Raúl Hileno

Goal Scoring in Soccer: A Polar Coordinate Analysis of Motor Skills Used by Lionel Messi.

Soccer research has traditionally focused on technical and tactical aspects of team play, but few studies have analyzed motor skills in individual actions, such as goal scoring. The objective of this study was to investigate how Lionel Messi, one of the worlds top soccer players, uses his motor skills and laterality in individual attacking actions resulting in a goal. We analyzed 103 goals scored by Messi between over a decade in three competitions: La Liga (n = 74), Copa del Rey (n = 8), and the UEFA Champions League (n = 21). We used an ad-hoc observation instrument (OSMOS-soccer player) comprising 10 criteria and 50 categories; polar coordinate analysis, a powerful data reduction technique, revealed significant associations for body part and orientation, foot contact zone, turn direction, and locomotion. No significant associations were observed for pitch area or interaction with opponents. Our analysis confirms significant associations between different aspects of motor skill use by Messi immediately before scoring, namely use of lower limbs, foot contact zones, turn direction, use of wings, and orientation of body to move toward the goal. Studies of motor skills in soccer could shed light on the qualities that make certain players unique.

What are the Most Widely Used and Effective Attack Coverage Systems in Men’s Volleyball?

Abstract In volleyball, attack coverage is one of the play actions most neglected in coaching and research. The purpose of this study was to find out which attack coverage systems are used by high-level men’s teams in different game situations and the characteristics of the most effective systems. We analysed 15 matches from the 2010 Men’s Pan-American Volleyball Cup, with a total of 1,415 coverage actions. Chi-square tests for independence, adjusted residuals analysis and calculations of standardised mean difference were performed. The results show that high-level men’s volleyball uses many coverage systems other than the traditional 3-2-0 and 2-3-0. At this level of play, the most frequent systems were 1-3-1 and 1-2-2, which occurred significantly often at the culmination of a third-tempo attack at the wing. The most effective systems consisted of three coverage lines, with fewer than five players covering the spiker and at least one player in the first coverage line, in both the attack and counterattack phases. Given the large number of coverage systems identified in different game situations, we recommend flexible, loosely structured training in these systems, based on a set of guiding principles that all players on a team must internalise for the specific position they are playing. Regarding the systems’ efficacy, the main watchword is that on each coverage line there should always be at least one player, but the first line should not be exposed.

Interacció dinàmica ofensiva en handbol d’alt rendiment

L’objectiu d’aquesta recerca va ser analitzar les variables que influeixen en les fases ofensives de l’handbol d’alt rendiment des de una perspectiva ecologica avaluant els diferents sistemes tactics ofensius en atac posicional i en contraatac; tenint en compte: el marcador, el tipus de defensa, la simetria numerica, la zona de finalitzacio i el tipus de finalitzacio. Utilitzant la metodologia observacional i un sistema d’observacio ad hoc (SOCTO) introduit al programari Lince, es van registrar un total de 19 partits de les fases finals masculines del Campionat del Mon 2011, Campionat d’Europa 2012 i Jocs Olimpics 2012. L’analisi descriptiva i de contingencia es va complementar amb la deteccio de patrons temporals (T-patterns). Els resultats reafirmen l’autoorganitzacio no lineal de la dinamica de joc ofensiu en l’handbol masculi d’alt rendiment, a partir de la utilitzacio de mitjans tactics basics contra sistemes defensius oberts i de mitjans tactics complexos contra sistemes defensius tancats. Aquests mitjans tactics complexes son els mes utilitzats en igualtat numerica en la primera sequencia d’atac posicional des de la zona intermedia entre 6 i 9 metres i finalitzant en cop franc a favor de l’equip atacant.