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The aim of the study was to describe the usual practices in the execution of throw-ins by La Liga teams during the 2021–2022 season, identify tactical indicators related to the outcome of plays that start with a throw-in, calculate their predictive power, and finally analyse the influence of situational variables on the effectiveness of these plays. A total of 2,658 throw-ins, during 80 matches were analysed. Two UEFA PRO coaches designed an ad hoc observation instrument "Thrinfoot" and two observers coded the data after a training process. Inter and intra-observer reliability was calculated using Cohen´s Kappa coefficient, revealing almost perfect agreement. Multinomial logistic regression was applied to predict the throw-ins outcome (p<0.05). Results showed how fast throw-ins (OR = 0.7, p<0.05), without pressing (OR = 0.4, p<0.001), short and backwards (OR = 0.3, p<0.01) in the central zone (OR = 0.6, p<0.01) and made in the 16´-30´ (OR = 0.6, p<0.01), 61´-75´ (OR = 0.7, p< 0.05) periods, presented higher probabilities of continuing with possession. Match status losing>2 (OR = 4.1, p< 0.05) showed higher probabilities of success. On the other hand, throw-ins from the defensive zone presented higher probabilities of unsuccess (OR = 8.6, p<0.01) and losing possession (OR = 1.8, p<0.01). Finally, the bottom teams showed the highest probability of losing the ball. In conclusion, tactical indicators such as duration, press, distance, direction and zone were identified as key performance indicators and the situational variables team quality, match status and time influence the outcome of throw-ins. These findings provide valuable insights to coaches regarding the factors that influence the outcome of throw-ins. This allows them to design optimal strategies for both executing and defending these plays based on the game situation and their immediate aims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

These days, the integration of big data and information systems enables industries such as sports, health, and medical sciences in resource optimization by enhancing their operational efficiency. Personalized health management, driven by advancements in big data analysis, feature extraction, and internet of things (IoT) has emerged as a prominent trend in the sports industry. Based on these advancements, this paper focuses on leveraging machine vision, big data, and IoT to conduct a comprehensive study for extracting football players' offense features by aiming to improve accuracy and ensure the players' safety in sports industry. First, this paper discusses a framework for sports health, which is based on big data analysis. Next, we discuss the use of big data and feature extraction for IoT and sports health informatics. The action image of an offense for football players is collected by an intelligent camera, and the gathered imaging code is read and analyzed by radio frequency technology. Using the recognition method of offense action using deep learning and motion information, the offense action's image features and the three-color features of video RGB are fused into deep learning features to complete the offense action recognition. Based on the offense action recognition, the Harris 3D operator is applied to construct the sequence potential function of the offense action, and the sequence possible function of the offense action is used as the operational technique for this purpose. In addition, the AdaBoost algorithm is used to comprehensively screen the characterized data of athletes' offense actions, and the filtered data are used as training samples to complete the feature extraction of athletes' offense actions. The experimental results show that the proposed method can effectively reduce the recognition error of offense action and improve the efficiency of action's feature extraction and the accuracy of feature extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Market inefficiencies, known as Moneyball effect, have been recently documented in different sports and their scope largely remains an empirical question. This article focuses on football, where fans and club managers seem to value forwards more than defenders. Apparently, football rules imply equally important roles for goals scored and goals conceded in a team win. Economic theory in this case suggests that marginal returns on offensive and defensive efforts should be equal. This prediction can be potentially violated, resulting in labour market inefficiency. To test this hypothesis, we use two separate data sets at team-game and player-season levels (1224 and 772 observations, respectively) from two seasons (2017/18–2018/19) of the German Bundesliga. We compare the relative contribution of the offensive and defensive actions to a team win with the same relative contribution to players' market value and show that defensive actions are relatively underestimated by the market compared to the offensive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this paper is to prepare special exercises for stress training to develop performance endurance and some compound offensive skills in football for young people, and to identify the effect of stress training on endurance performance and some offensive skills in football for young people. Methods: The research community was identified, which were the (25) players of the Oil Sports Club for Youth. The sample of the research was selected from the same research community, and the goalkeepers were excluded, so that the number was (23) players, selected from them (3) players for the pilot experiment and (20) players on whom the main experiment was applied. Results: After the compound offensive skills were determined, and after the researcher reviewed the sources, research, previous studies and personal interviews he conducted with the specialists, the appropriate tests were nominated: the first composite skill test (passing measurement, receiving in a specific area with fast rotation, fast running with the ball Then passing and receiving, shooting accuracy), the second composite skill test (measurement of running and ball control, speed of change of direction, shooting accuracy), and the third composite skill test (measurement of passing and receiving, rapid rotation in a specified space, shooting accuracy towards a divided target). Conclusion: The researchers concluded that the stress training exercises used on the sample were effective and positive in developing the performance endurance in football for youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Over the last few years, there has been considerable increase in scientific knowledge about women's football. However, the tactical and tactical‐strategic aspects have not yet been sufficiently covered in scientific literature. Therefore, this work proposed the following aims: To describe how the offensive phase is produced in women's football, to identify the significant statistical criteria that may be modulating success in attack, and finally to propose different predictive success models, with the ultimate aim of passing this knowledge on to the applied field. The observational methodology was used, one of the most appropriate methodologies for the analysis of motor behaviors in sport. The units of analysis collected and analyzed were 6063 attacks carried out during the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 and France 2019. The available results demonstrate that, on the one hand, offensive team actions are ineffective (almost 70% finish unsuccessfully), but criteria such as the start form of the attack, zone of ball possession, partial match result, or ball possession time are statistically significant criteria that modulate attack success (goal, shot or pass into the area). Lastly, the multivariate results allow us to propose a theoretical model, passing the probability of success from 31% in the absence of a model, to a theoretical auction probability of 52.6%, based on fast attacks with the intervention of few players, and with possession zone in the opposite field. These results could be directly transferred to the practical field where trainers and technical bodies can put this information into practice in training sessions or matches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last few decades, Nonlinear Pedagogy (NLP) has emerged with the goal to promote a holistic approach through the use of Small-Sided Games (SSG), to optimize specific tactical defensive and offensive behaviours of players. These SSG are designed through the manipulation of relevant task constraints. Specifically, the balance on the number of outfield players is a constraint that has been recently studied because it can change players' behaviour. However, most of the studies in this domain have only analysed the acute effects of the manipulation of different SSG without any idea about the implications for learning or to improve the transfer between practice tasks to the context of performance. The main purpose of this study was to understand the effect of the use of a task of numerical superiority in attack (5 vs 4; NS) before a task of equal number of player in comparison with the use of only two numerical equality (5 vs 5; NE) tasks. A second objective was to examine this effect according to the game principles: keep the ball possession and progress to the goal. Twenty footballers (U14 yrs), grouped in teams of five players, participated in this study. Each team performed two different sequences of SSG (NS + NE and NE + NE) and in two different conditions regarding the game principle. 2176 actions were analysed. Decision-making was measured through the GPET instrument. Also, it was assessed the duration of ball possession and the number of ball touches through a hand notation analysis system. Results show a tendency to decrease the offensive performance in the sequence (NS + NE). However, if we compare both initial situations, significant higher values were observed in the situation with NS. In addition, regarding the two final situations, there are hardly any differences between them. This study highlighted some key pedagogical principles of the constraints-led approach for designing training environment in team games. Coaches in formative stages should promote unequal game situations with superiority number of players in attack, to facilitate the decision-making and develop the technical skills thanks to a greater participation and a greater duration of ball possession. As learning progresses, coaches should design equal situations to facilitate an adaptation to the real game and promote long-term adaptations on players' performance. Finally, the game principle is another constraint to take into account since it promotes variability and boosts the discovery and exploration of players' movement solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper highlights some ways to improve the execution time of offensive and defensive tactical actions, the way in which they influence the increase of the football player's specific speed. This aspect was experienced on a football team of 17-19-year-old junior from the Gică Popescu Football Academy, which participated in the Elite League Championship corresponding to their age. After the application of specific teaching methods, significant progress was registered at the level of all tested parameters. These football players carried out attack and defense actions with high speed, which has the opposing teams on the hip. To meet these requirements, the player must find proper spots in the free space according to each situation, to control the ball in speed with any part of the body, to dribble in speed, to anticipate the opponent's move, to be able to easily overtake defensive players. The player is aware of every move and makes decisions before his opponent does, performs technical-tactical procedures in high speed conditions. A coherent integrated training, with higher indices of physical development and a high level of knowledge of the game, leads to high performance, which requires players' rapid reactions to the opponents' actions and fast-paced game. Conclusive results were recorded in all tests: speed without the ball, execution speed of offensive tactical collective actions, but also in tests applied through defensive collective tactical actions of pressure pressing performed after a careful analysis of the field positions of the opposing players. In conclusion, the results obtained in the paper recommend this way of approaching teaching, which can be materialized in an effective model of how a football team should act and participate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing the relative contribution of offensive and defensive football to success in the UEFA Champion's League, data related to the 513 clubs that have taken part to competition between 1955 and 2019 are analyzed using regression models. After controlling for the number of participations and teams playing in one of the four major European leagues -La Liga, Premier League, Serie A and Bundesliga- it is found that both offensive and defensive football can lead to success in the competition. Indeed, offensive and defensive football both have a significant impact on the number of titles won and their relative contributions are found to be equal. Both tactical approaches also have a significant impact on the number of matches won in the competition; even though the relative contribution of offensive football is bigger. Furthermore, only offensive football is found to have a significant impact on the number of points earned in the competition. Finally, it is found that poor offensive and poor defensive football both have a significant impact on the number of matches lost in the Champion's League; with the relative contribution of a poor defensive performance being more pronounced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of styles of play in soccer and the influence of contextual variables (i.e. match status, venue and quality of opposition). Team possessions (n = 68,766) from the 380 matches of the 2015–2016 English Premier League season were collected for this study. The Possession Effectiveness Index, based on Expected Goals and Ball Movement Points metrics, was used to measure the effectiveness of team possessions. Linear mixed models were applied to analyse the influence of contextual variables on the effectiveness score for each style. Results showed that the effectiveness of Direct Play, Counterattack, Maintenance and Crossing significantly increased when teams were winning by two or more goals. Counterattack increased its effectiveness when teams were winning by one goal and reduced its effectiveness when losing by one goal. The effectiveness of Direct Play increased when losing by two goals or more. Playing away negatively affected the effectiveness of Direct Play, Maintenance and High Pressure. In addition, playing against a stronger opposition reduced the effectiveness of all styles of play. The results suggest that the effectiveness of styles of play changes under specific circumstances and that not all contextual variables affect them in the same way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the influence of tactical and situational variables on offensive sequences during elite football matches. A sample of 68 games and 1,694 offensive sequences from the Spanish La Liga, Italian Serie A, German Bundesliga, English Premier League, and Champions League were analyzed using χ² and logistic regression analyses. Results revealed that counterattacks (odds ratio [OR] = 1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13-1.83; p < 0.01) and fast attacks (OR = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.11-1.85; p < 0.01) increased the success of an offensive sequence by 40% compared with positional attacks. The chance of an offensive sequence ending effectively in games from the Spanish, Italian, and English Leagues were higher than that in the Champions League. Offensive sequences that started in the preoffensive or offensive zones were more successful than those started in the defensive zones. An increase of 1 second in the offensive sequence duration and an extra pass resulted in a decrease of 2% (OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.98-0.99; p < 0.001) and 7% (OR = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.91--0.96; p < 0.001), respectively, in the probability of its success. These findings could assist coaches in designing specific training situations that improve the effectiveness of the offensive process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of small-sided game training (SSGT) versus conventional aerobic interval training (CAIT) on soccer-specific endurance performance, lactate threshold levels (mmol·L-1), short-passing ability and defensive and offensive skills of a soccer match. Before and after a 6-week training intervention period, eighteen amateur soccer players (age 21.8±4.8 years) were tested. The tests included the anaerobic threshold (AnT) test, the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1), and the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test (LSPT). A manual notational match analysis system was utilized to evaluate the defensive and offensive skills of players during the matches. Both the SSGT and CAIT were performed two days a week and consisted of five sets of 6-minute periods of work at the individualized exercise intensity corresponding to the individual anaerobic threshold, with 3-minute recovery periods between sets. Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to examine the between- and within-group differences, respectively. Statistical analyses revealed that the SSGT group players exhibited significantly better in terms of the LSPT scores (p<.01) and the number of defensive and offensive skills (p<.05). However, no other significant differences in the other variables were observed (p>.05). The results of the study suggested that SSGT improved short-passing ability, various soccer skills and physiological parameters, while CAIT only improved physiological parameters. SSGT improves soccer-specific endurance and technical ability of players at the same time, meaning it is a time efficient way of training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fundamental tactical principles of the game of soccer represent a set of action rules that guide behaviours related to the management of game space. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of fundamental offensive and defensive tactical principles among youth soccer players from 12 to 17 years old. The sample consisted of 3689 tactical actions performed by 48 soccer players in three age categories: under 13 (U-13), under 15 (U-15), and under 17 (U-17). Tactical performance was measured using the System of Tactical Assessment in Soccer (FUT-SAT). The Kruskal Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, Friedman, Wilcoxon, and Cohen's Kappa tests were used in the study analysis. The results showed that the principles of 'offensive coverage' (p = 0.01) and 'concentration' (p = 0.04) were performed more frequently by the U-17 players than the U-13 players. The tactical principles 'width and length' (p < 0.05) and 'defensive unit' (p < 0.05) were executed more frequently by younger soccer players. It can be concluded that the frequency with which fundamental tactical principles are performed varies between the gaming categories, which implies that there is valuation of defensive security and a progressive increase in 'offensive coverage' caused by increased confidence and security in offensive actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intention of Key Performance Indicators (KPI) is to map complex systembehaviour to single values for scaling, rating and ranking systems or system components. Very often, however, this mapping only reduces important information about tactical behaviour or playing dynamics without replacing it by useful ones. The presented approach tries to bridge the gap between complex dynamics and numerical indicators in the case of offensive effectiveness in soccer in two steps. First, a model is developed which visualises offensive actions in a process-oriented way by using information units to represent offensive performance - i.e. Key Performance Indicators. Second, this model is organised in relation to time intervals, which enables to measure the effectiveness for a whole half-time as well as for arbitrary intervals of any desired lengths. This contribution is meant as an introduction to a new modelling idea, where examples are calculated as case studies to demonstrate how it works. Therefore, only two games have been exemplarily analysed yet: The first one, which is used to demonstrate the method, is an example for similar quantitative indicators but different dynamic behaviour. The last one is used to demonstrate the results in the case of teams with extreme different strengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 world's 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]