Abdullah Kilci

The present study examined associations between Team Surface Area (TSA), tactical formations, and match running performance (MRP) during defensive subphases (high, mid, and low-blocks) and possession build-up in elite football. Matches from 31 teams in the 2022 FIFA World Cup were analyzed across four formations (3-4-3, 4-3-3, 4-4-2, and 4-2-3-1). MRP variables included total distance covered (m), Zone 4 distance (20–25 km·h ^–1 ; m), Zone 5 distance (>25 km·h ^–1 ; m), HSR actions in Zone 4, sprint actions in Zone 5, and top speed (km·h ^–1 ). Mixed-effects models assessed main and interaction effects of TSA and formation type on MRP. TSA alone showed no significant effect on MRP variables after correction for multiple comparisons. Zone 4 distance showed significant TSA × formation interactions in low-block and mid-block phases (both BH-FDR-adjusted p = 0.037), with 3-4-3 showing more positive associations with increasing TSA than 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1. HSR actions showed a significant TSA × formation interaction in the low-block (BH-FDR-adjusted p = 0.002), with increasing TSA associated with greater HSR demands in 3-4-3 but lower HSR demands in 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1. Larger possession build-up areas were associated with increased HSR actions irrespective of formation (BH-FDR-adjusted p = 0.002). Total distance covered, Zone 5 distance, sprint actions, and top speed were not significantly affected after correction for multiple comparisons. These findings indicate that MRP in elite football is better explained by the interaction between tactical structure and spatial organization than by TSA or formation alone. MRP should therefore be interpreted within a phase-specific tactical context.

Bu çalışmanın amacı, elit uluslararası gençlik futbolunda oyuncuların doğum çeyreği dağılımını incelemek ve seçilen teknik maç göstergelerinin göreceli yaş ve yaş kategorisine göre farklılık gösterip göstermediğini araştırmaktır. Araştırma grubunu, 2025 yılında Katar’da düzenlenen FIFA U17 Dünya Kupası ve Şili’de düzenlenen FIFA U20 Dünya Kupası’na katılan toplam 2240 oyuncu oluşturmuştur. Kaleciler, oyun içindeki taktiksel rollerinin farklı olması nedeniyle analiz dışı bırakılmıştır. Oyuncular yaş kategorilerine (U17 ve U20) ve doğum çeyreklerine (BQ1–BQ4) göre sınıflandırılmıştır. Maç performansına ilişkin teknik veriler, FIFA’nın resmi performans analiz sistemleri olan TRACAB optik takip sistemi ve Enhanced Football Intelligence (EFI) platformu aracılığıyla elde edilmiştir. Analiz kapsamında, oyuncuların maç içi taktiksel katılımını ve teknik verimliliğini yansıtan doğrudan baskı eylemleri ve pas isabet yüzdesi incelenmiştir. İstatistiksel analizler, yaş kategorileri ve doğum çeyrekleri arasındaki farklılıkları belirlemek amacıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bulgular, turnuvaya katılan oyuncuların %42’sinin yılın ilk çeyreğinde doğduğunu göstererek belirgin bir Göreceli Yaş Etkisi (RAE) bulunduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Pas isabet yüzdesi U20 kategorisinde U17 oyuncularına kıyasla anlamlı derecede daha yüksek bulunmuştur (p

The dynamic and constantly changing nature of soccer requires players to effectively utilize their sprinting and change of direction abilities under both without and with ball conditions. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between without and with ball sprint performance and without and wit ball change of direction performance in young male soccer players. Seventeen young male soccer players (age: 16.94 ± 0.24 years; height: 176.29 ± 6.23 cm; body mass: 69.18 ± 5.71 kg; BMI: 22.25 ± 1.50 kg/m²) were included in the study. All participants performed 10 m, 20 m, and 30 m sprint tests, as well as Illinois and zigzag change-of direction tests, under both without and with conditions. The 10 m, 20 m, and 30 m without ball sprint performances showed moderate to large significant correlations with both the Illinois and zigzag change of direction tests. Notably, 10 m sprint performance was largely correlated with the with ball zigzag change of direction performance. In contrast, the relationships between with-ball 20 m and 30 m sprint performances and change of direction tests were limited. These findings indicate that sprinting, change of direction, and ball control skills are interrelated within a holistic framework in young soccer players, and that short-distance acceleration reflects soccer specific speed integrated with technical and perceptual processes.

Purpose: The aim of our study was to compare the thigh muscle strengths between the operated and non-injured legs and to evaluate the hamstring/quadriceps (H/Q) ratios by the isokinetic dynamometer at different angular velocities, in individuals with unilateral interior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery. Material and Methods: Five female and fifteen male recreational athletes with a single-limb ACL operation within the last 1 year enrolled in the study. After physical examination, thigh circumferences were measured. Isokinetic testing of the hamstring and quadriceps were performed at different angular velocities. Peak torque and H/Q ratio values were evaluated from the isokinetic data, and the relation between leg circumference differences were analyzed. Results: The isokinetic extension and flexion muscle strengths at 60, 180, and 240°/sec (19.4 ± 11.5%, 16.6 ± 13.2%, 17.4 ± 13.2% higher in extension, 17.9 ± 14.5%, 19.7 ± 15.9%, 21.9 ± 17.4% higher in flexion, respectively) and the 10cm and 15cm above the patella circumferences were significantly higher in non-injured leg than operated leg. The extension fatigue index was significantly higher in the non-injured leg(30.6±9.5%) than operated leg (24.7±10.9%). In the operated leg, significant correlation was found between flexion peak torque at 60°/sec and flexion fatigue index. Conclusion: The decreases in peak strengths indicate atrophy of the thigh muscles in the operated leg. The muscle atrophy will lead to imbalance and may cause complications. In the post-operative period, it is important to detect the deficit with an isokinetic dynamometer and organize appropriate treatment protocols at early stages to enable the patient to regain their preoperative health.

The purpose of this study was twofold: i) to examine the association among maturation, reactive strength index (RSI), leg stiffness, and physical performance tests, and ii) to investigate how maturation influences the relationship among RSI and leg stiffness and physical performance tests. Forty-six male soccer players (age: 11.8 ± 1.5 years; height: 152.9 ± 10.2 cm; weight: 45.9 ± 10.5 kg) participated in this cross-sectional observational study. Players’ biological maturity was assessed using peak height velocity (PHV). Physical tests were conducted in two separate sessions on different days: one included anthropometry, standing long jump, sprint, dribbling and agility; the other included RSI, leg stiffness, and kick velocity. Correlations and bootstrap-based mediation analyses were used to examine the mediating role of PHV between RSI, leg stiffness, and performance. Mean years to PHV was −1.61 ± 0.99 years, and all players were in the pre-PHV period. RSI was strongly correlated with sprint (r = −0.73; CI _95% = −0.840 to −0.533), agility (r = −0.67; CI _95% = −0.803 to −0.471), and SLJ (r = 0.68; CI _95% = 0.487 to 0.811), while leg stiffness was moderately correlated with sprint (r = −0.38; CI _95% = −0.602 to −0.102) and kick velocity (r = 0.43; CI _95% = 0.166 to 0.642). PHV was moderately to highly correlated with all performance indicators (r = 0.37–0.65). Mediation models showed that PHV partially explained the relationship between RSI and performance tests (17–70%),whereas the relationship between leg stiffness and performance tests was fully mediated by PHV (68–96%)(p < 0.05). In conclusion, the findings indicate that considering PHV's mediating effect in assessing neuromuscular performance in young soccer players is essential and should not be overlooked in research and practice.

This study aimed to profile the physical performance of soccer players from various competitive levels in Türkiye based on their 30-15 IFT and sprint test results. A total of 165 male players from different divisions and age categories voluntarily participated. The study included 165 male soccer players from seven competitive groups: 2nd Division (n=23), 3rd Division (n=38), RAD (n=40), U19 (n=18), U17 (n=16), U15 (n=14), and U13 (n=16). The mean (±SD) age, height, and body weight of the participants were as follows: 2nd Division players were 22.8 ± 3.7 years old, 1.81 ± 0.1 m tall, and weighed 73.5 ± 7.5 kg; 3rd Division: 25.2 ± 4.0 years, 1.79 ± 0.0 m, 72.8 ± 8.0 kg; RAD: 23.1 ± 4.8 years, 1.77 ± 0.2 m, 72.8 ± 8.2 kg; U19: 17.9 ± 0.2 years, 1.75 ± 0.0 m, 68.3 ± 6.6 kg; U17: 16.8 ± 0.4 years, 1.74 ± 0.1 m, 66.5 ± 5.6 kg; U15: 15.0 ± 0.0 years, 1.73 ± 0.1 m, 62.5 ± 7.1 kg; and U13: 13.0 ± 0.0 years, 1.58 ± 0.1 m, 50.0 ± 6.1 kg. The study assessed physical performance in soccer players using the 30-15 IFT and 30 m sprint tests. Results showed significantly higher 30-15 IFT performance in all groups except U13 (p 0.05), with no significant differences among the remaining groups (p 0.05). In the sprint test, senior-level players (2nd Division, 3rd Division, and RAD) outperformed younger groups, especially U13 (p 0.05). Among youth players, U19, U17, and U15 performed better than U13, but showed no differences among themselves (p 0.05). Overall, the 30-15 IFT is effective for evaluating aerobic and high-intensity running but limited for sprint-specific assessment, making it suitable for load monitoring in soccer training.Keywords: Aerobic, Anaerobic, Endurance, Running Economy, Sprint.

Göreceli Yaş Etkisi (RAE), bireylerin doğum tarihlerine bağlı olarak akademik, fiziksel ve sosyo-duygusal alanlarda avantaj veya dezavantaj yaşamalarına neden olan bir olgudur. Özellikle yılın ilk çeyreğinde doğan bireyler, fiziksel olgunlukları nedeniyle avantajlı kabul edilirken, yılın son çeyreğinde doğanlar dezavantajlı kalmaktadır. Bu durum, özellikle futbol gibi fiziksel gelişim ve teknik becerilerin öne çıktığı spor dallarında belirginleşmektedir. Araştırmalar, Ocak-Mart döneminde doğan genç futbolcuların seçilme oranlarının diğer dönemlere göre çok daha yüksek olduğunu göstermektedir. Ancak, uzun vadede dezavantajlı görülen sporcuların daha dayanıklı ve başarılı olabileceği de belirtilmektedir. RAE’nin oluşumunda sosyal ve kültürel faktörler de etkilidir. Antrenörlerin yanlılıkları (Pygmalion etkisi), sporcuların öz beklentileri (Galatea etkisi) ve avantajlı bireylerin daha fazla fırsata erişimi (Matthew etkisi), bu süreci güçlendiren unsurlardır. RAE’nin yarattığı eşitsizliklerin azaltılması için yaş gruplarının esnetilmesi, biyolojik yaşa göre sınıflandırma, teknik becerilere odaklanma ve antrenörlerin bilinçlendirilmesi gibi çözümler önerilmektedir. Bu stratejiler, seçim süreçlerini daha adil hale getirerek genç sporcular için fırsat eşitliği yaratabilir ve sporda kapsayıcı bir ortam sağlayabilir.

Tenis Sporcularında Çeviklik ve Çabukluk Ozan Deniz GÜLMEZ Ahmet GÖNENER Aleyna UYAR Nart DEMİRKAN Antrenörlerde Meslek Etiği Senem SEZGİN ÇAKIR Futbolda Göreceli Yaş Etkileri ve Çözüm Yöntemleri Abdullah KILCI Sporda Psikolojik Dayanıklılık Kavramı Üzerine Yapılan Çalışmaların Vosviewer ile Bibliyometrik Analiz Emrah SEÇER Halk Oyunları ve Sosyal Gelişim Hatice GEZER Narsisizm ve Spor Hatice GEZER Başarılı Yaşlanmada Fiziksel Aktivitenin Yeri ve Önemi Ahmet KOYUNLU Futbolda Dar Alan Oyunlarının Fiziksel ve Fizyolojik Bileşenleri Canan Gülbin ESKİYECEK Abdurrrahman KOYUN