysis showed different strategies of visual search and, consequently, gaze locations for attack and defense set pieces. In particular, there was different correspondence for free kicks between the level of expertise and gaze location, while corner and sideline kicks revealed some correspondence between the groups and the gaze location. In free kicks, coaches should be particularly concerned about the relationship between attacker and defender three and the barrier 1st and 2nd line positions. In corner and sideline kicks, coaches should be particularly aware of the relationship between attackers' and defenders' positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the effects of a differential-learning program, embedded in small-sided games, on the creative and tactical behavior of youth soccer players. Forty players from under-13 (U13) and under-15 (U15) were allocated into control and experimental groups and were tested using a randomized pretest to posttest design using small-sided games situations. Method: The experimental group participated in a 5-month differential-learning program embodied in small-sided games situations, while the control group participated in a typical small-sided games training program. In-game creativity was assessed through notational analyses of the creative components, and the players' positional data were used to compute tactical-derived variables. Results: The findings suggested that differential learning facilitated the development of creative components, mainly concerning attempts (U13, small; U15, small), versatility (U13, moderate; U15, small), and originality (U13, unclear; U15, small) of players' actions. Likewise, the differential-learning approach provided a decrease in fails during the game in both experimental groups (moderate). Moreover, differential learning seemed to favor regularity in pitch-positioning behavior for the distance between players' dyads (U13, small; U15, small), the distance to the team target (U13, moderate; U15, small), and the distance to the opponent target (U13, moderate; U15, small). Conclusions: The differential-learning program stressed creative and positional behavior in both age groups with a distinct magnitude of effects, with the U13 players demonstrating higher improvements over the U15 players. Overall, these findings confirmed that the technical variability promoted by differential learning nurtures regularity of positioning behavior.

Purpose: To investigate the match-to-match variation of physical performance during official congested fixtures in elite futsal players. Methods: Physical performance was measured by external and internal load metrics in 12 elite male futsal players. Two periods with 3 matches within 4 days were analyzed. The variation in physical performance of the players during matches was analyzed using the latent growth curve modeling that estimated interindividual and intraindividual growth paths. Results: Playing time had a significant effect on physical performance growth with significant paths of interindividual and intraindividual variability. Players who competed for more time revealed lower initial levels (ie, first match) of total distance covered (β = −0.62), high-speed running (β = −0.18), accelerations (β = −0.31), decelerations (β = −0.44), and session rate of perceived exertion (β = 0.81) than players who competed for less time (P <.05). In addition, players who competed for more time revealed higher increases in total distance covered (β = 0.47), high-speed running (β = 0.16), and session rate of perceived exertion (β = 0.66) and lower increases in accelerations (β = −0.21) and decelerations (β = −0.58) than players who competed for less time from the first to the third match (P <.05). Conclusions: Congested fixtures did not affect physical performance in elite futsal players. Playing time showed to be a key performance factor. There was a considerable heterogeneity in the responsiveness to physical performance over congested fixtures, suggesting an analysis of individual variability to evaluate real changes in match performance, training intensity, and workload. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The current study aimed to investigate the effects of interchange rotations on players' physical performance during competition, with special reference to high-intensity activity (HIA) according to the playing position. Physical performance data, collected from 19 professional players during seven official matches from the Spanish futsal league using a portable local positioning system, included the number of high-speed running activities (>18 km·h-1), highintensity accelerations (>3 m·s-2), and high-intensity decelerations (>3 m·s-2). Statistically significant (p = 0.05) differences were observed in the number of HIA efforts across rotations and between positions. Players performed more HIA efforts in the first rotation (n = 17.6), suggesting that their first rotation was more demanding than all subsequent rotations. Wingers demonstrated a higher HIA effort and frequency of HIA efforts when compared to defenders (p = 0.05) and pivots (p = 0.001). For all positions, the first rotation was more physically demanding as the number of HIA efforts per rotation decreased with an increased number of rotations throughout the match. Furthermore, higher HIA profile positions, such as wingers and defenders, were less likely to maintain consistent HIA properties (repetition number, timefrequency, and the work-rate) across subsequent rotations during the match. The findings of the study can inform coaching decisions regarding players' rotations to maintain consistent HIA performance throughout the match. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature lacks an understanding of the physical demands of team sports with unlimited substitutions (player interchange rotations). Because of this characteristic of the game, it is necessary to analyze the physical requirements through player rotation rather than analyzing global averages. The objective of this research is to investigate the relationship between high-intensity activities (HIA; sum of accelerations, decelerations, and high-speed running actions) performed per interchange rotations and match time variables (playtime, rest time, and work–rest ratio) in elite futsal players. A retrospective observational design was used. Twelve matches from an elite male team competing in the Premier Spanish Futsal League were analyzed using a local positioning system, yielding a total sample of 17 players. The number of HIA performed per interchange rotation varies between players and allows the identification of three distinct activity profiles—lower HIA (10 HIA), medium HIA (28 HIA), and higher HIA (38 HIA). Furthermore, these profiles were found to be stable alongside the existing interchange rotations throughout the match. Playtime (F = 40.9, p <.001) and work–rest ratio (F = 15.6, p <.001) are the time variables that best differentiate match activity profiles. Players with more playing time (4.6 ± 1.0 min) and a work–rest ratio equal to or greater than 1 (1.1 ± 0.6 a.u.) have a greater ability to repeat HIA per rotation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify the effects of playing with additional individual (IND), collective (COL) or individual-collective (MIX) variability on youth football players' performance during small-sided games. Twelve youth football players (U17, age = 16.1 ± 0.9 years) played a goalkeeper (Gk) + 6 outfield players a-side (Gk+6vs6+Gk) under four conditions: (i) playing in the 1:2:3:1 formation without any other rule (control condition, CTR); (ii) 1:2:3:1 formation with additional body restrictions changing each minute (individual condition, IND); (iii) using different tactical formations modified each minute (collective condition, COL; (iv) using different tactical formations and body restrictions varied each minute (individual-collective condition, MIX). Generally, there were similar behaviours across conditions, especially for the CTR and the MIX. Nevertheless, the CTR condition presented moderate higher values in the lateral direction (p ≤.05), while also higher longitudinal synchronization compared to the IND (p ≤.05). The COL condition presented higher spatial exploration (p ≤.05), which may justify the higher values for distance covered while running and sprinting (p ≤.05). Overall, coaches may use the IND condition to refine players' technical actions, while the COL condition to develop players' ability to perform in different playing positions and team structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]