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Purpose: This study analyzed the effectiveness of net exchanges (ie, number of times the pairs exchange their zone on the court from the net zone to the back zone or vice versa) in men's and women's professional padel depending on the competition phase. Methods: Data were collected from 41 matches, comprising a total of 4829 points, from both the qualifying and the main draws of the World Padel Tour Finland Padel Open tournament. Descriptive analysis (frequency and percentage) and inferential tests (Pearson chi-square [χ2], Cramer V coefficient [Vc], corrected standardized residuals, and chi-squared automatic interaction detection) were carried out. Results: There were significant differences (P <.05) in net exchanges between the main and qualifying draws, both in men's (79.6% vs 72.1% for no exchanges) and women's (62.2% vs 57.6% for no exchanges) padel. Additionally, differences in the likelihood of winning points based on whether the serving pair or the returning pair finished the rally at the net were highlighted. Indeed, finishing rallies at the net for the serving pairs increased the probability of scoring a winning shot (ie, in even-numbered net exchanges), while finishing rallies away from the net (ie, in odd-numbered net exchanges) was more likely to result in errors, for both male and female players and main and qualifying draws. Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the strategic behavior of professional padel matches, highlighting the importance of net dominance and its impact on match outcomes, particularly in relation to gender differences and phase of competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aims to analyse the differences in tactical and technical elements between winners and non-winners and identify key strategic and technical elements contributing to performance in Para Taekwondo. Notational analysis was used to achieve these objectives, and 78 Para Taekwondo matches (36 men's matches and 42 women's matches) from the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics were analysed. The recorded videos were analysed using Adobe Premiere Pro software (version 24.2) with a frame-by-frame analysis of 0.033 seconds. The main results are: a) winners had significantly higher kick-to-score ratios compared to non-winners (male: 38.3 ± 17.37% vs. 19.4 ± 11.95%, p <.001; female: 32.7 ± 18.17% vs. 11.0 ± 7.72%, p <.001); b) winners had fewer attack attempts but higher scoring efficiency; c) non-winners used the front leg more frequently (male: 43.2% vs. 39.7%, p <.05; female: 47.5% vs. 42.7%, p <.001); d) logistic regression analysis showed that kick-to-score ratio significantly impacted match outcomes for both male (OR = 1.10, p <.001) and female athletes (OR = 1.19, p <.001), while offensive frequency negatively impacted female athletes' match outcomes (OR = 0.89, p =.002). This study emphasizes the importance of scoring efficiency and strategic defensive actions, consistent with patterns in Olympic Taekwondo. It provides insights for enhancing athlete training and match strategy in combat sports, enriching the understanding of Para Taekwondo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of different stances can provide tennis players with a tactical advantage since it enables them to cover a larger court area faster. This is especially critical since the entire stroke process takes only 1.5 seconds. However, it is unclear which stance is most suitable on the court. The purpose of the study was to predict the probability of the four stances used for forehand and two-handed backhand (2BH) in different court situations. Four influencing variables (landing zone of the ball (LZB), positioning of the player (PP), returning direction of the ball, landing zone of the returning ball) and one target variable (groundstroke stance) were collected from 3,850 successful shots at the Australian Open by a notation system to train a Bayesian network. Conditional probabilities of stance were estimated based on the two dominant influencing variables derived from Bayesian modelling. Both PP (0.53) and LZB (0.29) were identified as the most dominant influencing variables for stance selection. Probability distributions indicated that open and semi-open stances were most commonly used for forehand strokes, while closed stance was prevalent for 2BH strokes. Our preliminary findings provide insights into the court usage characteristics of the forehand and 2BH in dominant stances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Match and notational analysis are well-recognised methods to collect important information about technical-tactical indicators in racket sports (shot, footwork, ball placement, and outcome). The purpose of this study was to analyse the principal indicators, with a special focus on comparing the playing style of women and men high-level players. Methods: twenty matches played by 40 women, and twenty matches played by 40 men were analysed in slow motion by an expert coach. All the players were in the top 111(W) and 120 (M) positions of the ITTF world ranking; Results: women play more shots/rallies and shots/games compared to men. The most used shots are Top forehand and Serve for both groups. Women also prefer to play backhand block and drive. Conversely, men prefer to counterattack with forehand Top C Top. One step is often used by women, and they also prefer to hit the ball without performing any step. Conversely, men perform crossover and pivot footwork. Serves are generally directed to close-to-the-net areas, and the following shots are typically directed to the backhand corner during the rallies. Conclusions: Women showed a specific distribution of technical indicators with respect to men players, suggesting sex-specific training sessions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The playing field of a tennis competition is a dynamic and complex formative environment given the following preliminary knowledge: (a) the basic technical, tactical, situational, and special types of shots used by the opponent; (b) the hitting area of the tennis player; (c) the place of service; (d) the ball drop position; and (d) batting efficiency and other related information that may improve the chances of victory. In this study, we propose an AI classification model for tennis serve scores. Using a deep learning algorithm, the model automatically tracks and classifies the serve scores of professional tennis players from video data. We first defined the players’ techniques, volleys, and placements of strokes and serves. Subsequently, we defined the referee's tennis terms and the voice in deciding on a serve score. Finally, we developed a deep learning model to automatically classify the serving position, landing position, and use of tennis techniques. The methodology was applied in the context of 10 matches played by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. The proposed deep learning algorithm achieved a 98.27% accuracy in the automatic classification of serve scores, revealing that Nadal outscored Federer by 2.1% in terms of serve-scoring efficiency. These results are expected to facilitate the automatic comparison and classification of shots in future studies, enabling coaches to adjust tactics in a timely manner and thereby improve the chances of winning.

This study presents the analysis of the UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany, focusing on the impact of the first goal on match outcomes, goal distribution between halves and quarters, and the relationship between offensive, defensive, and goalkeeping metrics and match outcomes. Moreover, a regression model is developed to identify the key factors that significantly contribute to teams' success. The analysis of the 36 group stage matches revealed that scoring the first goal significantly increased the likelihood of a positive match outcome. There were no significant differences between goals scored in the first and second halves or per 15 min of the game. Kruskal–Wallis tests highlighted that winning teams had more assists, attempts on target and runs into the penalty area. Defensive metrics showed that winning teams recovered more balls, while goalkeeping metrics revealed that winning teams had more clean sheets. The logistic regression model identified "Attempts on Target" and "Passes into Attacking Third" as significant positive predictors of winning, while "Attempts on Target Outside Area" and "Crosses Attempted" were negative predictors. These findings offer valuable insights for coaching staff to develop strategies focusing on key performance indicators that enhance the likelihood of winning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In judo matches, athletes perform different technical-tactical actions according to age, sex, and competitive level. To identify these differences, the Judo Attack System Software (JASS) was developed specifically to assess the combat attack system, consisting of the tori (athlete executing the action) and uke (athlete receiving the action) approach, tori's grip, final displacement, stance (laterality) and direction of attack. To assess the reliability of the software, the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) method was used and resulted in 100% of correct records. To verify the objectivity of the analyses, 40 international matches were used to determine inter-rater and intra-rater agreement. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) demonstrated inter-rater and intra-rater agreement between 0.89 (good) and 1 (excellent) for total attacks, scoring attacks and no-scoring attacks. For the 39 variables analyzed, Cohen's Kappa index (κ) showed that 74.3% obtained classification almost perfect, 20.5% substantial, 2.6% fair and 2.6% poor for the intra-rater analysis. In the inter-rater analysis 15.4% had an almost perfect classification, 41% substantial, 25.6% moderate, 12.8% fair, 2.6% slight, and 2.6% poor. The Judo Attack System Software showed good objectivity inter-rater and intra-rater in most of the proposed measures, becoming an auxiliary tool to register the attack systems in judo combat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background—The number of studies on padel has grown significantly in recent years, reflecting the growing importance of the sport. However, more research is still needed on a comprehensive analysis of performance indicators. This study had a double objective: on the one hand, to analyze the probability of winning a point as a function of several variables and, on the other hand, to develop a match analysis. Methods—A total of 980 points from the Menorca 2020 World Padel Tour Master Final Men's category were examined using observational methodology. The participants were the eight pairs who competed in the final rounds of the tournament. To obtain the results, various analytical techniques were used, such as descriptive analysis and the chi-square test, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results—The results indicated that most points were initiated on the first serve (88.5%) and were most often won by the serving pair (59.3%). Short rallies predominated (42.2%), with the serving pair most likely to win the point (71%). As the rally became longer, the probability of winning the point decreased, reaching 57% for medium rallies and 47% for long rallies. Almost half of the points were completed in less than 10 s, with an average point duration of 15 s. Most points were finished from the middle area and near the net (41.4% and 36%, respectively), mainly by smashes (25.9%) or volleys (28.9%), with the cross-court trajectory being the most effective. Conclusions—Short rallies (0–6 shots) were the most common, with an average point duration of approximately 15 s. Most points ended with a shot from the middle of the court, using a volley or a smash with a cross-court trajectory. There is a clear relationship between proximity to the net on the final shot and an increased probability of winning the point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to analyze the influence of left-handed athletes on the opponent (right-handed players) of elite badminton women's singles. The study selected a total of 40 women's singles matches played by elite female players: twenty matches (42 games, n = 42) were played between left-handed and right-handed players and twenty matches (44 games, n = 44) were played between two right-handed players. There were significant (p < 0.05) differences in hitting positions, techniques, routes and landing points. No significant (p > 0.05) differences were found in scores per game and frequency distribution of rally outcomes. In conclusion, the details of technical and tactical application were different in two game forms, the main impact of the left-handed player on the opponent's (right-handed player) game was a decrease in the opponent's stroke in the overhead, an increase in the number of drives, predominance of small slashes and a decrease in big slashes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bilateral skill symmetry in sport refers to an individual's ability to successfully perform sporting actions with both sides of the body. Two scarcely researched areas in relation to bilateral skills are the effects of opposition proximity on skill execution and bilateral skill in high-performance female athletes. In this study, we used Nacsport to code all skill executions (hand pass, kick pass, hop, solo and shot) during 121 games by both male and female participants (76 male, 45 female), classified as Tier 1 (n = 181, 134) and Tier 2 (n = 238, 115) high performance, adult Gaelic Football players. Irrespective of the participants' tier group or gender, these players relied upon their dominant side for most skill executions (Kick Pass Dominant Foot Mdn : MT1 = 90%, MT2 = 98.6%, FT1 = 100%, FT2 = 100%; Solo Dominant Foot: Mdn MT1 = 95%, MT2 = 97.3%, FT1: 100%, FT2: 100%; Hand Pass Dominant Hand Mdn : MT1: 83.7%, MT2: 99%, FT1: 95.5%, FT2: 95.5%; Hop Dominant Hand Mdn : MT1: 91.9%, MT2: 94.7%, FT1: 98.1%, FT2: 98.1%; Play Dominant Foot Mdn : MT1: 74.5%, MT2: 94.5%, FT1: 94.7%, FT2: 88.2%). There were no consistent differences between tier groups or genders in relation to dominant side use, but top tier male players were generally less reliant on the dominant limb than were female players from both tiers. In general, top tier male players performed more successfully than either second tier male players or female players in both tiers. Most skills were executed under conditions of low opponent proximity, limiting the requirement for participants to use their non-dominant limbs. These findings illustrate the demands of Gaelic football in relation to bilateral skills, and we identified new research questions for future investigators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 2020 season the World Padel Tour (WPT) has incorporated the golden point rule, which consists of playing a point to decide the game when the score is deuce (40–40). The objective of this study was to analyze the characteristics of the golden points and the rest of the points in men's and women's professional padel, as well as to identify the differences between both types of points. A sample of 2752 points (1431 men's and 1321 women's) was used from 394 games identified and finished with a golden point, corresponding to 69 matches played in the 2021 season of the WPT circuit. The variables recorded were the type of point (golden points and non-golden points), player serving, tactical service position, number of net exchanges, effectiveness of the partner serving and effectiveness of the last shot through systematic observation. The results indicate that during the golden points in men's padel, the Australian position is usually used more, while in women's padel the Australian position is more common when the player on the right serves and the traditional one when the player on the left serves. In addition, both in men and women, the most common serves are those directed towards the side wall. On the other hand, except for the errors in women's padel during the golden points, the winning shots are made in areas close to the net and the errors in areas at the back of the court. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to employ an integrated observational-notational record to describe collective behavior (CB) in competition matches of young soccer players from 4 teams, U-16, U-17, U-19, and U-23, playing for a professional soccer club academy. A total of 1,481 possessions were registered. Collective behavior, captured by GPS devices, was described with the variables: depth, surface area, stretch index, length, and width. In addition, from the notational analysis, the behavior depending on the area of the field (Z1,Z2, Z3, and Z4)and ball possession (POS), nonball possession (nPOS), and set pieces phases were contextualized. A 2-tailed analysis of variance was applied to compare the CB of the teams. Results show that: (a) in all ages/categories, CB varied significantly in and without the possession of the ball and was conditioned by the area of the pitch where the ball was; (b) CB showed higher values with the ball and greater variability without it; and (c) depending on the age, CB presented differences with larger effect sizes in depth and length, in and without the possession of the ball, in Z1 and Z2. Integrating positional data to the moment of play and areas of the field could help a more accurate analysis of the competition to better understand the CB evolution of young soccer players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is an observational retrospective study analyzed the performance of the Chinese women's national field hockey team during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2021 National Games to assess the impact of opposition quality on performance. Game statistics were collected using notational analysis software for 76 Olympic and 40 National Games matches. Non-parametric Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare tournaments. No significant differences existed for 35 out of 38 metrics, except Offense in 25-Yd Area (P = 0.013), Handball Style (P = 0.000) and Entry into Arc - Right Lane (P = 0.017). When exclusively considering Chinese national team's observations, superior National Games performance did emerge for Shot (P = 0.046), Goal from Short Corner (P = 0.044), Into the Arc (P = 0.046), Entry into Arc - Q3 (P = 0.009), Dribble into the Arc (P = 0.046), Handball Style into Arc (P = 0.041), Forehand Shot (P = 0.033), and Small Skill Shot (P = 0.014). The study underscores the influence of opposition quality on team performance, with a need for targeted improvements in arc penetration efficacy, conversion rates of shots to goals, and adaptation of tactical approaches against stronger defenses. The research points towards the need for strategic high-performance programs, improved domestic league quality, and a structured youth development system to elevate the overall standard of Chinese field hockey to achieve global competitiveness.

This study aimed to compare the effects of playing tennis using low-compression balls (Lc-Balls) and standard balls (St-Balls) on psychophysiological responses and match characteristics among recreational adult tennis players. Participants (N = 24; age: 20.5 ± 1.3 years) were randomly matched to play two singles matches over three sets: one match was played with a Lc-Ball and one match was played with a St-Ball, resulting in twenty-four matches. Heart-rate responses and match characteristics were assessed during each match. Post-match measures included retrospective assessments of perceived exertion, ratings of enjoyment towards physical activity, and ratings of mental effort and mood. Results showed higher psychophysiological responses and more intensive play during the game when playing with the Lc-Ball (p ≤ 0.05, d values ranging from 0.24 to 1.93 [small to very large effect]). Further, playing with a Lc-Ball related to reporting a lower rating of perceived exertion (p = 0.00, d = 0.90 [moderate effect]) and greater physical enjoyment (p = 0.00, d = 1.73 [large effect]). Playing with the St-Ball was associated with higher unpleasant mood responses including depression, tension, anger, and fatigue. In conclusion, the results suggest that using the Lc-Ball may lead to better match performance with higher enjoyment in the tennis match-play in recreational adult tennis players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unprecedented COVID-19 health crisis severely disrupted global sports in 2020, prompting lengthy suspensions followed by resumed competitions under abnormal behind-closed-doors conditions without fans. These disruptions necessitated tactical adaptations by coaches and teams, attempting to still achieve successful outcomes. This study investigates the pandemic's impacts on performance metrics and indicators within Spanish professional soccer. Utilizing systematic notational analysis, 760 match cases from the 2019–2020 La Liga season were examined, comprising 27 matchdays from the pre-COVID context and 11 after resumption. Multivariate tests identified significant pre/post differences and interactions for various technical indicators including shots, cards, corners, and offside calls. The pandemic was associated with a reduction from 12 to just 5 identifiable playing styles, suggestive of increased conservatism featuring more passive play, limited attacking depth, and horizontal ball movement. Such tactical changes appear provoked by condensed fixture scheduling post-lockdown, the lack of supportive crowds, and compromised player fitness/recovery. By quantifying these COVID-precipitated changes, the analysis provides tangible evidence for coaches to make informed adjustments in training and preparation for functioning effectively in disrupted environments. The findings emphasize that versatility and flexibility will be vital to optimize performance during times of unprecedented uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to quantify longitudinal changes in the games of the 6 Men's European Handball Championship (EHC) celebrated between 2012 and 2022. A total of 563 match observations were examined. Specifically, the study contained the Number of Goals, Number of Attacks, Number of Shots, Number of Saves, Offensive Efficacy (Number of Goals/Number of Attacks × 100) and Defensive Efficacy (100 − Offensive Efficacy of the Opponent). Data were examined using the Kruskal–Wallis test and linear regression analysis. Results suggest that the number of goals remained relatively constant from 2012 to 2022. However, the number of attacks, shots, saves and defensive efficacy decreased, while offensive efficacy increased. These findings can contribute to a better understanding of how handball is evolving from a structural or tactical viewpoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cuadernos de Psicología del Deporte is the property of Cuadernos de Psicologia del Deporte and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background—The number of studies on padel has grown significantly in recent years, reflecting the growing importance of the sport. However, more research is still needed on a comprehensive analysis of performance indicators. This study had a double objective: on the one hand, to analyze the probability of winning a point as a function of several variables and, on the other hand, to develop a match analysis. Methods—A total of 980 points from the Menorca 2020 World Padel Tour Master Final Men’s category were examined using observational methodology. The participants were the eight pairs who competed in the final rounds of the tournament. To obtain the results, various analytical techniques were used, such as descriptive analysis and the chi-square test, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results—The results indicated that most points were initiated on the first serve (88.5%) and were most often won by the serving pair (59.3%). Short rallies predominated (42.2%), with the serving pair most likely to win the point (71%). As the rally became longer, the probability of winning the point decreased, reaching 57% for medium rallies and 47% for long rallies. Almost half of the points were completed in less than 10 s, with an average point duration of 15 s. Most points were finished from the middle area and near the net (41.4% and 36%, respectively), mainly by smashes (25.9%) or volleys (28.9%), with the cross-court trajectory being the most effective. Conclusions—Short rallies (0–6 shots) were the most common, with an average point duration of approximately 15 s. Most points ended with a shot from the middle of the court, using a volley or a smash with a cross-court trajectory. There is a clear relationship between proximity to the net on the final shot and an increased probability of winning the point.

The objective of this research was to analyze the importance of maintaining the net position in men's and women's professional padel. The data sample was drawn from 2,756 padel rallies (n = 1,434 men's and n = 1,322 women's) in matches played during the 2021 season of the World Padel Tour circuit. The results showed that there was no net exchange in 50.7% of the women's rallies, while in 65.9% of men's rallies, the servers kept the net. Due to their physical advantages, men servers had more opportunities to finish the rally at the net than women servers, giving them more opportunities to win the rally. However, when either men or women receivers finished the rally at the net, they had more opportunities to win the rally. In addition, both men and women tended to end the rallies with a winner when they were in the net zone and with an error when they were at the back of the court. These findings suggest that wins in padel are closely related to time spent at the net. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There has always been a need to conduct studies to understand the underlying game characteristics of kabaddi sport, but the number of studies is insufficient. Hence the researcher took a novel approach to conduct the current research on Pro Kabaddi league tournament. Aim of study: The study aimed to enhance the existing knowledge, to understand the game characteristics, and evaluate the significance of the observed parameters concerning the ranking of a team in the tournament. Methods: Data from 653 matches were taken in this study from the official website of the Pro Kabaddi League, which was held for seven seasons. A total of 22 variables was formulated for the study. Descriptive statistics and bivariate correlation were calculated using IBM SPSS Version 25.0. Results: Attack variables, total raids (819.44 ± 182.67), total raid points (353.43 ± 105.26), average raid points (18.19 ± 2.57), all out conceded (22.88 ± 6.79), total point conceded (616.93 ± 157.99), rate of successful raids (34.04 ± 5.59), rate of empty raids (43.35±5.78), etc., and defence variables, total tackles (445.99 ± 106.53), total tackle points (185.66 ± 49.01), average tackle points (9.62 ± 1.17), all out inflicted (22.88 ± 9.21), rate of successful tackles (38.08 ± 5.17), etc. were calculated. Two attack variables and six defense variables exhibited significant correlation with the result variable, i.e., ranking after league matches. Conclusions: The results revealed that the defense variables might have contributed more to achieving top ranking in the Pro Kabaddi league tournament. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Kinesiologia Slovenica is the property of Faculty of Sport and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

One of the most widely used strategies for performance analysis in different sports is notational analysis through direct observation of technical-tactical actions, which allows to understand the main indicators of sporting performance of the players, both individually and collectively. Football goalkeepers (GKs) are involved in the game differently when compared to the rest of the players in the team and, therefore, they develop different high-level and high-intensity tactical-technical actions. Therefore, the present work aimed to analyse the different performance indicators of football GKs through a search in the following databases: Web of Science (WOS), Scopus (Elsevier), PubMed (NIH) and, SPORTDiscus (EBSCO), until February 2023. The following keywords were used: ''Football'' or ''Soccer'', ''Goalkeeper'' and ''Performance analysis''. The results show that the main performance indicators are the percentage of avoided goals, the distribution of the ball at the goal kick as well as the number of offensive and defensive actions. Therefore, training sessions should be planned and implemented aimming to improve these skills.

This study aimed to compare the effects of playing tennis using low-compression balls (Lc-Balls) and standard balls (St-Balls) on psychophysiological responses and match characteristics among recreational adult tennis players. Participants (N = 24; age: 20.5 ± 1.3 years) were randomly matched to play two singles matches over three sets: one match was played with a Lc-Ball and one match was played with a St-Ball, resulting in twenty-four matches. Heart-rate responses and match characteristics were assessed during each match. Post-match measures included retrospective assessments of perceived exertion, ratings of enjoyment towards physical activity, and ratings of mental effort and mood. Results showed higher psychophysiological responses and more intensive play during the game when playing with the Lc-Ball (p ≤ 0.05, d values ranging from 0.24 to 1.93 [small to very large effect]). Further, playing with a Lc-Ball related to reporting a lower rating of perceived exertion (p = 0.00, d = 0.90 [moderate effect]) and greater physical enjoyment (p = 0.00, d = 1.73 [large effect]). Playing with the St-Ball was associated with higher unpleasant mood responses including depression, tension, anger, and fatigue. In conclusion, the results suggest that using the Lc-Ball may lead to better match performance with higher enjoyment in the tennis match-play in recreational adult tennis players.

The unprecedented COVID-19 health crisis severely disrupted global sports in 2020, prompting lengthy suspensions followed by resumed competitions under abnormal behind-closed-doors conditions without fans. These disruptions necessitated tactical adaptations by coaches and teams, attempting to still achieve successful outcomes. This study investigates the pandemic’s impacts on performance metrics and indicators within Spanish professional soccer. Utilizing systematic notational analysis, 760 match cases from the 2019–2020 La Liga season were examined, comprising 27 matchdays from the pre-COVID context and 11 after resumption. Multivariate tests identified significant pre/post differences and interactions for various technical indicators including shots, cards, corners, and offside calls. The pandemic was associated with a reduction from 12 to just 5 identifiable playing styles, suggestive of increased conservatism featuring more passive play, limited attacking depth, and horizontal ball movement. Such tactical changes appear provoked by condensed fixture scheduling post-lockdown, the lack of supportive crowds, and compromised player fitness/recovery. By quantifying these COVID-precipitated changes, the analysis provides tangible evidence for coaches to make informed adjustments in training and preparation for functioning effectively in disrupted environments. The findings emphasize that versatility and flexibility will be vital to optimize performance during times of unprecedented uncertainty.

The analysis of decision making in different sports is a procedure that has been investigated and allows a better ecological understanding of the game. However, little is known about the setter's decision making in volleyball and its influence on the game in high-level volleyball. Thus, the objective of the present research was to analyze the setter's decision making in the offensive construction of the side-out in high-level Brazilian men's volleyball, when there were all attack options available. The sample was constituted by the analysis of 132 games of the qualifying phase of the 12 teams participating in the men's volleyball Brazilian Super-League 2021-2022. Twenty two games were observed for each team, resulting in 5524 attacks after the reception that allowed the organized attack with all available attackers. Considering the results, we found that: I - teams would present higher eigenvector values for setting to position 3, attacks against simple blocks and the attack point, regardless of winning or losing the game; II - teams, when they were defeated, presented, for the most of times, higher eigenvector values for the setter starting in the initial position 6; III - when the teams won the game, it was noticed that, for the most part, the setting location was to position 3 with the middle-hitter's attack close to the setter, and the setter's initial position was diversified between the teams. From this, it was observed that under ideal distribution conditions, there was similarity in the offensive patterns of twelve high-level Brazilian volleyball teams, regardless of whether they won or lose the game. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to (a) investigate shot distribution and accuracy in international 3x3 basketball tournaments by classifying shot attempts into three types (two-point, mid-range, and paint shots) and (b) compare them among age and sex categories (senior men, senior women, under-18 men, and under-18 women). Ninety-one games from the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2019 and the FIBA 3x3 Under-18 World Cup 2019 were analyzed using a notational analysis method. The Mann-Whitney U test with Benjamini-Hochberg correction was used to compare shot attempts and success rates between categories. There were no sex differences in the success rates of two-point and mid-range shots (p<0.05). However, male teams attempted more two-point shots [senior men vs. senior women, p<0.01, r = 0.40 (medium effect size); under-18 men vs. under-18 women, p<0.01, r = 0.21 (small effect size)] and fewer mid-range shots [senior men vs. senior women, p<0.01, r = 0.36 (medium effect size); under-18 men vs. under-18 women, p<0.01, r = 0.34 (medium effect size)] than female teams. Differences between senior and under-18 teams in shot distribution were only observed in men's tournaments: senior teams attempted more two-point shots [p<0.01, r = 0.25 (small effect size)] and fewer paint shots [p = 0.04, r = 0.19 (small effect size)] than under-18 teams. Male teams were superior to female teams in terms of scoring efficiency. However, the career transition from youth to senior tournaments may be smoother for girls than boys because of the similarity in the shot selection between under-18 and senior games. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Shanghai Physical Education Institute / Shanghai Tiyu Xueyuan Xuebao is the property of Shanghai Physical Education Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We examined the game characteristics of badminton and the physiological and metabolic responses in highly trained male junior players. Players from a Badminton England accredited Performance Centre (n = 10, age: 14.0 ± 1.2 y, height: 1.69 ± 0.06 m, body mass: 59.1 ± 5.0 kg) completed a 20-m shuttle run test ( V ˙ O2max: 64 ± 7 mL·kg−1·min−1) and a simulated ability-matched competitive singles badminton game consisting of two 12-min games with a 2-min break wearing the COSMED K5 metabolic system with notational analysis. In five games, 427 points were contested with a rally time of 5.7 ± 3.7 s, a rest time of 11.2 ± 5.9 s, shots per rally of 5.6 ± 3.6, work density of 0.50 ± 0.21, an effective playing time of 32.3 ± 8.4%, and shots frequency of 1.04 ± 0.29. During badminton play, heart rate was 151 ± 12 b·min−1 (82 ± 10% of maximum heart rate), oxygen uptake was 39.2 ± 3.9 mL·kg−1·min−1 (62 ± 7% of V ˙ O2max), and energy expenditure was 11.2 ± 1.1 kcal·min−1 with a post-game blood lactate of 3.33 ± 0.83 mmol·L−1. Compared to adult badminton play, the physiological responses of junior badminton are lower and may be due to the shorter rally durations. Male junior badminton players should be exposed to training methodologies which include rally durations in excess of what they encounter during match play so as to develop greater consistency. Our observations on game characteristics and physiological responses during junior badminton can be used to inform training practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although penalty-kick outcomes in football are thought to be affected by different factors, many of them have not been sufficiently analysed yet. This study sought to replicate and extend the findings of a previous multifactorial analysis of penalty kicks in Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) club competitions. For that purpose, we used a larger sample (n = 833), collected from eight consecutive seasons of the Portuguese First League (from 2013–2014 to 2020–2021) and adding the variables season, team quality and the penalty taker's playing status (starter or substitute) to the analysis. Chi-square tests of independence only showed significant associations of performance-related factors (shot horizontal and vertical directions, and goalkeeper's action) with penalty-kick outcome. Multinomial logistic regression model revealed significant increases in the odds of penalty kicks being saved when (1) shots were directed to the centre-left zones compared to the right zones (penalty taker's perspective), (2) shots were directed to the low zones of the goal and (3) goalkeepers dived to the correct side of the ball. In addition, the probability of missing the target or hitting the goalpost/crossbar significantly increased when shots aimed the high zones of the goal. Noteworthy, the risk of a penalty being saved when the shot was directed to the bottom zones of the goal outweighed the "miss factor" of shooting high. These findings enable coaches to develop optimal strategies for taking and saving penalty kicks, thus increasing the likelihood of both players to succeed in competitive matches, regardless of individual attributes and/or casual competitive circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to quantify the variation in the physical and technical match performance of football teams in different months of a season in the Chinese Super League (CSL). Data of 1,899 matches in the seasons 2012-2019 of CSL collected by Amisco Pro® were analysed. The generalised mixed modelling was employed to estimate the per match mean values of six physical performancerelated parameters and 16 technical performance-related parameters of CSL teams in every month of all the eight seasons. Results showed that: (1) the mean values of all the analysed physical performance-related parameters (total/sprint/HSR/MSR distance, sprint/HSR efforts) of CSL teams through a season were characterised like a 'U' shape, the highest value was observed in the beginning of season (March), then decreased gradually, reaching the lowest in August, and rebounded progressively from September to November; (2) the mean values of eight technical performance-related parameters (goals, shots, shot accuracy, individual possession, individual possession in the last third, crosses, cross accuracy and yellow cards) presented trivial changes through the whole season; (3) the number of passes, passes per shot, forward passes, and time in individual possession showed trivial changes from March to October, but showed a substantially increase in November (the last month of season); (4) Pass accuracy, forward pass accuracy, and the number of mean ball touches per individual possession substantially increased in June, July and August, whilst the number of challenges, ground challenges, air challenges, tackles and fouls all substantially decreased in these 3 months. These results could provide detailed information to help the practitioners choose the best training and match preparation strategy in the means of periodisation in different season phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the frequency, number of goals and attack efficiency in temporal numerical superiority among winning and losing teams and among balanced and unbalanced matches in a junior men's water polo competition. Another analysed relationship was that between a balanced or unbalanced final score and the efficiency at scoring goals in numerical superiority in the winning teams' games. A total of 56 matches from the Pan-American Junior Men's Water Polo championship was analysed. The teams were categorised as losers or winners and the match results were classified as balanced or unbalanced. The chi-squared and Mann-Whitney tests were used for statistical treatment. There is no significant difference in the occurrence of numerical superiority between winners and losers (p = 0.25) despite the winners scoring more goals (p = 0.002) and being more efficient (p < 0.001). There is no significant difference in the occurrence of numerical superiority (p = 0.81) and goals (p = 0.03) in balanced and unbalanced matches. However, there tends to be a higher shot efficiency (p = 0.01) in unbalanced matches. A significant relationship exists (p = 0.04) between the winning teams' efficiency at scoring goals in a situation of numerical superiority and an unbalanced score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Due to the worldwide negative impact on sport of the COVID-19 pandemic declared by the WHO in 2020, the first aim of this study was to analyze the influence of COVID-19 on performance indicators as a natural experiment, according to the moment in time: pre-COVID, COVID and post-COVID. The second aim was to analyze and ascertain the persistence of the performance indicators (PIs) over the analyzed seasons. To this end, 5320 teams' match data corresponding to the 2014/2015 to 2020/2021 seasons of the LaLiga (first division of Spanish men's soccer) were analyzed. All the seasons developed normally except the 2019/2020 season in which there was a three-month hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, representing a natural experiment without spectators. Statistical tests including ANOVA, general multivariate linear analysis with three independent variables (covidtime, venue and result) and an autocorrelation were performed. The results obtained showed that there were significant differences in the PIs regarding the moment in time, the result, the venue, and the pairwise interactions among them. The evolution of the PIs has changed over the years, showing a decrease in the means of most of them, leading to a more passive game with tighter results; differences which could be generated by the change in the rules (from 3 to 5 substitutions), the total or partial absence of spectators, three months of confinement and inactivity, or the accumulation of matches and minutes played by the individual players. The teams' technical staffs should bear all of these types of situations in mind as the seasons evolve to adapt as quickly as possible to a more effective game style in order to achieve objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Coaches' player substitution strategies can change the tactical behavior and the final result of matches. This empirical study aims to describe the relationship/association of player substitution variables with the results of men's UEFA Champions League matches during the 2018–2019 season. A total of 125 matches were analyzed using an ad hoc observation sheet created for this purpose. To measure the degree and strength of association between the variables studied, Chi-square and Cramer's V tests were used, respectively. In turn, the Adjusted Standardized Residuals from the contingency tables were calculated to detect patterns of association. Likewise, a decision tree, in particular, the CHAID method, was used to predict and identify interactions. Player substitutions affect the final result and the findings prove it. An own team's goal after 5–10 minutes of player substitution was win-related (positive impact) (90.40%, ASRs = 10.40), while an opposing team's goal after 5–10 minutes of player substitution was loss-related (negative impact) (90.30%, ASRs = 10.30). Regardless of the match status, the positive impact increased the winning percentage. Furthermore, the match status was postulated as an indicator of the need to make player substitutions. It showed that player substitutions could determine the final result when teams were tying. On the other hand, the match location was not a differentiating factor between winning and losing teams, although the winning percentage was somewhat higher for home teams. Coaches could use this information to establish player substitution strategies that would allow them to perform at their best. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of RICYDE. Revista Internacional de Ciencias del Deporte is the property of Revista Internacional de Ciencias del Deporte and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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The objectives of this study are to analyze handball game-related statistics in balanced games (0-2 goal difference at minute 50) in the final 10 minutes regarding the final outcome of winning or losing. i) Analyse statistical differences between winners and losers in male and female top Icelandic handball leagues and ii) calculate a discriminating model for performance variables for both male and female top Icelandic handball leagues. The game-related statistics from the final 10 minutes of 127 games from two seasons (85 male and 42 female) with a goal difference of two or fewer at minute 50 were analyzed. The internal consistency and reliability ranged from good to excellent for the games of both sexes. Differences between winning or losing for each sex were determined using the unpaired t-test or Mann-Whitney U test, and Cohens d for effect sizes was calculated. The results for males include four variables with large effect sizes and six with significant differences. The discriminatory model selected technical fouls and goalkeeper blocked shots from 9 m to classify 40.4% correctly (Wilks' lambda 0.005, and canonical correlation of 0.997). For females, findings align with previous research underscoring the importance of 9 m shots at goal at this level. However, they differ somewhat from full game statistics at the elite level with no difference in red cards and 7 m shots. Coaches should pay particular attention in tactical preparation to shots outside 9 m - both offensively and defensively in balanced games in the final 10 minutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professional tennis players have their own habits of tactics and play. However, players' shortcomings can be corrected by constantly practicing professional techniques and by tactical analysis. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a two-stage, expert decision-making system for tennis matches. The first stage consisted in dividing the court area and defining the technical classification of the net. Tennis coaches were invited to assess tennis players' skills on the competition court, dividing it into 48 areas on both sides of the court centerline and identifying the skills used by the players. In the second stage, a classification model was developed, and the score, hitting habits, and tennis skills of the players, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, over 10 matches, played from 2007 to 2019, were analyzed and classified using notational analysis and the C5.0 decision tree algorithm. The results show that the two players' highest scored techniques were the forehand stroke in the backcourt and the backhand stroke in the half court. Thus, using this expert decision-making system, our data can provide other players with imaginary training objects from two of the top players in the world to be used during training and can allow the accumulation of experience for players through continuous simulation and training analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to analyze the effectiveness in men's and women's professional padel of errors and winners depending on the type of shot and the importance of the situation during each game. In addition, differences between men and women were identified. The sample was made up of 2759 points corresponding to the games that finished with a golden point from matches played in the 2021 season of the World Padel Tour circuit. The results show men and women make more errors (men: 58.7%; women: 63.2%) than winners (men: 41.3%; women: 36.8%), and this difference increases as the importance of the points increases in men's padel; however, the opposite happens in women's padel. Trays and smashes are the most characteristic last shots in men's and women's padel (hits with which more winners are achieved), followed by back wall shots (shots where more errors are made) and then drive and backhand volleys. In men's padel there are more winning shots and fewer errors than in women's padel, except in the golden points, where men make more errors than women. These considerations are of great importance, as they help the players to know the most effective way to finish points according to the situation of the game. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agility is essential to success in Australian football (AF). However, the nature of agility events in competition is currently unknown. This study analysed in-game 1v1 agility events to identify the movement and cognitive demands of agility in elite AF. The study described the technique, the angle of change of direction (COD), and the approach speed. Cognitive demands were inferred by recording inter-athlete position and deceptive manoeuvres. Findings revealed sidestepping to be commonly used for both attacking and defending athletes. However, attacking athletes were substantially more likely to use the sidestep technique than their defending counterparts (74% vs 39% of the time). Analysis of movement speeds indicated a preference for submaximal approaches. Further, the movement technique was varied, with the angle of directional change particularly diverse. Overall, the notational analysis indicates a need for agility training and testing that reflects in-game agility demands. To achieve this, training and testing must allow for submaximal movement speeds, context-specific techniques, and the use of deceptive manoeuvres. Field-based or subjective assessment methods are proposed as viable testing alternatives. Further, the effectiveness of recorded deceptive actions suggests that athletes should be provided with training opportunities to practice fake disposals and fake CODs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was twofold: (i) to identify the relationship between shots and rebounded areas in the men and women's elite handball games; and (ii) to compare the differences by gender. The samples were composed through 48 matches (24 matches, respectively) and 699 shooting sequences (n = 372 for men, and n = 327 for women) from the men's and women's 2019 World Championship. The results were recorded using an original recording made while observing all match videos. A database was then created using the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet software. Performance analysis applied running a binominal logistic regression identified: (i) close shots returned to the area where shots were performed; (ii) distance shots which were difficult to be predicted by goalkeepers due to shooting course and shooting timing returned to the field area; and (iii) when rebounded balls returned to the side area, they were got by the attacking team. Current findings allow to suggest some practical applications to get rebounded balls securing and protecting the field area for distance shots, the same area where the shot was made in close shots and half-defenders need to be ready for shots rebounding to side area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]