The speed dynamics of different sprint and acceleration exercises applied during football training.

Sprinting actions are related to decisive moments of the match and impose severe fatigue levels on football players, and are often preceded by lower intensity running patterns or walking on the field. This study aimed to compare the effects of different exercise drills on speed and acceleration dynamics. Forty Under-19 and Under-23 soccer players participated in different sprint drill conditions, quantifying their distance covered in various speed intensities covering high-speed running and sprinting patterns and their peak acceleration.

Rating of perceived exertion in continuous sports: a scoping review with evidence gap map.

Introduction: Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) is widely used for assessing training load in sports due to its validity, simplicity, and utility. Despite its broad application, the diverse contexts and methodologies in which it is used warrant a comprehensive review of the existing evidence.

Objective: This scoping review aims to map the current evidence on the use of RPE, focusing on its application, measurement methods, and reliability across different continuous sports.

Understanding the mediating role of anthropometry and body composition in the relationship between biological maturation and sport-specific performance in young swimmers.

This study investigated which anthropometric and body composition characteristics mediate the relationship between biological maturation and swimming performance (Arm propulsive force and 50-m freestyle personal best time) in young athletes. One hundred and thirty adolescent swimmers (53 boys, 13.5 ± 1.

Effects of Sprint and Change-of-Direction Training With or Without the Racket in Young Tennis Players.

Purpose: To examine the effects of sprint and change-of-direction (CoD) training, with and without the racket, on performance-related qualities of young tennis players.

Methods: Thirty-one young male players age 16.5 (0.

Should GPS data be normalized for performance and fatigue monitoring in soccer? A theoretical-practical discussion on high-speed running.

High-speed running (HSR) is one of the performance metrics of interest, as the volume of HSR during matches has been increasing over the last decade, which suggests that weekly training loads should be adjusted to align with this trend, enabling players to cope with match demands. However, the use of HSR thresholds lacks a solid rationale for their application and fails to account for individual player capacities, likely not reflecting their actual HSR efforts. As such, this theoretical-discussion provides important implications for training prescription, aiming to optimize performance and minimize fatigue.

Identifying Match Sequence Thresholds to Mitigate Physical Decline During Congested Fixtures.

This study compares locomotor activities during matches with different recovery intervals (<72, 72-120, 121-168,>168 h), considering accumulated travel distances (0, 1-250, 251-1,000,>1,000 km) in the previous 3, 5, and 7 days, and match sequence during congested periods. Locomotor data were collected using a global navigation satellite system and included total distance, distance covered between 14-20, 20-25, 25-30, and>30 km/h, maximal speed, maximal accelerations and decelerations, and the number of accelerations and decelerations between 2 and 3 m/s. Congested fixtures (<72 and 72-120 h) negatively affected locomotor activities compared to noncongested ones (>168 h), with players covering less total distance (=0.

Effects of Different Post Warm-Up Strategies for Non-Starter Players in Futsal.

Futsal warm-ups are crucial pre-match routines designed to enhance players' readiness. However, non-starter players inevitably face longer periods of inactivity. This study aimed to investigate the effects of various post warm-up strategies on physical performance of non-starter players in futsal.

Mental fatigue and sleep restriction effects on perceptual-cognitive performance in trained beach volleyball athletes.

Introduction: Perceptual-cognitive skills are essential in sports such as beach volleyball. Mental fatigue (MF) and sleep restriction (SR) are known to impair athletes' perceptual-cognitive performance. This study aimed to analyze the effects of MF and SR on perceptual-cognitive performance in beach volleyball athletes.

Translation and Validation of the Portuguese Version of the Rating-of-Fatigue Scale.

Background: The Rating-of-Fatigue (ROF) scale is a validated tool to measure changes in perceived fatigue in sports and everyday contexts; thus, this study aimed to translate and validate the Portuguese version of the ROF scale. For this, the study was composed of three phases. Phase 1 involved a comprehensive translation of the ROF scale into Portuguese, followed by a back-translation and a consolidation process to obtain the final version of the ROF scale in Portuguese.

The Use of Principal Component Analysis for Reduction in Sleep Quality and Quantity Data in Female Professional Soccer.

The main aim of the present study was to uncover multivariate relationships between sleep quantity and quality using principal component analysis (PCA) in professional female soccer players. A second aim was to examine the extent to which objective sleep quantity and quality variables can discriminate between perceived sleep. Ten objective sleep variables from the multisensory sleep-tracker were analyzed.

Peak match sprinting speed during soccer matches: analysing the pre- and post-peak speed dynamics.

This study aimed to characterize match peak speeds, during a 20-second time window (10 seconds immediately before and after the match peak speed), in soccer matches. Twenty elite soccer players were monitored with global navigation satellite system (GNSS) devices during six soccer matches from the Brazilian first division. After identifying the peak speed, individual speeds within 10 seconds before and 10 seconds after were collected at each 0.

Competing at Altitude Reduces In-Match Physical Demands of Professional Soccer Players Compared With Sea Level.

Purpose: This study examined whether physical demands during soccer matches differ between sea level and altitude, considering variations by playing position.

Methods: Thirty-seven professional players were monitored during 22 matches (11 at sea level and 11 at altitudes of 2200-4090 m) with global navigation satellite systems. Independent mean differences were used to compare in-match physical demands (ie, total distance, distance covered at specific speed intervals, accelerations [ACCs] and decelerations [DECs], and maximal speed) between locations for 5 playing positions (central defenders, fullbacks, central midfielders, wide midfielders, and forwards).

Characterizing microcycles' workload when combining two days structure within single training sessions during congested fixtures in an elite male soccer team.

This study aimed to describe and compare specific matchdays sessions and playing positions external load during congested fixtures in elite football when combining the objectives from two different training days in one session. Data was collected from 27 players from the 1 Brazilian division (28.7 ± 18.

Weekly external load distribution in football teams of different competitive levels.

This study aimed to compare the microcycle load distribution between teams from different competitive levels. A total of 22 microcycles from one team of each competitive level (first division, 1 DIV, n = 32 players; second division, 2 DIV, n = 23 players; third division, 3 DIV, n = 23 players) were monitored using GPS (10 Hz, Catapult). During the match, a higher number of high accelerations (i.

Effects of lower-limb intermittent pneumatic compression on sports recovery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) applied to lower limbs is becoming a popular postexercise recovery technique; however, it still lacks strong scientific support. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to analyse the effects of lower-limb IPC on sports recovery, as well as to identify the most used protocols to optimize it. A systematic search was conducted across athletic and healthy populations, following the PRISMA guidelines, covering the databases: PubMed, Web of Science, SportDiscus, Academic Search Complete, and Science Direct; using the search terms: ("Pneumatic compression" OR "Intermittent pneumatic compression" OR "Recov* boot*") AND (Recover*).

Variation in Accelerometer-Derived Instantaneous Acceleration Distribution Curves of Elite Male Soccer Players According to Playing Position: A Pilot Study.

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.

Isometric Midthigh-Pull Testing: Reliability and Correlation With Key Functional Capacities in Young Soccer Players.

Purpose: We examined the reliability of force parameters derived from the isometric midthigh pull (IMTP) and their correlation with the functional capacities of young soccer players.

Methods: Data were collected from 20 young professional soccer players within and between 2 sessions (after 1 wk) using a 1000-Hz force plate.

Results: Performance outputs in all IMTP parameters were consistent and showed moderate to excellent reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = .

Adapting the percentage intensity method to assess accelerations and decelerations in football: moving beyond absolute and arbitrary thresholds.

 We adapted the percentage intensity approach to monitor accelerations and decelerations allowing players' individualisation. Forty-two players were monitored during four microcycles via global navigation satellite system devices. Raw velocity and time data were collected to calculate acceleration and deceleration magnitudes according to specific starting speed intervals, and the efforts intensities were established as very low (<25% of the maximal effort), low (25-50%), moderate (50-75%) and high (>75%).

Acute Metabolic Response, Neuromuscular Activity, and Mechanical Performance to Different Set.

The aim of this study was to examine the acute metabolic response, neuromuscular activity, and mechanical performance of different set configurations in bench-press (BP). Twenty-two resistance-trained men performed three resistance exercise protocols consisting of 3 x 12 BP repetitions at 60% 1RM, with 4 minutes of rest between sets, but with different set configurations: (a) traditional set (TS), without rest within the set; (b) cluster-6 (CS6), with 30-second intraset rest after the sixth repetition in each set; and (c) cluster-2 (CS2), with 30-second intraset rest every two repetitions. Mean propulsive force (MPF), velocity (MPV), power (MPP), and electromyography (EMG) values were recorded for each repetition.

Hemodynamic Effects of Intermittent Pneumatic Compression on Athletes: A Double-Blinded Randomized Crossover Study.

Purpose: There are multiple postexercise recovery technologies available in the market based on the assumption of blood-flow enhancement. Lower-limb intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) has been widely used, but the available scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness remains scarce, requiring a deeper investigation into its underlying mechanisms. The aim of this study was to assess the hemodynamic effects caused by the use of IPC at rest.

Analyzing soccer match sprint distances: A comparison of GPS-based absolute and relative thresholds.

This study compared the most common absolute sprint threshold (> 25.2 km/h) with relative and individualized thresholds (> 70%, > 75%, > 80%, > 85% and > 90% of peak match speed). Twenty elite soccer players, competing in the first division of the Portuguese League, were monitored using GNSS equipment during thirty-four official matches.

The Relationship Between Individually Assessed High-Intensity Accelerations, High-Intensity Decelerations, Sprints, and Technical Performances During Soccer Matches: A Full Season Analysis.

This longitudinal study analyzed the relationship between players' physical (sprint distances, number of high-intensity accelerations and decelerations assessed with individual and relative thresholds) and technical (retrieved from SofaScore platform) performances during competition. Twenty elite players were monitored across a full season. Physical performances were monitored with GNSS devices, retrieving time (s), velocity (km.

Influence of contextual factors on match running performance of starters and non-starters in elite youth male soccer players.

This study investigated the effects of match location, quality of opposition (classified into: strong [1st to 4th position]; intermediate [5th to 15th position]; weak [16th to 20th position]), and match outcome on the match running performance of starters and non-starters from a top elite Brazilian soccer team. Absolute measures were calculated using total distance, high-speed (19.8-25.