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Purpose: This study analyzed the effectiveness of net exchanges (ie, number of times the pairs exchange their zone on the court from the net zone to the back zone or vice versa) in men's and women's professional padel depending on the competition phase. Methods: Data were collected from 41 matches, comprising a total of 4829 points, from both the qualifying and the main draws of the World Padel Tour Finland Padel Open tournament. Descriptive analysis (frequency and percentage) and inferential tests (Pearson chi-square [χ2], Cramer V coefficient [Vc], corrected standardized residuals, and chi-squared automatic interaction detection) were carried out. Results: There were significant differences (P <.05) in net exchanges between the main and qualifying draws, both in men's (79.6% vs 72.1% for no exchanges) and women's (62.2% vs 57.6% for no exchanges) padel. Additionally, differences in the likelihood of winning points based on whether the serving pair or the returning pair finished the rally at the net were highlighted. Indeed, finishing rallies at the net for the serving pairs increased the probability of scoring a winning shot (ie, in even-numbered net exchanges), while finishing rallies away from the net (ie, in odd-numbered net exchanges) was more likely to result in errors, for both male and female players and main and qualifying draws. Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the strategic behavior of professional padel matches, highlighting the importance of net dominance and its impact on match outcomes, particularly in relation to gender differences and phase of competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Rugby union is a contact team sport demanding high levels of physical capacity, and understanding the match workloads can be useful to inform training. In this study, the factors influencing locomotion and contact workloads for offensive and defensive ball-in-play periods are quantified. Methods: Locomotion and contact metrics were collected from global positioning system units and videos for 31 professional players of a Super Rugby team across 14 games in the 2021 season. Data were analyzed with a generalized mixed-model procedure that included effects for type of play, playing position, match outcome, and ball-in-play time. Magnitudes were assessed with standardization, and evidence for substantial magnitudes was derived from sampling uncertainty. Results: When offense was compared to defense, most metrics showed decisively substantial increases (small to moderate) for forwards and backs. There was decisive evidence that locomotion metrics were substantially lower (large differences) and contact metrics were higher (very large differences) when comparing forwards to backs on offense and defense. When winning was compared to losing, there was good evidence that forwards experienced small increases in overall workload on defense, and backs experienced a small increase in high-speed running and a moderate decrease in contacts on offense. Match-to-match changes associated with ball-in-play time, attributed to fatigue, were decisive (moderate to very large) across most metrics for forwards and backs in offense and defense. Conclusions: The increased locomotion and contact workloads in offensive periods and the differing physical requirements between positions and match outcomes for both types of play are novel findings that should aid practitioners in designing effective training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to assess and compare the tactical conduct of players aged U-8, U-10, and U-12 during full- and small-sided games, focusing on tactical modeling and interaction dynamics. Each age group comprised three teams (n = 180; 60 per category; 20 per team), engaging in a tournament where teams faced each other once in both formats − 18 matches; 3 per category in each format. Full-sided games (GK + 10 vs.10 + GK; 100 × 68 m) and small-sided games (U-8: GK + 4 vs. 4 + GK (36 × 20 m); U-10: GK + 7 vs. 7 + GK (52.5 × 34 m); U-12: GK + 10 vs. 10 + GK (68 × 45 m). Standard playing times (3 periods of 12 minutes (U-8s); 3 periods of 15 minutes (U-10s); and 3 periods of 20 minutes (U-12s), with a 5-minute break. Variables were examined using descriptive analysis (mean, standard deviation, and confidence interval), with paired t-tests and Wilcoxon tests employed for inter-format comparisons. Despite players benefiting from more time and space in full-sided games (increased ball receptions and overall ball involvement), results from small-sided games indicate three key advantages: 1) More goals (U-8s: z = –3.44, p =.050) and shots on target (U-8: z = –3.25, p =.001; U-10: z = –2.72, p =.007); 2) Game space management—ball circulation in larger amplitude (U-10: t = –4.20, p =.001; U-12: t = –4.35, p <.001); and with more transitions (U-10: t = –3.60, p =.002; U-12: t = –4.16, p =.001) and 3) Fast decision-making—larger ball velocity circulation (U-08: t = –3.54, p =.003; U-10: t = –5.13, p <.001; U-12: t = –5.80, p <.001). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that unplayability must be a considered component of game analysis and further discussed in new media studies. The concept that games cannot be or should not be played does not limit game analysis. On the contrary, the "unplayable aspect" of a particular game or genre of games is what must be investigated. This essay hopes to expand upon why new media such as video games are becoming inaccessible by using Nicholas Baer et al.'s Unwatchable to discuss a range of unplayable games for common reasons such as: (1) excessive violence, (2) sexual violence, and (3) preservation issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

User interface design patterns that document Human-Agent Team (HAT) interface best practices were developed by analyzing team video games with different types of agents, ranging from virtual players in sports games to advisors contributing to strategy and planning in combat games. One factor that may contribute to the enormous success of some games is the cohesive team interactions between humans and agents. A design pattern collection was developed by identifying 25 design patterns under interface themes most relevant to HATs. The design patterns describe how multiple successful game interfaces handle challenging aspects of HAT interaction, addressing contexts including planning, spatial orientation, task management, communication, and more. Based on the complex and well-tested interface solutions in video games, these design patterns can provide HAT user interface developers practical guidance for interface development and a starting point for developing a HAT design pattern language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Special Olympics Unified Sports® organizes competitions with unified teams of athletes with intellectual impairments and partners. The athletes and partners train and play together. There are three unified sports models: competitive, player development and recreation. The roles of athletes with intellectual impairments and partners should be equal. The aim of the study was to compare the game performance of players with intellectual impairments and their partners in unified basketball. Material and methods: Materials and methods. Sixteen male teams competed in unified basketball in the Special Olympics Games. Each team consisted of 10 athletes, i.e. six players with intellectual impairments and four partners. These were divided into four ability levels (1-4). Twenty-five unified basketball games were observed, 42 variables were evaluated. The data was analyses with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Mann-Whitney U-test, with the strength of any differences indicated by effect size. The statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The partners obtained better values than players in 31 game indicators. The two groups were differentiated by assists, defensive rebounds, completed passes, all passes, successful passes off a dribble and turnovers while dribbling, and all dribbling on all four levels. Conclusions: The partners played a dominant role in the game. Coaches need to develop greater cohesion in the team, and the players require many training sessions together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the way coffee is represented and used in cozy games. As a genre, cozy games are defined by the concepts of safety, abundance, and softness, which together establish a sense of coziness. Coffee, commonly associated with casual and friendly social situations, has a potential to be a strong contributor to coziness within cozy games. To explore this, the authors identified 27 cozy games containing coffee-related elements, and then performed a qualitative analysis on their content. The analysis found it was comparatively rare for coffee themes to strongly impact the overall game experience; however, there was a significant tendency for coffee to amplify the game’s overall sense of coziness.

Background: The analysis of defensive game variables in handball is essential to increase the performance of a team. Objectives: This study aimed to analyse defensive success based on the game variables and situational variables that predict defensive efficiency in elite handball. Methods: The sample was composed of 1925 competition units in the defensive phase. Data from 16 matches of the XXIII Men's Handball World Championship of 2013 were analysed. The dependent variable was the defensive efficiency in each unit, and the independent variables were defensive actions, zones of field, location of the shot, numerical situation, and duration of the defense. Data were obtained from the HandballTAS tool (Handball Tactic Analysis System). The collected data were analysed quantitatively through inferential statistics (independent sample t-test) with the assistance of SPSS 22.0. Results: The defenses analysed in which an offensive foul, a ball recovery or steal, a throw block and a passive play action were recorded, achieved defensive success. In the analysis of field areas, the greatest defensive efficiency was obtained in shots from zone 1, with 60%, and from zone 2, with 54%. The highest percentages of goalkeeper effectiveness correspond to the middle zone, and the central zone. The greatest defensive efficiency was obtained in a warning of passive play situation with 70% and in numerical superiority situation with 67%. Finally, in the analysis of the duration, the greatest defensive efficiency was obtained in the half defenses (26 ≤ 50 seconds) with 60%. Conclusion: This study serves to demonstrate which defensive game variables have the greatest influence on defensive efficiency. This aspect will serve to help the coach make decisions during a handball match and increase the probability of success in each defense.

The aim of this study was to analyze the lob in professional padel, taking into account sex, the player's side of play, the direction of the lob and the efficiency of the lob. For this purpose, 2063 lobs (933 in men's and 1130 in women's) corresponding to 10 matches of the 2024 season of the Premier Padel circuit were analyzed through systematic observation. The results indicated that there is no association between the player who makes the lob according to the side of play in professional padel (p = 0.796) and the category of play (men's and women's). The distribution of lobs in these categories, both men's and women's, was distributed 50% between both players from the same pair. On the other hand, in men's professional padel, right-side players made more cross-court lobs (RTC = 3.3), while left-side players made more down-the-middle lobs (RTC = 2.0). In addition, in women's professional padel, right-side players made more cross-court lobs (RTC = 3.6), while left-side players made more down-the-middle lobs (RTC = 6.0). Finally, in men's padel, the lobs tended to overpass the opponents when they were down the middle (RTC = 4.1) and tended to not overpass when they were cross-court (RTC = 2.5). In conclusion, there are differences in the characteristics of lobs in professional padel according to sex. These results can be very useful for coaches for performing specific training on the lob according to the sex of their players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Software security is an important topic that is gaining more and more attention due to the rising number of publicly known cybersecurity incidents. Previous research has shown that one way to address software security is by means of a serious game, the CyberSecurity Challenges, which are designed to raise awareness of software developers of secure coding guidelines. This game, proven to be very successful in the industry, makes use of an artificial intelligence technique (laddering technique) to implement a chatbot for human–machine interaction. Recent advances in machine learning have led to a breakthrough, with the implementation and release of large language models, now freely available to the public. Such models are trained on a large amount of data and are capable of analyzing and interpreting not only natural language but also source code in different programming languages. With the advent of ChatGPT, and previous state-of-the-art research in secure software development, a natural question arises: to what extent can ChatGPT aid software developers in writing secure software? In this work, we draw on our experience in the industry, and also on extensive previous work to analyze and reflect on how to use ChatGPT to aid secure software development. Towards this, we conduct two experiments with large language models. Our engagements with ChatGPT and our experience in the field allow us to draw conclusions on the advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of the usage of this new technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterization refers to the process of attributing character traits to narrative entities called 'characters'. While there is a long tradition of characterization theory in literary studies, the topic has not been examined extensively in game research. Based on insights from literary, film, and game studies, this article creates a theoretical model of how 'character,' or character traits, can be attributed in video games, and offers a methodological vocabulary for further character(ization) research. First, this paper synthesizes the tradition of characterization research in literary studies. Second, it identifies three participants in video game characterization (developers, actors, and players) and introduces the concept of ergodic characterization to describe those instances in which players produce nontrivial characterization efforts. Finally, the framework itself is presented through application to various game titles, and several answers to methodological problems within game characterization analysis are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Basketball, introduced by Naismith as a contactless and indoor alternative to sports such as American football, now frequently involves physical contact among players, challenging the traditional notion. Up to date, a thorough understanding of these contacts and their implications remains limited. This study aims to analyze player contacts, embedding it within overall load monitoring to optimize performance and reduce injury risk. Methods: Using a mixed-method design, video-based observations and quantitative analysis were employed to study contact characteristics during ten professional male basketball matches. Fisher exact tests and chi-squared tests (p < .05) were conducted to examine positional variations across different contact variables. Results: A total of 2,069 player contacts were examined, showing centers had the most contacts at 40.5%, followed by power forwards (19.6%), point guards (17.7%), shooting guards (12.9%), and small forwards (9.3%). Notably, half-court defense (46.1%) and set offense (48.9%) emerged as the primary game phases associated with the majority of contacts across all playing positions. Key play actions leading to physical contact included screening/picking (25.7%), box outs (22.9%), and fights for position (FFP) (18%). Post hoc analyses identified significant associations between centers (32.6%, 5.93) and point guards (21.5%, -1.98) during screening/picking maneuvers. Moreover, the torso/upper body (48.1%) and upper extremities (38.2%) were identified as the most affected contact points, while lower extremities and the head/neck exhibited minimal impact. Additionally, 81.4% (n = 1,684) of contacts resulted in kinematic displacement, whereas 18.6% (n = 385) exhibited no change. Post hoc analyses indicated significant associations of physical contacts against opposing counterparts for each playing position. Discussion: Basketball entails frequent physical contacts across all playing positions, with distinct patterns observed for each playing position. Integrating contact monitoring alongside traditional load metrics offers a more comprehensive understanding of physical demands in professional basketball. Practical implications include the developing of tailored training strategies based on playing position-specific contact profiles and recognizing the physiological and biomechanical impacts of contacts. Future research should consider whether the number of contacts between players has increased over the years, and it should acknowledge the impact of player contacts on performance in basketball in order to refine training strategies and enhance player well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the distributions of number of shots per point, point duration, point pace and technical actions during the match in professional men and women padel players. A total of 35,145 hits (3239 points; men = 1602 and women = 1637) were analyzed in 20 matches corresponding to quarterfinal, semifinal and final matches of the World Padel Tour 2020 season. The observations were conducted through systematic observation and involved a total of 32 players (16 men and 16 women). Men's points lasted 13.5–14.8 s, comprising 10–11 hits, resulting in a ratio of 0.80 shots per second, with no differences between sets. Women's points lasted longer than men's (14.4 to 16.2 s, p = 0.011) but included a similar number of shots per point, resulting in a lower rhythm of play (0.73–0.75 shots per second, p < 0.001), particularly in the third set (p = 0.004). Volleys, lobs and directs were used in >60% of the points, with a frequency of one to three times per point. Bandejas were used in 50–60% of the points, with a frequency of one to two times per point. Backwalls and flat smashes were used at least once in 30–48% of the points. Selective actions had a greater frequency of use in the third set (i.e., flat smash and smash x3 in women; forehand/backhand volleys and side-wall forehand in men), suggesting occasional changes in the style of play, but likely explained by the onset of fatigue. In conclusion, game volumes, intensity and actions remained broadly similar throughout professional padel matches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Racing is one of the most prominent genres in the modern video game industry, where the games within the genre enable players to use any vehicle of their choice and win through doing series of action within gameplay. Thus, it made the genre popular over the years, spawning many famous titles such as Split Second back in 2010. Like every other video game title, Split Second also invokes the player emotion and instinct during its gameplay session. To understand the emotion and instinct aspect present in players of the game, we will use 6-11 framework which focuses on the two aspects. As part of the conclusion, Split Second game involves instincts such as Competition, Collecting, and Survival, with emotions including Fear, Pride, Joy, and Excitement, which can be found from its vast single player game modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the setter's decision-making on setting direction based on interpersonal (interaction between players) and extra personal (interaction between players and some place or object) coordination. The sample consisted of 86 sequences of play involving settings performed by males (n = 43) and females (n = 43). Fifty-nine spatiotemporal measures of interpersonal and extra personal coordination were obtained from the x and y coordinates of volleyball players' displacements using the TACTO software. Settings to each court zone were compared in relation to each spatiotemporal measure. Results showed that when the final area between attacker in the zone 3 and block was greatest and emerged from highest velocity, setters decided to set to zone 2. On the other hand, when the foregoing area was smallest and emerged from lowest velocity, setters decided to set to zones 3 and 4. It was concluded that the final area between attacker in the zone 3 and block and its emerging velocity constrained the setters' decision-making on setting direction. This study provides useful insights into the design of practice tasks in volleyball, suggesting that setters should be advised to be attuned to the interpersonal coordination involving attacker in the zone 3 and block. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agricultural Outlook (1673-3908) is the property of Institute of Agricultural Information, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper presents a comprehensive dataset detailing the precise indoor positioning of players from a female amateur handball team across 10 real matches. Utilizing Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology, the dataset captures each player's x and y coordinates every second throughout the games. Additionally, a preliminary game analysis is included, specifying the initiation and termination times of each team's possession. This analysis provides a variety of labels crucial for training machine learning algorithms, encompassing distinctions such as attack or defense, structured or unstructured play, goal outcomes, and the differentiation between counter-attacks and static phases. In total, the dataset comprises 84691 positioning measurements, offering a valuable resource for in-depth study and analysis of player dynamics and game strategies in female handball.

Introduction: This study investigated the influence of team formation on goalscoring efficiency through analysing the time required for a goal to be scored in elite football matches. Method: The analysis was conducted using a comprehensive open access dataset encompassing eight major football competitions, including prestigious events such as the World Cup and the UEFA Champions League. It notably focused on the competing risks framework and employed the Fine and Gray model to account for the interplay between two competing events: team A scoring and team B scoring. Results: Through analysis of Team A's goal occurrences, we assessed the offensive capabilities of its formation and the defensive effectiveness of Team B's composition in relation to the time it took for Team A to score a goal. Findings revealed that teams employing the 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 formations outperformed other formations (3-4-3, 3-5-2, 4-4-2, 4-5-1, 5-3-2, 5-4-1) regarding goal-scoring efficiency. Discussion: By shedding light on the impact of team formation on goal scoring, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of some of the successful strategic aspects of elite football. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: our aim was to analyze the characteristics of the off-the-wall smash in men´s and women´s padel, and to compare gender differences in the set-dependent frequency of these shots. Study sample: through systematic observation, we analyzed 441 off-the-wall smashes from the Final Master of the 2022 season of the World Padel Tour. Results: showed that the women performed twice as many off-the-wall smashes as the men. This shot was executed most frequently (90%) from the center and right side of the court and from the dominant side, usually providing volley continuity (73%) and sometimes resulting in point winners (21.5%). Furthermore, there were gender differences, depending on the defense zone from which the wall smashes were defended (p =.014) and on the final match result (p =.018). In men's padel, the losing pair performed more off-the-wall smashes, while in women's padel, the winning pair performed more of these smashes. Finally, between both genders, most off-the-wall smashes occurred in the first set and decreased in number in the third set, with the second set containing the fewest off-the wall smashes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to characterize performance patterns of attack and defence of football teams, and the inter-team's relation throughout the game. First and second leg of the Brazilian Cup Final 2018 Under-20 category were recorded using two video cameras. Three hundred twelve attacks and defences sequences in the two football matches were analyzed. All players and the ball were tracked throughout the matches, then notational and spatiotemporal variables were measured: attack duration, number of actions per attack, occupied area, team centroid, ratio between number of action and attack duration, total centroid trajectory, and ball displacement. Those variables were grouped using Ward's minimum variance method. The results showed that: (i) teams presented variated styles of play in attack and defence intra and intermatches; (ii) spatial variables such as positions and displacements contributed the most to separate the patterns; (iii) the interteams synchrony found throughout the game revealed different outcomes; and (iv) specific attacking patterns led to shoot to goal. We concluded that football teams vary their style of play within match and intermatches; spatial variables such as positions and displacements contributed the most to separate the patterns; and the interteam relation revealed synchrony throughout the game. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionBasketball, introduced by Naismith as a contactless and indoor alternative to sports such as American football, now frequently involves physical contact among players, challenging the traditional notion. Up to date, a thorough understanding of these contacts and their implications remains limited. This study aims to analyze player contacts, embedding it within overall load monitoring to optimize performance and reduce injury risk.MethodsUsing a mixed-method design, video-based observations and quantitative analysis were employed to study contact characteristics during ten professional male basketball matches. Fisher exact tests and chi-squared tests (p

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of three simulated goalball games on neuromuscular, physiological, perceptual, and technical parameters. Ten male players underwent assessments before and immediately after each game. Heart rate was recorded at rest and during all games that were entirely filmed for further technical performance analysis. Exercise significantly decreased knee extensor muscles peak force and percentage of voluntary activation after the second and third games, indicating the presence of central fatigue. Heart rate responses remained predominantly in a range equivalent to moderate activity intensity in all games. In addition, perceptual parameters were associated with reduced frequency of throws and density of actions. These findings suggest significant implications for the management of physical training, game strategy during a competition, and fixture change from three to two games per day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of agricultural modernization in China, this paper examines the micro-level perspective of agricultural value chains. Drawing from three primary models of agricultural value chain cooperation—namely, "leading enterprises + small farmers", "leading enterprises + cooperatives + small farmers", and "corporate integration"—it establishes four game models: the decentralized decision-making game model, the two revenue-sharing game models, and the centralized decision-making game model. It systematically analyzes the cooperation mechanisms between leading enterprises and small farmers in upstream production links of the agricultural value chain, aiming to improve the cooperation strategy between leading enterprises and small farmers, elevate the status of small farmers in the agricultural value chain, promote increased income for farmers, and strengthen the agricultural value chain. The research findings are as follows: Firstly, the traditional contract of "leading enterprise + smallholder farmers" is incomplete, which makes it difficult to avoid opportunism and moral hazard that may arise between the two parties. By comparing multiple parameter values, it is found that this model is at a lower level of agricultural value chain development. Secondly, the model of "leading enterprise + cooperative + smallholder farmers" improves the tightness and stability of cooperation between leading enterprises and smallholder farmers. This model explains to some extent the operability of smallholder farmers sharing the value of the agricultural value chain. Compared with various parameter values, this model is at a medium level between other models. Finally, the "corporate integration" model is a fully vertical integration model. Compared with various parameter values, this model is at an advanced stage of agricultural value chain development. Therefore, agricultural value chains will ultimately develop toward the direction of corporate integration. This study has positive practical significance for enhancing the status and claim rights of small farmers, promoting increased income for farmers, enhancing the consistency of values between leading enterprises and small farmers, strengthening the stability of the agricultural value chain, and ultimately achieving common prosperity and agricultural modernization in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of games education builds on several established educational approaches, combining game analysis and game design, theory and practice. However, most approaches do not offer a primary focus on the dynamic aspect of gameplay, one of the most salient features of digital games. Therefore, the present article suggests the gameplay loop methodology as a teaching and learning tool for games education. This methodology provides a formalized yet accessible, flexible and creative way to analyse and design gameplay, the essence of digital games. In addition to an introduction of the methodology as a tool for games education, the article delivers evidence from a case study investigating the outcomes of a game design/game analysis course and subsequent collaborative project work. Our data demonstrate the approach's potential to enhance students' understanding of the methodology, in particular, and gameplay, in general, as well as their motivation and capacity to independently apply it in a game development project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muscle typology is heterogeneous among national level football (soccer) players, but positional differences remain unclear. Furthermore, fast typology (FT) individuals fatigue more than slow typology (ST) individuals in lab conditions. Therefore, we investigated if muscle typology is different between playing positions and if the decay in high‐intensity activities from the first to the second half is larger in FT football players than in ST players. We estimated muscle typology in 147 male professional football players by measuring soleus and gastrocnemius muscle carnosine via proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Players were classified as ST, intermediate typology (IT) or FT and categorized as goalkeeper, center back, full back, midfielder, winger or forward. Across four seasons in‐game distances covered in multiple running speed, acceleration and deceleration zones were collected during the first and second half. We found no differences in muscle typology between positions (p = 0.412). FT players covered 10.9% more high acceleration distance (>3 m.s−2) in the first half than ST players (p = 0.021) and high acceleration distance decay was larger for FT players (−12.4%) than ST (−7.7%; p = 0.006) and IT players (−7.3%; p = 0.010). Moreover, the decline in distance covered in several high‐intensity zones tended to be larger in FT players (−11.2% high‐intensity >15 km.h−1; −12.7% high deceleration <−3 m.s−2; −11.5% medium acceleration 2‐3 m.s−2) than in ST players (−7.1% high‐intensity; −8.1% high deceleration; −8.1% medium acceleration; 0.05 < p < 0.1). In conclusion, possessing a particular muscle typology is not required to play any football position at the national level. However, there are indications that FT players might fatigue more toward the end of the game compared to ST players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of finishing smashes, through the validated OASP instrument, according to their effectiveness in men's professional padel. For this purpose, 880 finishing smashes corresponding to matches of the Premier Padel Major tournament played in Qatar during the 2023 season were analysed, performing a descriptive and inferential analysis. The results indicate that 73.18 % of the finishing smashes are winners, while only 26.82 % of the finishing smashes are errors. In addition, the winning final smashes are made from the areas near the net (zones 3 (CSR = 4.9) and 4 (CSR = 5.3)) and to a lesser extent from the middle areas of the court (zones 2 (CSR = 2.6) and 5 (RTC = 2.6)) and are usually flat (CSR = 8.4), parallel (CSR = 5.4) and finishing X3 (CSR = 6.2) or X4 (CSR = 5.0). While the finishing smashes that end in error are usually made from the back court (zones 1 (CSR = 8.9) and 6 (CSR = 6.7)) and are usually cut (CSR = 11.9), crossed (CSR = 5.4) and that end in own court (stay in the net; CSR = 3.9) or opposite court (the ball hits on the glass or the fence directly; CSR = 3.5). Thus, padel players should be aware of these results in order to perform effective smashes in real competition situations to promote success in the match. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

IntroductionThis study investigated the influence of team formation on goal-scoring efficiency through analysing the time required for a goal to be scored in elite football matches.MethodThe analysis was conducted using a comprehensive open access dataset encompassing eight major football competitions, including prestigious events such as the World Cup and the UEFA Champions League. It notably focused on the competing risks framework and employed the Fine and Gray model to account for the interplay between two competing events: team A scoring and team B scoring.ResultsThrough analysis of Team A’s goal occurrences, we assessed the offensive capabilities of its formation and the defensive effectiveness of Team B’s composition in relation to the time it took for Team A to score a goal. Findings revealed that teams employing the 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 formations outperformed other formations (3-4-3, 3-5-2, 4-4-2, 4-5-1, 5-3-2, 5-4-1) regarding goal-scoring efficiency.DiscussionBy shedding light on the impact of team formation on goal scoring, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of some of the successful strategic aspects of elite football.

Background and Study Aim. The significance of analyzing statistical indicators is paramount, as they provide valuable insights into the distinguishing performance factors of teams. The purpose of this study: 1) to identify statistically significant differences between relevant performance factors among winning, drawing, and losing teams in the 2022 Football World Cup in Qatar; 2) explore indicators that are most strongly associated with the game results in this tournament. Material and Methods. A total of 64 matches and 32 participating teams were analyzed. The variables included in the research were: total shots, shots on target, shots off target, effectiveness, passes, passes completed, crosses, crosses against, offsides committed, offsides received, fouls received, ball possession, fouls committed, corners, corners against, yellow cards and red cards. The results are extracted from the official FIFA website. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the ordinal logistic regression with elastic net were used for data calculation. Results. The results indicate that winning teams have statistically significantly higher mean values of variables related to goals scored: total shots (p < 0.05), shots on target (p < 0.01), and effectiveness (p < 0.01). According to the information-based model selection criteria AIC (Akaike information criterion) and BIC (Bayesian information criterion) effectiveness and shots on target are the most important variables regarding game results. They, along with corners, are best associated with successful teams. In contrast, crosses, ball possession, corners against, and yellow cards are associated with less successful teams. Results suggest that teams with high ball possession and large number of crosses, but fewer shots on target, have weaker results than teams with more shots on target and less ball possession. Conclusions. The study underscores the significance of certain performance indicators, such as total shots, shots on target, and effectiveness, in predicting a team's success. These findings provide valuable insights for coaches and teams to focus on specific aspects of their game to enhance their chances of winning. Additionally, understanding the impact of variables like ball possession, crosses, corners, and yellow cards emphasizes the importance of a well-rounded strategy for achieving success in international football tournaments.

Sampling frequency of microsensors that measure the position of the players in team sports is a variable that could affect the accuracy of the measurement. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of the sampling frequency on the measurement of a collective tactical behaviour variable: the total area (TA). Sixteen young U16 male soccer players participated in the study. They carried out three controlled tasks. Tactical variable was measured by a radio ultra-wide band technology (IMU; WIMU PROTM, RealTrack Systems, Almeria, Spain). For TA different sampling frequencies were applied (i.e. 1 Hz, 2 Hz, 4 Hz and 10 Hz). Trivial differences (p 0.05) were found between the TA values across the different amounts of inserted data per second across Task 1 (ES= 0.04-0.08), Task 2 (ES= 0.01-0.09) and Task 3 (ES= -0.03-0.04). Also High to perfect ICCs (0.91-1) and linear correlations (r= 0.961-1; p 0.01) were found among the TA values obtained through all sampling frequencies. The sampling frequency (i.e. 1 Hz, 2 Hz, 4 Hz and 10 Hz) does not affect the measurement of total area during tactical behaviour analysis but does significantly affect the change in centroid position measurement. Thus, it is recommended the use of 1 Hz to measure TA, but further studies should analyse the impact of lower than 1 Hz and greater than 10 Hz sampling frequencies to measure this collective tactical behavior.

The aim of this study was to analyze the lob in professional padel, taking into account sex, the player’s side of play, the direction of the lob and the efficiency of the lob. For this purpose, 2063 lobs (933 in men’s and 1130 in women’s) corresponding to 10 matches of the 2024 season of the Premier Padel circuit were analyzed through systematic observation. The results indicated that there is no association between the player who makes the lob according to the side of play in professional padel (p = 0.796) and the category of play (men’s and women’s). The distribution of lobs in these categories, both men’s and women’s, was distributed 50% between both players from the same pair. On the other hand, in men’s professional padel, right-side players made more cross-court lobs (RTC = 3.3), while left-side players made more down-the-middle lobs (RTC = 2.0). In addition, in women’s professional padel, right-side players made more cross-court lobs (RTC = 3.6), while left-side players made more down-the-middle lobs (RTC = 6.0). Finally, in men’s padel, the lobs tended to overpass the opponents when they were down the middle (RTC = 4.1) and tended to not overpass when they were cross-court (RTC = 2.5). In conclusion, there are differences in the characteristics of lobs in professional padel according to sex. These results can be very useful for coaches for performing specific training on the lob according to the sex of their players.

This study aimed to determine the distributions of number of shots per point, point duration, point pace and technical actions during the match in professional men and women padel players. A total of 35,145 hits (3239 points; men = 1602 and women = 1637) were analyzed in 20 matches corresponding to quarterfinal, semifinal and final matches of the World Padel Tour 2020 season. The observations were conducted through systematic observation and involved a total of 32 players (16 men and 16 women). Men’s points lasted 13.5–14.8 s, comprising 10–11 hits, resulting in a ratio of 0.80 shots per second, with no differences between sets. Women’s points lasted longer than men’s (14.4 to 16.2 s, p = 0.011) but included a similar number of shots per point, resulting in a lower rhythm of play (0.73–0.75 shots per second, p < 0.001), particularly in the third set (p = 0.004). Volleys, lobs and directs were used in >60% of the points, with a frequency of one to three times per point. Bandejas were used in 50–60% of the points, with a frequency of one to two times per point. Backwalls and flat smashes were used at least once in 30–48% of the points. Selective actions had a greater frequency of use in the third set (i.e., flat smash and smash x3 in women; forehand/backhand volleys and side-wall forehand in men), suggesting occasional changes in the style of play, but likely explained by the onset of fatigue. In conclusion, game volumes, intensity and actions remained broadly similar throughout professional padel matches.

Purpose This study investigates the association between different goal kick strategies and the success of the offensive sequence in games of the Men’s UEFA Euro 2020. The study hypothesis is that using the short pass as the goal kick strategy may generate more successful offensive sequences than the long pass strategy. Methods The data collection was accomplished by observing 595 goal kicks collected from 51 games of the referred competition. The analysed variables were the type of goal kick (short or long) and the result of the offensive sequence (successful and unsuccessful). These variables were collected through an observational instrument. The logistic regression and the association chi-square test were used to analyse the association between the type of goal kick and the offensive outcome. Results The results indicate significant associations between the variables ‘type of goal kick’ and ‘result of offensive sequence’ ( p = 0.021, z = 2.1). The regression analysis revealed that the model accurately predicts 64% of the offensive outcome based on the goal kick strategy. The short goal kick strategy was related to the unsuccessful offensive sequences, and the long goal kick strategy was associated with the successful offensive sequences. These results are contrary to the initial study hypothesis. Conclusions This study concludes that the long goal kick strategy showed more efficiency than the short goal kick strategy in obtaining possession of the ball in the offensive half.

In order to maximize personal interests, enterprises have a tendency to choose environmental pollution in exchange for corporate profits, resulting in negative externalities; the Civil Code of the People’s Republic of China imposes legal regulations on the environmental infringement of enterprises in order to achieve the maximization of the use of the allocation of social resources and promote the sustainable development of society. Subsequent judicial interpretations have set a two-fold cap on the amount of punitive damages. However, in cases of extremely serious environmental damage, the two-fold cap on punitive damages for environmental infringement will create the possibility of insufficient compensation. Based on this, this paper analyzes the legal text of China’s punitive damages provisions for environmental infringement and analyzes the interrelationships between enterprises and between enterprises and potential environmental infringement victims in a game analysis. The results of the analysis show that as the amount of punitive damages for environmental infringement increases, the probability of the infringed person filing a lawsuit and that of the enterprise reducing its environmental infringement behavior also increase. In order to promote the cause of China’s sustainable development, this paper puts forward relevant suggestions for the improvement of China’s environmental legal regulation: first, the upper limit of the amount of punitive damages for environmental infringement should be canceled; second, the amount of reasonable punitive damages should be set on the basis of the damages caused by environmental infringement on human beings and the environment; lastly, in the baseline setting of the amount of punitive damages, additional factors need to be taken into account, and the amount of punitive damages should be set for the enterprises with a high degree of maliciousness. Finally, additional factors need to be considered in setting the benchmark for the amount of punitive damages, which should penalize the enterprises causing environmental infringement with a high degree of malice with heavier penalties and, at the same time, penalize the enterprises with a smaller scale of operation and economic strength with lighter penalties.

This article presents a data-driven approach called Intelligent Team Formation and Player Selection (ITFPS), aimed at assisting football coaches in making informed decisions about team formation and player selection. The proposed approach utilizes deep neural networks to evaluate the suitability of each player for different positions on the field. The problem is then formulated as finding the maximum weighted matching in a complete bipartite graph, with the objective of achieving the best possible alignment between team members and the positions designated by the coach. The Hungarian algorithm is employed to facilitate this matching process. Furthermore, the approach allows coaches to select a system of distinct representatives for each position, based on the specific qualities expected from players in a given match. The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated through tests conducted on four teams from the 2021–2022 English Premier League. The results indicate that ITFPS produces decisions comparable to those made by successful coaches. By optimizing team formations and enabling the utilization of rotating formations, this approach not only enhances team performance but also empowers coaches to make strategic decisions while fully leveraging the potential of their players. ITFPS serves as an intelligent assistant for coaches, complementing their strategic perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to determine the quantitative and qualitative structure of winning systems of the world's leading male table tennis players between 1970 and 2021. The study used the Wu game analysis method, modified by the authors, which consists of observing the game from playback, identifying the winning actions of a given player, and sorting and counting the actions, depending on the accuracy of the observation. The project identified all World Championships and Olympic Games medallists, resulting in 244 men's matches being analyzed. Three time periods were considered based on the ball used, including the 38 mm celluloid ball, 40 mm celluloid ball, and 40 mm plastic ball. Differences in the level structure, depending on the observation period, were assessed using the chi-squared test of independence. The Pearson contingency coefficient was calculated, and multiple comparisons were made. The research showed that the use of combinations changed slightly with changes in ball size and material. The first three strokes were very important in all periods. However, the importance of serves as direct scoring strokes decreased. These findings may be related to changes in the size and material used for ball production. The most winning serves in the game of the top men were side-spin forehand serves, which were also used most often during 3rd-ball-attack winning combinations. The number of actions won directly with a return, and in the return-counterattack combination, accounted for, and still constitute, about 30%, with an increasing number of backhand flicks. The research also showed an increase in the use of backhand strokes compared to forehand strokes. These findings should be considered when creating basic goals in table tennis training plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is of great practical significance to study the financial constraints enterprises face when improving low-carbon technology and the role of financial institutions in low-carbon transformation. Based on consumers' environmental awareness, the government's carbon peak, and carbon neutrality goal, this paper investigates the cooperative financing mode and efficiency of low-carbon supply chain enterprises under the situation of financial constraints. To deeply explore the four scenarios of whether financial institutions intervene or whether customer companies adopt voluntary diffusion, this paper, based on evolutionary game theory, constructs a game model of the relationship among financial institutions, suppliers, and customers to explore the evolution process of the diffusion of financing efficiency of the low-carbon supply chain. The simulation analysis is carried out to demonstrate the evolution process of the three-party evolutionary game subject from its initial value to the equilibrium value. The results find that financial institutions, upstream supplier firms, and downstream customer firms are closely related in the green credit market, and their lowcarbon supply chain financing efficiency diffusion varies with different scenarios. This paper enriches the existing financing models, provides rich theoretical guidance for solving the problem of low-carbon supply chain financing, has essential reference significance for improving the efficiency of low-carbon supply chain financing, and has practical significance for enterprises to choose lowcarbon supply chain financing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The aim of this study is to analyze the worst-case scenarios of professional futsal referees during the first and second half of official matches in the Spanish Futsal Cup using a Local Positioning System (LPS) for monitoring their movement patterns. Eight professional futsal referees (40 ± 3.43 years; 1.80 ± 0.03 m; 72.84 ± 4.01 kg) participated in the study. The external load (total distance, high-speed running distance and efforts, sprint distance and efforts, and accelerations and decelerations distances) of the referees was monitored and collected using an LPS. The results revealed significant differences in the worst-case scenarios of the futsal referees during the match according to the time window analyzed (p < 0.05). The longest time windows (120 s, 180 s, and 300 s) showed lower relative total distances in the worst-case scenarios (p < 0.05). The high-speed running distances were significatively higher in the first half for the 120 s (+2.65 m·min−1; ES: 1.25), 180 s (+1.55 m·min−1; ES: 1.28), and 300 s (+0.95 m·min−1; ES: 1.14) time windows (p < 0.05). No differences were found between the first and second half for the high-intensity deceleration distance (p > 0.05). These results will serve to prepare the referees in the best conditions for the competition and adapt the training plans to the worst-case scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The offensive tactics of basketball teams consist of a series of actions performed with the collaboration of two or more players on the court. The study aimed to determine the differences in the possessions and the points of the play-type statistics of the eight playoff teams and the other ten non-playoff teams of the 2020 to 2021 men's Euroleague season. The study sample consists of a total of 13,056 play types obtained through systematic observation methodology, which examined 272 matches involving 17 teams. Descriptive statistics and the Mann–Whitney U test was employed to obtain the findings. It was found that the catch'n & shoot, pick and roll ball handler are the most frequently used possessions and points that produced play-type statistics for all teams. Results showed that isolation (U = 3,7740.5; z = −3.93; p <.05) pick and roll handler's (U = 39,932; z = −2.91; p <.05), post-up (U = 39,878.5; z = −2.94; p <.05) and Screen-off possessions (U = 41,689; z = −2,107; p <.05) of the playoff teams were statistically higher than non-playoff teams. Positively significant differences were also observed in isolation (U = 38,172; z = −3,744; p <.05), pick and roll handler's (U = 40,278.5; z = −2,748; p <.05), post-up (U = 38,353.5; z = −3,659; p <.05), and Screen-off (U = 38,819.5; z = −3,434; p <.05) points of the playoff teams and non-playoff teams. These results show that playoff teams are prominent with the screen-off possessions and points as a team play, but post-ups, pick'n roll handlers selection, and catch'n shoot possessions and points are displayed by highly talented players. The findings may assist coaches and managers in roster building. Coaches might consider including these play-types in offensive sets and can create a more productive system. This understanding can be integrated into youth organizations' training programs to raise high-level players. Plain Language Summary: The Importance of Play Type Statistics in Men's Euroleague Basketball The offensive tactics of basketball teams consist of series of actions performed with the collaboration of two or more players on the court. These actions of the teams on the field are very important in terms of winning strategies. Recording these actions as box score is called play-type statistics. The study aimed to determine the differences in the possessions and the points of the play-type statistics of the eight playoff teams and the other ten non-playoff teams of the 2020-2021 mens Euroleague season. The data set consists of 13,056 play-types statistics were analysed by Mann–Whitney U test to determine the differences between the playoff and non-playoff teams. The catch & shoot, pick and roll ball handler are the most frequently used possessions and points that produced play-type statistics for all teams. Results showed that isolation pick and roll handler's, post-up and screen-off possessions of the playoff teams were statistically higher than non-playoff teams. Positively significant differences were also observed in isolation, pick and roll handler's, post-up, and screen-off points of the playoff teams and non-playoff teams. These results show that playoff teams are prominent with the screen-off possessions and points as a team-play, but post-ups, pick and roll handlers selection, and catch and shoot possessions and points are displayed by highly talented players. The findings may assist coaches and managers in roster building. Coaches might consider including these play-types in offensive sets and can create more productive systems. This understanding can be integrated into youth organizations' training programs to raise high-level players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research was to analyze the importance of maintaining the net position in men's and women's professional padel. The data sample was drawn from 2,756 padel rallies (n = 1,434 men's and n = 1,322 women's) in matches played during the 2021 season of the World Padel Tour circuit. The results showed that there was no net exchange in 50.7% of the women's rallies, while in 65.9% of men's rallies, the servers kept the net. Due to their physical advantages, men servers had more opportunities to finish the rally at the net than women servers, giving them more opportunities to win the rally. However, when either men or women receivers finished the rally at the net, they had more opportunities to win the rally. In addition, both men and women tended to end the rallies with a winner when they were in the net zone and with an error when they were at the back of the court. These findings suggest that wins in padel are closely related to time spent at the net. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess center of mass (COM) acceleration and movement during change of direction (COD) maneuvers during a competitive soccer game to elucidate situation-specific demands of COD performance. This information can assist in developing soccer-specific tests and training methods. Fifteen elite-level female youth soccer players were tracked for one game with inertial measurement units (IMU) attached to the lower back. COD movements in combination with situational patterns were identified using high-speed video. LASSO regression was used to identify the most important predictors associated with higher vertical peak accelerations (PAv) of the COM during COD movements. COD angle, running speed, contact, and challenge from the opposition were identified as important features related to higher PAv. This study adds to the literature on the demands of COD performance in soccer match-play. The unique approach with game-specific situational data from female youth players provides increased insight into the game-demands of COD and agility performance. PAv in games was higher with larger COD angles, increased running speed, or with contact when the player was challenged by the opposition. A larger study including more games is warranted to increase confidence in using these variables as a basis for training or testing agility.