Luiz Fernando Martins Kruel

Physical performance may vary across competitive categories in women’s football, but the capacities distinguishing consecutive stages remain unclear. This cross-sectional study compared under-14 (U14), under-16 (U16), under-18 (U18), and professional Brazilian female outfield players and identified adjacent-stage differences. Overall, 119 female outfield players from two Brazilian football clubs, with U14 and U16 players recruited from one club and U18 and professional players from both clubs, completed the squat jump, countermovement jump, 20 m sprint, 20 m change-of-direction test (COD-20m), and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1. Analyses included Welch’s ANOVA, multivariate analysis, Games–Howell tests, and adjacent-stage comparisons with Holm adjustment. The multivariate physical-performance profile differed in all three adjacent-stage comparisons (Holm-adjusted p ≤ 0.043). U16 covered 491.82 m more than U14 in the Yo-Yo test (adjusted p = 0.012), although this comparison was limited to players from one club. U18 exceeded U16 in squat jump (3.10 cm; adjusted p = 0.004) and countermovement jump (3.87 cm; adjusted p = 0.002). Professionals exceeded U18 in squat jump (2.89 cm; adjusted p = 0.008), countermovement jump (2.93 cm; adjusted p = 0.011), and COD-20m (−0.24 s; adjusted p < 0.001). These category- and capacity-specific differences support category-specific interpretation and may help practitioners prioritize relevant capacities in monitoring and physical preparation rather than applying uniform benchmarks.

This study aimed to determine which side-out actions discriminate top-ranked teams in an elite Brazilian youth volleyball competition. We analysed 56 matches from the Brazilian Under-17 Men's National Championship, including 67,878 side-out-related actions. The 16 teams were grouped into pairs from A to H according to their final classification in the Special and First Divisions. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios associated with belonging to each ranking group, using Group A as the reference category. The results showed that higher-ranked teams were more likely to use overhead pass reception, involve the outside hitter near the setter during serve reception, execute faster offensive patterns, and achieve greater attack effectiveness. These findings indicate that side-out organization, especially reception type, receiver role, attack tempo, and attack outcome, discriminates teams according to final ranking position in elite Brazilian U-17 male volleyball. Training programs for youth volleyball should therefore emphasize side-out quality through reception stability, offensive speed, and effective attack execution.

The recent growth of women's football in Brazil, alongside the expansion of professional competitions, has increased the demand for young players to join elite teams. This scenario raises important questions about players’ physical readiness and the tools required to identify those capable of meeting the physical demands of professional football. This study aimed to propose a mathematical model to support the identification of young female football players with the physical fitness profile necessary to integrate professional teams. A total of 121 players participated in the study, including 88 youth and 33 professional athletes, with average ages of 15.81 ± 1.77 and 25.48 ± 5.33 years, respectively. All participants were assessed for anthropometric characteristics and physical performance. Discriminant function analysis was used to construct the model, with significance set at α<0.05. The model included four physical tests: countermovement jump (cm), 20-m sprint (s), 20-m change of direction (COD 20-m) (s), and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Level 1 (m). COD 20-m showed the highest correlation with the discriminant scores (r = -0.855). The four variables explained 30.6% of group classification. According to the model, 26.1% of youth players demonstrated a physical profile compatible with professional standards, while 84.8% of professional players were correctly identified as belonging to the professional group based on their physical fitness. Therefore, the proposed model is a useful and complementary tool in the multifactorial process of talent identification, supporting coaches and performance staff in selecting young female players with the physical qualities required to transition into professional teams.

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of aquatic training (AT) on total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in adults, compared with control groups (CG), and to determine the possible moderators of the effect of AT on these outcomes. Embase, Cochrane, PubMed, and Scopus were searched until August 2025. Clinical trials comparing the effect of AT with a CG of adults that assessed blood concentrations of TC, TG, LDL, or HDL were included. A random-effects model was used, and effect sizes (ES) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals. Twenty-two studies (697 participants) were included. AT promoted reductions in TC (ES:-0.89), TG (ES:-0.64), and LDL (ES:-1.11) levels and an increase in HDL (ES: 0.53) compared to the CG. The type of training and the presence of progression in its prescription variables did not appear to influence the effects of AT on lipids and lipoproteins. Women exhibited greater reductions in LDL concentrations than mixed samples as a result of AT. Higher weekly frequencies promoted greater reductions in TC, TG, and LDL levels. AT improves the lipid profile in adults. Middle-aged adults tend to experience greater reductions in LDL levels than older individuals, and a longer weekly training frequency is associated with larger decreases in pro-atherogenic lipids and lipoproteins. The type of training, presence of progression, sex, and clinical status do not appear to limit the beneficial effects of AT, although women may achieve greater reductions in LDL than mixed samples. While TC, TG and LDL are more responsive to strength and combined training, HDL is more responsive to aerobic training. Systematic Review Registration Number CRD420160497.

The objectives of this study were: i) to analyze the sequence of game complexes in male youth volleyball categories, considering their frequency and effectivity of final actions, ii) to assess the importance of each complex within the overall game by the Social Network Analysis. We analyzed the behavior of 16 teams that participated in the Brazilian Selection Championship in 2019 in two levels (Special and First Division). The 56 games resulted in 200 sets, totaling 357,707 actions. We used the Fisher exact test, calculation of the significance of observation independence, and Social Network Analysis using eigenvector centrality. As result, there were fewer cases than expected for error in K0, continuity in KI and KV, and point in K0; there were more cases than expected for error in KI, continuity in K0, and point in KI and KV. The most frequent sequences of complexes and effectivity were K0E1-KIE2, K0E1-KIE0, K0E0, K0E2E2, K0E1-KIE1-KIIE2. The Eigenvector Centrality presented as results: KIIIE1, KIVE1, KV(2)E1, KIII(2)E1, KIII(3)E1 in the Special Division; KIII(3)E1, KIII(2)E1, KVE1, KV(2)E1, KIVE1 in the First Division. This study highlighted the main sequences, effectivity and differences that occurred in the Brazilian U-17 Male Selection Championship, assisting coaches in problem solving for training.

Aim: The aim of the study was to compare the pre-season physical performance of professional female soccer players between finalist and non-finalist teams. Methods: Thirty-two professional female soccer players (finalist group: 16 players; non-finalist group: 16 players) participated in the study. Two weeks after the beginning of the preseason, the players from two different teams that would participate in the same professional competition were submitted to physical performance evaluations such as jumps, a linear sprint in 20 m without and with ball handling, a change of direction in 20 m (COD), and the Yo-Yo IRL1. One of the teams was a finalist, the other did not qualify for the second phase of the competition. Results: The performance in the aerobic endurance test was significantly higher (p = 0.004) in the finalist group (1958.80 Å} 428.79 m) compared to the non-finalist group (1488.80 Å} 428.14 m), showing a large effect size (ES = 1.10). Conclusion: This study suggests that finalist teams have significantly higher levels of aerobic fitness during the preseason. Thus, coaches and coaching staff must consider that aerobic fitness can be decisive in the team's success, emphasizing the process of physical training of this physical capacity in professional women's soccer players.

To compare the acute effects of aquatic walking/running versus dry-land walking/running on blood glucose and plasma renin activity (PRA) in individuals with type 2 diabetes, participants with type 2 diabetes performed deep-water or dry-land walking and/or running sessions in a swimming pool or on an athletics track, respectively. Both sessions comprised seven blocks of 3 min at 85–90% of the heart rate deflection point (HRDP), interspersed with 2 min at p: 0.034), while both aquatic and dry-land sessions similarly reduced the blood glucose levels (aquatic: −38 mg/dL, −21%; dry-land: −26 mg/dL, −14%; time effect, p = 0.007). Despite yielding similar glycemic reductions as dry-land walking/running, aquatic walking/running led to an expressive decrease in PRA among individuals with type 2 diabetes.

The home advantage is very consolidated in the literature. The aim of this research was to evaluate the behavior of heart rate variability (HRV), perceived recovery status (PRS) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and vertical jumps performance in professional volleyball athletes in home and away matches. Nine male professional volleyball athletes (25,66 ± 5,7 anos, 97,81 ± 8,65 Kg and 200,94 ± 5,19 cm), with experience in national and international competitions participated in the study. HRV and PRS were evaluated in the morning of the matches. RPE was collected immediately after the matches. Jump performance was monitored during the matches. The data was grouped by home matches and away matches and the t test or Wilcoxon test was performed for comparison. Significance level adopted was α ≤ 0.05. Effect size was analyzed by Cohen’s d coefficient. O nível de significância adotado foi α ≤ 0,05. There were no significant difference in HRV, PRS, RPE, jumps height and number of jumps evaluated in home matches and away matches. We conclude that despite the home advantage consolidated in the literature and possible adverse effects of travel on away matches, the VFC, PRS, RPE and jump performance were similar in the two situations evaluated.