Ivan Baptista

This study aimed to explore how professional soccer coaches perceive and manage the balance between short-term performance and long-term learning. A sample of 118 coaches [head-coaches (61%); from Portugal (75%); UEFA-B (47%) or UEFA-A (25%)] from elite and national-level teams participated in a cross-sectional online survey addressing planning strategies across different temporal scales. Topics included long and medium-term planning and short and very short – term programming. Although coaches acknowledged the importance of learning, the planning strategies ended up focusing more on short-term performance, potentially constraining development across the season. The predominant programming models were daily load alternation (50%) and Tactical Periodization (39%). Most coaches (67%) maintained a consistent microcycle structure throughout the season. The microcycle structure was deeply associated with the specific contents in terms of their nature and demands, with contents strongly linked to specific training days within the microcycle. This rigid approach may stereotype training processes and negatively impact long-term learning opportunities. We suggest coaches adopt context-sensitive methodologies that attempt to balance immediate match demands with long-term team and player learning and development. We hope this study contributes to an evidence-informed dialogue between coaches and scientists to better harmonize immediate success and sustainable player development in professional soccer.

Introduction: The evaluation of the physical load of the training process is paramount not only as an attempt to decrease injury rates or to verify the effectiveness of interventions but mostly to find the best way to stimulate the players and optimise their physical capacity. Literature has focused mainly on professional meńs football and future research on female football is mandatory. Thus, this study aimed to compare a) the peak periods in training sessions and matches and b) the accumulated-training load of microcycles and official matches by playing position in female football players. Methods: A total of 80 female football players competing in the Norwegian top-division were involved in this study in which match load (ML) and training load (TL) from a total of 103 official matches and 120 training sessions were collected. Physical parameters analysed included total distance (TD), acceleration distance (Acc _dist ), high-speed running distance (HSRD), sprint distance (SpD), 5-min peak TD (TD _peak ), 30-sec peak of HSRD (HSRD _peak ), 30-sec peak of SpD (SpD _peak ), and maximum speed. Results: While TD covered during the microcycle was higher than in the match for every playing position, no significant differences were observed for HSRD and SpD. While TD _peak in match was higher for FB, CM, WM and FW ( p < 0.001), differences in HSRD _peak were only observed for FB ( p < 0.001) and WM ( p = 0.002). Discussion: The present study corroborates the evidence reported in men's football, where the lower training/match ratios of HSRD and SpD when compared with TD and accdist reveal that the common build-up of training weeks might not give the contextual opportunities for the appearance and/or accumulation of high-speed actions.

Purpose : Acceleration is a continuous variable, and current practices of categorizing it into nonconsensual arbitrary thresholds may potentially lead to imprecise and biased data interpretation, as well as limiting interstudy comparisons. This commentary proposes a reframing of the interpretation of acceleration data and their use for athlete monitoring and exercise prescription. Although this applies to multiple sports, we will focus on the example of team sports in which these metrics are commonly used. Conclusion : Despite the recognized benefits of acceleration monitoring, 2 major limitations are evident. First, the common practice of classifying continuous acceleration data into discrete categories leads to a loss of relevant information, thus reducing the validity, reliability, and statistical power of analyses. Second, the use of arbitrary thresholds fails to account for individualized profiles, which are essential for monitoring. The limitations of these approaches are exacerbated by the lack of any objective justification for the thresholds used. We propose that acceleration be analyzed continuously, and, therefore, interpretation of data should be individualized. Accelerations should be analyzed as continuous variables rather than categorized into arbitrary thresholds. Individualized monitoring using players’ maximum acceleration as a reference can provide a more accurate representation of players’ physical demands.

Purpose : High environmental temperature ( T _e ) is associated with adverse effects on athletes’ performance. Whether such effects are comparable across different sports and competitive levels remains uncertain. We explored and compared the physical performance, physiological, and perceptual responses of elite and nonelite beach soccer players during official matches, focusing on the potential effects of T _e . Methods : One hundred fifty-four male beach soccer players were monitored across 13 official matches. Physical performance (locomotor activity and countermovement jump), heart rate, rate of perceived exertion, hydration (liquid intake and fluid loss), and T _e were collected. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance, followed by multivariate analysis of covariance and interaction analyses. Results : Elite players covered greater total distance (∼16%), high-speed running (∼19%), and sprinting (∼60%); performed more sprints (∼60%) and had ∼1-point higher rate of perceived exertion than nonelite players. After adjustment for T _e , differences in total distance and rate of perceived exertion between competitive levels appeared attenuated. In contrast, small effects were observed for V _peak ( ) and accelerations ( ), and a medium effect was observed for fluid loss ( ). As T _e increased, elite players tended to cover greater total distance while reducing high-intensity actions, whereas nonelite players showed progressively greater high-intensity efforts, with relatively stable HR _peak and HR _mean , while time >85%HR _peak tended to increase. In matches played at T _e ≥ 35 °C, elite players experienced ∼34% greater fluid loss than nonelite players. Conclusion : These findings suggest that elite and nonelite beach soccer players may respond differently as T _e increases, highlighting the need for monitoring and hydration strategies tailored to competitive level under high T _e conditions.

Background Performance in team sports is influenced by physical, technical, tactical, and psychological factors. Understanding the disparities in playing time between starters and nonstarters is crucial for optimizing training strategies and performance management. Objectives This systematic scoping review with an evidence gap map (EGM) aimed to (i) synthesize findings from studies comparing the performance factors of starters and nonstarters, (ii) identify compensatory strategies for players with reduced playing times and barriers to the implementation of these strategies, and (iii) provide an EGM to guide future research toward addressing the most relevant gaps in the literature. This review followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and the respective extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Electronic databases such as the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science (Core Collection) were searched on 31/08/2023. The RoBANS tool was used to assess the risk of bias. Among 32,613 articles, 57 trials from 70 publications were included. Results Female soccer players were represented in only 15.8% of the trials. The physical performance factor (k = 56, 98.2%) has been extensively studied in relation to the differences between starters and nonstarters. Few studies have analyzed technical and psychological performance factors, while tactical factors have not been addressed. Starters presented higher values of external absolute intensity (EAI, measured by the total distance and sprint distance), higher internal absolute intensity (IAI, assessed through heart rate-based measures as above 70% maximal heart rate), along with greater improvements in exercise performance measurements (countermovement jump and 20-m sprint), than nonstarters did. The most adopted categorization was based on match participation (k = 33, 57.9%), with starters defined as players who played for ≥ 66.7% of a match time (14.0%). The day commonly used for compensatory training was 24 h after a match (k = 16; 37.5%). Several strategies attempting to reproduce competitive loads were used, such as small-sided games (k = 9; 56.3%), running-based drills (k = 8, 50.0%), small-positional games (k = 3, 18.8%), tactical-technical drills (k = 2, 12.5%), strength training (k = 2, 12.5%), and friendly matches (k = 1, 6.5%). Conclusion This scoping review highlights the necessity of placing increased emphasis on technical, tactical, and psychological performance factors and compensatory training strategies (including the day and types of exercise). These measures aim to replicate the competitive match demands for nonstarters, maintaining or enhancing the physical adaptations, psychological factors, and tactical-technical skills required for performance improvement throughout the season. This review proposes three main future research areas for the topic: (i) investigating the effects of compensatory training on nonstarters’ weekly loads when distributed across multiple days; (ii) investigating additional cutoffs or more refined time classifications for nonstarters; and (iii) directing more studies toward female soccer players. The protocol was registered in the Open Science Framework (project: https://osf.io/36pum/; registration: https://osf.io/9rmz6) and made public on December 30, 2021, prior to being performed.

Background: Exposure to match loads significantly affects physiological and psychological indicators and, consequently, players’ wellness. However, this information is still scarce in women’s football. Therefore, the aims of this study were twofold: a) to compare the wellness variation from matchday (MD) to two days post-match (MD+2); b) and to analyse the correlations between the players’ external load on MD and the self-reported wellness on the day after the match (MD+1) and MD+2. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included data from 22 weeks and 33 official matches from 18 professional and semi-professional female football players competing in the Norwegian top-tier. Signals for total distance, high-speed running distance (>16 km/h^-1), sprint distance (>20 km/h^-1), acceleration distance, and number of sprints were collected using a Global Positioning System. Sleep duration and four wellness subsets were included in this study: sleep quality, delayed onset muscular soreness, fatigue and stress levels. Individual models were run using the respective wellness variable as the dependent variable, with matchday as a predictor. Data was modelled using cumulative link regression models. The model allowed random slopes for subjects to account for repeated measurements. Correlation analysis was computed using Spearman’s rank correlations. Results: Our results from the cumulative link regression model suggest that fatigue increased on MD+1 (Estimate: 1.30; SE=0.16; p<0.001) and remained elevated on MD+2 (Estimate: 0.75; SE=0.15; p<0.001), when compared to MD. Sleep quality decreased on MD+1 (Estimate: -0.72; SE=0.14; p<0.001). Sleep duration decreased on MD+1 (Estimate: -0.70; SE=0.13; p<0.001) and on MD+2 (Estimate: -0.61; SE=0.13; p<0.001). Moderate correlations were observed on MD+2 between sleep duration and acceleration distance (0.32, p<0.001) and high-speed running distance (0.30, p<0.001). Conclusions: Competitive matches are associated with a disruption in the stability of the players’ sleep patterns and wellness. The results also suggest that univariate external load measures may not be strong enough to predict the players’ wellness status variation in the days following matches.

Environmental temperature (T_e) is a main atmospheric parameter that may affect the physical and physiological demands of outdoor sports. Thus, this study aimed to examine the relationship of T_e with the physical and physiological demands of beach soccer match-play. Physical and physiological demands were collected from 60 male players during Portuguese elite beach soccer championship matches using a 10 Hz wearable global positioning system, heart rate, and the rate of perceived exertion (RPE). A bilateral counter-movement jump (CMJ) test assessed lower limb power performance before and immediately after the match. Fluid loss was determined by body mass weighing before and after the end of the match. T_e and wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) parameters were continuously recorded. The matches occurred across T_e ranging from ~20.0 °C to 43.0 °C. Physical demands, CMJ height, peak heart rate (HR_peak), mean heart rate (HR_mean), and RPE were not correlated with T_e. However, a significant correlation was found between fluid loss and T_e (r [95% CIs] = 0.67 [0.43–0.75]; p < 0.001). Beach soccer players maintained physical performance independent of T_e. The specific characteristics of the sport may have promoted adequate thermoregulatory adaptations, helping maintain the players’ physical performance, particularly in matches played under high T_e conditions. Elite beach soccer players maintained their physical performance independently of T_e and despite experiencing dehydration (a body mass decrease of more than 2%) when the T_e exceeded 35 °C.

The effects of specific training protocols to improve repeated sprint ability are well known; however, the utility of non-specific training for this purpose is doubtful. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effects of a specific (sport-related) vs. non-specific (general physical development) eight-week training protocol on developing or maintaining repeated sprint ability in soccer players. Thirty-eight male soccer players (aged 17.1 ± 0.3 years) were randomly divided into a speed endurance group (n = 18) and a core training group (n = 20). The speed endurance group performed 4 sprints lasting 15 seconds with a recovery of 75 seconds, while the core training group performed 2 sets of 4 exercises for 30 seconds with 15 seconds of recovery. Both protocols were performed twice a week. All players performed the Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test (6 consecutive 35-meter sprints with 10-seconds recovery intervals). A mixed two-way ANOVA was performed with no significant effects in the interaction term. On average, the speed endurance and the core training groups improved their repeated sprint ability by 7.9% and 8.0%, respectively, from pre- to post-assessment (p < 0.001, η2p = 0.459). No significant between-group differences were detected for the Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test total time or maximum power. In principle, specific and non-specific low-volume training protocols may improve repeated sprint ability over eight weeks in soccer players. However, the improvements may have been derived from the continued soccer-specific training, which is the reason why future studies should include a passive control group and test whether high session volumes produce different results.

Warm-up protocols focused on injury prevention are often compared with other warm-ups to assess their relative effectiveness. Pragmatic trials often compare a standardised protocol (the intervention) to ‘usual’ warm-up (the comparator), and this is relevant to reflect current real-world practices. However, accurate evaluation of effectiveness requires clear descriptions of the content of the comparator warm-up protocols. Inadequate and incomplete reporting is more common than desirable, even in recent randomised studies published in high-profile journals.1–3 We describe three examples in detail to illustrate this problem.

The incorporation of triaxial accelerometers into Global Positioning Systems (GPS) has significantly advanced our understanding of accelerations in sports. However, inter-positional differences are unknown. This study aimed to explore the variability of acceleration and deceleration (Acc) distribution curves according to players’ positions during soccer matches. Thirty-seven male players from a national-level Portuguese club were monitored using 10 Hz GPS with an embedded accelerometer during the 2021/2022 season. Resultant Acc was obtained from the x (lateral), y (frontal/back), and z (vertical) axes and expressed in gravitational units (g). Statistical Parametric Mapping was employed to compare playing positions: central defenders (CD), fullbacks (FB), central midfielders (CM), wide midfielders (WM), and strikers (ST). All positions exhibited a decreasing Acc distribution curve, very similar in shape, with a high frequency of events in the lower ranges (i.e., 0 to 1 g) and a lower frequency of events in the higher values (2 to 10 g). Post hoc comparisons revealed significant differences between all positions, except between FB and WM. Out of 1000 points in the curve, CD had 540, 535, 414, and 264 different points compared to FB, CM, WM, and ST, respectively. These findings indicate that players in different positions face distinct demands during matches, emphasizing the need for position-specific Acc analysis and training programming. By analyzing Acc as a continuous variable, this study highlights the importance of individualized monitoring to ensure the comprehensive and precise tracking of all player activities, without overlooking or omitting critical information.