Julen Castellano

Time–motion, heart rate, perceptual and motor behaviour demands in small-sides soccer games: Effects of pitch size

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine physical, physiological, and motor responses and perceived exertion during different soccer drills. In small-sided games, the individual playing area (∼275 m2, ∼175 m2, and ∼75 m2) was varied while the number of players per team was kept constant: 5 vs. 5 plus goalkeepers. Participants were ten male youth soccer players. Each session comprised three small-sided game formats, which lasted 8 min each with a 5-min passive rest period between them. A range of variables was recorded and analysed for the three drills performed over three training sessions: (a) physiological, measured using Polar Team devices; (b) physical, using GPS SPI elite devices; (c) perceived exertion, rated using the CR-10 scale; and (d) motor response, evaluated using an observational tool that was specially designed for this study. Significant differences were observed for most of the variables studied. When the individual playing area was larger, the effective playing time, the physical (total distance covered; distances covered in low-intensity running, medium-intensity running, and high-intensity running; distance covered per minute; maximum speed; work-to-rest ratio; sprint frequency) and physiological workload (percent maximum heart rate; percent mean heart rate; time spent above 90% maximum heart rate), and the rating of perceived exertion were all higher, while certain motor behaviours were observed less frequently (interception, control and dribble, control and shoot, clearance, and putting the ball in play). The results show that the size of the pitch should be taken into account when planning training drills, as it influences the intensity of the task and the motor response of players.

The Use of Match Statistics that Discriminate Between Successful and Unsuccessful Soccer Teams.

The Use of Match Statistics that Discriminate Between Successful and Unsuccessful Soccer Teams Three soccer World Cups were analysed with the aim of identifying the match statistics which best discriminated between winning, drawing and losing teams. The analysis was based on 177 matches played during the three most recent World Cup tournaments: Korea/Japan 2002 (59), Germany 2006 (59) and South Africa 2010 (59). Two categories of variables were studied: 1) those related to attacking play: goals scored, total shots, shots on target, shots off target, ball possession, number of off-sides committed, fouls received and corners; and 2) those related to defence: total shots received, shots on target received, shots off target received, off-sides received, fouls committed, corners against, yellow cards and red cards. Discriminant analysis of these matches revealed the following: (a) the variables related to attacking play that best differentiated between winning, drawing and losing teams were total shots, shots on target and ball possession; and (b) the most discriminating variables related to defence were total shots received and shots on target received. These results suggest that winning, drawing and losing national teams may be discriminated from one another on the basis of variables such as ball possession and the effectiveness of their attacking play. This information may be of benefit to both coaches and players, adding to their knowledge about soccer performance indicators and helping to guide the training process.

Hidden patterns of play interaction in soccer using SOF-CODER.

Traditional methods for quantifying sport performances are limited in their capacity to describe the complex interactions of events that occur within a performance over time. The following article outlines a new approach to the study of actions between players in team sports—mainly, soccer. Since the observational design is nomothetic, point, and multidimensional, an observational and data-collecting instrument has been developed. The instrument is mixed and combines a field format with a category system for game events, as well as an ad hoc instrument that considers the game actions of one or both teams, each recorded according to the same criteria. The article also outlines a new approach to the analysis of time-based event records—in this case, sports performance—known as T-pattern detection. The relevant elements of the T-pattern detection process are explained, and exemplar data from analyses of soccer matches are presented to highlight the potential of this form of data analysis. The results suggest that it is possible to identify new kinds of profiles for both individuals and teams on the basis of observational criteria and a further analysis of temporal behavioral patterns detected within the performances.

Comparing the Physical Demands of Friendly Matches and Small-sided Games in Semiprofessional Soccer Players

Casamichana, D, Castellano, J, and Castagna, C. Comparing the physical demands of friendly matches and small-sided games in semiprofessional soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 26(3): 837–843, 2012—This study compared the physical demands of friendly matches (FMs) and small-sided games (SGs) in semiprofessional soccer players by means of global positioning system technology. Twenty-seven semiprofessional soccer players were monitored during 7 FMs and 9 sessions involving different SGs. Their physical profile was described on the basis of 20 variables related to distances and frequencies at different running speeds, the number of accelerations, and through global indicators of workload such as the work:rest ratio, player workload, and the exertion index. Results showed significant differences (p < 0.01) between SGs and FMs for the following variables: overall workload (SG > FM); the distribution of the distance covered in the speed zones 7.0–12.9 km·h−1 (SG > FM) and >21 km·h−1 (FM > SG); the distribution of time spent in certain speed zones (FM > SG: 0.0–6.9 and >21 km·h−1; FM > SG: 7.0–12.9 km·h−1). More sprints per hour of play were performed during FMs, with greater mean durations and distances, greater maximum durations and distances, and a greater frequency per hour of play for sprints of 10–40 and >40 m (p < 0.01). The frequency of repeated high-intensity efforts was higher during FM (p < 0.01). The results show that coaches and strength and conditioning professionals should consider FMs during their training routine to foster specific adaptations in the domain of high-intensity effort.

The Measuring and Observation Tool in Sports

The Measuring and Observation Tool in Sports (MOTS) has been designed to facilitate the systematic observation of sports. It is a user-friendly tool developed to help researchers observe, codify, register, and analyze any situation that occurs in a natural or habitual context in which behaviors are spontaneous. Users can define up to 12 mutually exclusive code sets and up to 120 different behaviors to facilitate data collection and can work with any observational data type: event sequences, event sequences over time, state sequences, interval sequences, or multievent sequences. MOTS plays digital video files, which allows for video and taxonomic tools to be displayed on the screen at the same time. The observations are registered automatically, including the time and duration of the event, in frames and seconds simultaneously. Furthermore, the data analysis feature allows the user to calculate the percentage of intervals, the frequency distributions, and the conditional probabilities.

Evaluation of Research Using Computerised Tracking Systems (Amisco® and Prozone®) to Analyse Physical Performance in Elite Soccer: A Systematic Review

BackgroundTechnology improvements in elite soccer have enabled the performance of individual players and teams to be analysed in extreme detail. The volume and immediate availability of this information allows coaches and sports scientists to make more informed decisions about current and future needs, thus increasing the teams’ potential to perform. In the last decade, one of the most valuable technologies used in elite soccer is the Computerised video tracking system that quantifies technical and physical performance parameters, although new applications are being developed.ObjectiveThis systematic review aims to evaluate the pertaining research literature that has specifically used the Amisco® and Prozone® Computerised video tracking systems to analyse the physical performance of elite players.Data SourcesMEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO, ProQuest, and Teseo were used for the literature search.ResultsAfter two selection phases, a total of 38 studies were reviewed, which revealed that the majority of studies were of a high standard with most fulfilling the majority of the quality criteria. A critical appraisal of this literature was conducted to assess issues regarding sample size, positional subsets, variables measured, and possible future applications.ConclusionsThis systematic review demonstrates that Computerised video tracking systems are a valuable data collection tool to enable sports scientists to identify the current physical demands placed on players in competition to allow them to apply data to training and testing protocols. Current Computerised tracking systems in elite soccer still provide adequate detail on the physical and technical performances of players but must develop further to compete with the array of additional parameters offered by new technologies such as global or local positioning system technology. However, physical parameters are highly dependent on the role played by technical and tactical factors, and thus improved knowledge of these parameters is needed to allow a more complete understanding of their impact on physical demands.

Gender differences in match performance characteristics of soccer players competing in the UEFA Champions League.

The aim of this study was to examine gender differences in match performance characteristics of elite soccer players. Fifty-four male and fifty-nine female soccer players were tracked during UEFA Champions League matches using a multi-camera system (Amisco, Nice, France). Male players covered more (P<.01) distance than female players in total during a match (Effect Size [ES]: 0.5) and at higher speed thresholds (>15, >18, 18-21, 21-23, 23-25 and >27kmh(-1); ES: 0.7-1.4). Decrements in the second versus first half (P<.01) were only evident in female players for the distance covered in total and at selected speed thresholds (12-15, >12 and >15kmh(-1); ES: 0.6). Male central midfielders covered more (P<.01) total distance during a match than female central midfielders and at selected speed thresholds (15-23kmh(-1); ES: 1.3-2.2). Male full-backs and wide midfielders covered a greater distance (P<.01) than female players in the same positions at higher speed thresholds (>15, 21-23, 23-25, 25-27 and >27kmh(-1); ES: 1.5-3.1). The distance covered during the most intense 5min period of the match (>15kmh(-1)) was higher (P<.01) in male compared to female players (ES: 1.0) but no distance deficit in the next versus the average 5min period was observed for either gender (ES: 0.1-0.2). No gender differences were found for technical events such as the number of ball touches, time in possession of the ball or total duels won during both halves and the entire match (ES: 0.1-0.3). However, female players lost the ball more often (P<.05) and displayed lower pass completion rates than male players during both halves and the entire match (ES: 0.5-0.9). The data demonstrate that large gender differences exist for match performance characteristics of players competing at the highest competitive standard of European soccer. Such detailed analyses could be useful for gender-specific training information for optimal preparation. However, more research is warranted to establish gender-specific speed thresholds for elite soccer players.

Influence of different training regimes on physical and physiological demands during small-sided soccer games: continuous vs. intermittent format.

Abstract Casamichana, D, Castellano, J, and Dellal, A. Influence of different training regimes on physical and physiological demands during small-sided soccer games: Continuous vs. intermittent format. J Strength Cond Res 27(3): 690–697, 2013—The aim of this study was to examine the physical and heart rate (HR) response of soccer players during 16 minutes of training using the same 5 vs. 5 small-sided game (SSG) in 3 different training regimes: a continuous format of 16 minutes and 2 intermittent formats (4 periods of 4 minutes; and 2 periods of 8 minutes) with the same work/rest ratio of passive recovery between the different periods (4:1). Ten male players (age 21.3 ± 3.4 years) belonging to a team of the third Spanish division participated in this study. Analyses were carried using a training regimen vs. drill time design (i.e., training × duration), that is, differentiating 2 training regimen (intermittent vs. continuous SSG formats) and the 4-minute periods (0–4, 4–8, 8–12, and 12–16 minutes) to determine the extent to which fatigue affected the variables studied in each regimen. During each SSG, HR and total distance covered in different speed categories and accumulated accelerations (i.e., training load) were measured. Results showed significant differences for (a) in intermittent format of 2 × 8 minutes, the distance covered at a speed of 7–12.9 km·h−1 was greater in the 0- to 4-minute period than in the 12- to 16-minute period, and (b) the distance covered at a speed of 7–12.9 km·h−1 during the 8- to 12-minute period was greater in intermittent format of 2 × 8 minutes than in continuous format (16 minutes). This study showed that drill regimen may affect physical responses during training SSG. The resulting evidence suggests that the continuous SSG format induces greater physical loads on players as compared with intermittent SSG format and that should help coaches to establish a better distribution of playing according to the objectives of the training.

Identifying the effects from the quality of opposition in a Football team positioning strategy

The present study aimed to identify the collective tactical decisions from a high-level football team, by analysing team length, width and surface area in offensive and defensive phase. The sample was composed by six competitive matches, played against stronger and weaker level opponents. Multidimensional qualitative data was obtained using a computerized match analysis system (AMISCO®). The data was analysed using non-linear signal processing tools, such as relative phase to access coordination modes between teams and approximate entropy (ApEn) to measure randomness in each time-series. The results allowed identifying higher offensive length, width and surface area frequencies when playing against weaker teams. On the other hand, higher defensive length, width and surface area frequencies were found against stronger teams. In addition, the ApEn results of surface area shown that tactical behaviour tends to be repeated during the match, both in offensive and defensive phase. The present results contributed to better understand the use of pitch space and the team strategic framework, helping coaches to improve the accuracy of strategic planning.

SoccerEye: A Software Solution to Observe and Record Behaviours in Sport Settings

In soccer, the need for direct observation of tactical behaviour has led to continuous technological advances in motion recording software. Here we present SoccerEye, a sports-specific software tool to observe and record the behaviour of soccer players in their natural setting and in real time. The software was written in Visual Basic Express 2010 and includes the following features: computerised coding, improved-quality recording, episodic sampling, the measurement of time, and diachronic analysis. Its configuration is well defined but allows for incorporation of ad hoc categories. Data can be exported in multiple generic formats, including the SDIS format for the analysis of interaction sequences with GSEQ software. However, by considering time and sequential decisions, SoccerEye itself tracks activity profiles and the dynamics of play. The greatest advantage of SoccerEye is the possibility to conduct diachronic analysis, which regards an event or multi event sequence in terms of change over time. This type of analysis takes into account the behaviour of a player and his or her team when facing the opponent, the space (pitch area) and time (starting time and duration) of each event, and other factors such as match status, match time, and competition stage. SoccerEye is a free- access user-friendly application that can be used to observe a single player or an entire team while controlling over the environment in which the observation takes place. This tool will hopefully contribute to the better understanding of the dynamics of soccer play.