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This study explores the influence of corona-specific training and playing conditions - especially empty stadiums - on match performance, contact behavior, and home advantage in the Bundesliga (BL) and Bundesliga 2 (BL2). We analyzed the 2017/18, 2018/19, and 2019/20 seasons and compared matches in rounds 26–34 before shutdown with "ghost" matches after restart. Results show increased running activity for high intensity distance: (+ 6.1%) and total distance covered (+ 4.3%). In BL2 in particular there were also changes in tactical aspects of the game (time in last third: –6.3%, pressure on pass receiver: –8.6%, success of attacking duels: –7.9%, share of long passes completed: + 15.6%, outplayed opponents per pass: –14.7%). Contact time to other players (< 2 m distance) was 15:35 mins per match. After restart, contact was reduced, especially when the ball was not in the last third (–11.2%). Away wins increased by +44.2% in BL and the home-away difference in yellow cards changed in favor of the away team (+31.2%) in BL2. We conclude that empty stadiums have reduced home advantage and decreased referee bias when awarding yellow cards. Player behavior might have been affected by tactical demands and/or conscious or unconscious self-protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of chronological age on acceleration and deceleration match performance in professional soccer players. A total of 5317 individual match observations were collected on 420 professional players competing in the Spanish LaLiga during the 2018–2019 season, using a multiple-camera computerised tracking system (TRACAB; ChyronHego, Melville, NY, USA). Players were classified using a k -means cluster analysis into four different age groups: 17–23 years, 24–27 years, 28–30 years, and 31–38 years. Linear mixed models were adjusted to compare the players' match performance according to their age group and playing position (central defenders, external defenders, central midfielders, external midfielders, and forwards). The results showed that players aged between 31–38 years performed a significantly less total number of accelerations (ES=0.30–0.48) and decelerations (ES=0.29–0.49) in comparison with younger players. These age-related physical performance declines were more pronounced among central defenders, central midfielders, and forwards. However, no significant effects were obtained for players' maximum acceleration and deceleration capacities. The current findings provide useful information for coaches and strength and conditioning specialists to better understand the effects of age on players' physical performance and to develop age-tailored training programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to analyse the activity profile of players in a top-class team in the Italian national football league over the course of a season (n=388). The effect of playing position and the two halves on the number and duration of short, intense bursts of effort and recovery phases was studied. The main results show that midfielders cover significantly more distance than players in other positions (p<0.001). For midfielders, the number of displacements of 2-40m and the number of sprints covering between 2 and 9m and between 30 and 40m are considerably greater than for other positions (p<0.05). The distances covered in the second half compared to the first half are significantly lower for all categories of run (p<0.05). In the second half, the distance covered at very high intensity is significantly lower (p<0.01), whilst the number of recovery times greater than 120s increases significantly compared to the first half (p <0.01). This study provides data which could be used as a basis for the work of scientists as well as football professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the construct validity of selected field tests as indicators of match-related physical performance. During the competitive season, eighteen professional soccer players (age 26.2 ±4.5 yrs, mass 80.8±7.8 kg, and height 181.9±3.7 cm) completed an incremental running field test to exhaustion, a vertical-jump and a repeated-sprint ability (RSA) test. Match physical performance was quantified during official matches using a video-computerized, semi-automatic, match analysis image recognition system, (ProZone®, Leeds, UK). The selected measures of match physical performance were: total distance covered (TD), high intensity running (HIR: > 14.4 km·h-1), very high intensity running (VHIR:> 19.8 km·h-1), sprinting (>25.2 km·h-1) and top running speed. Significant correlations were found between peak speed reached during the incremental field test and TD (r=0.58, R²=0.34; p<0.05), HIR (r=0.65, R² = 0.42; p <0.01) and VHIR (r= 0.64, R² = 0.41; p <0.01). Significant correlations were also found between RSA mean time and VHIR (r=-0.60, R²=0.36; p<0.01) and sprinting distance (r = - 0.65, R² = 0.42; p <0.01). Significant differences were found between the best and worst group as defined by the median split technique for peak speed (TD=12011 ±747 m vs. 10712 ±669, HIR=3192±482 m vs. 2314±347 m, and VHIR=1014±120 vs. 779±122 m, respectively; p<0.05) and RSA mean time (VHIR= 974±162 m vs. 819±144 m, and sprinting=235±56 vs. 164± 58 m, respectively; p <0.05). In conclusion, this study gives empirical support to the construct validity of RSA and incremental running tests as measures of match-related physical performance in top-level professional soccer players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]