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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]

Copyright of Journal of Sport Sciences / Magallat ulum Al-Riyadat is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) 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.)

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]

Football is one of the favorite sports of people nowadays. Shooting is the ultimate goal of all offensive tactics in football matches. This is the most basic way to score a goal and the only way to score a goal. The choice and use of shooting technical indicators can have a great impact on the final result of the game. Therefore, how to improve the shooting technique of football players and how to adjust the shooting posture of football players are important issues faced by coaches and athletes. In recent years, deep learning has been widely used in various fields such as image classification and recognition and language processing. How to apply deep learning optimization to shooting gesture recognition is a very promising research direction. This article aims to study the football player's shooting posture specification based on deep learning in sports event videos. Based on the analysis of target motion detection algorithm, target motion tracking algorithm, target motion recognition algorithm, and football shooting posture classification, KTH and Weizmann data sets are used. As the experimental verification data set of this article, the shooting posture of football players in the sports event video is recognized, and the accuracy of the action recognition is finally calculated to standardize the football shooting posture. The experimental results show that the Weizmann data set has a higher accuracy rate than the KTH data set and is more suitable for shooting attitude specifications. [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]

The present research project consists of a predictive analysis of the offensive transitions (defensive-offensive transitions) performed by the best European national football teams. The main aims in the research were to determine whether it is possible to predict the result of offensive transitions during a match and, if so, to identify which variables will determine those predictions. To tackle these objectives a logistic regression multivariable model was used. The sample consisted of 14 matches, and 743 offensive transitions during the final stage the Swiss-Austrian European Cup 2008. The use of this model enabled us to conclude that it is possible to predict the result of the offensive transitions performed during the match and, furthermore, to determine which variables enble us to make these predictions. The data show that we can foresee the final outcome of offensive transitions depending on the spatial configuration interaction beginning, as well as the team's tactical intention and duration. This information may be used by trainers to create performance tasks which may result in the appearance of these conditions in the team's offensive transitions, in order to automatize performance in the game. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ingeniería e Investigación is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Facultad de Ingenieraia 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.)

There has been a lot of research that enabled soccer to improve: its technique, tactics and strategy through analysis and training. Nevertheless, players’ need to interact with each other turns any defending or attacking situation into complex solutions with a wide range of variables to be considered, in which the player is never isolated and must make the move that has the most positive impact on play. Fifty-four sided games played in three different formats (5v5, 7v7 and 9v9) and with two age groups (U9 and U14) were filmed at three soccer clubs in Spain in order to identify the most relevant attacking moves, from a technical and tactical perspective. This study used the observational method; it is descriptive and is applied through well-prepared systematic quantitative observation in a natural environment. A key part of the method involved viewing the match recordings and logging moves that had been categorised beforehand. Cohen’s Kappa analysis showed that the results for the most representative variables presented a substantial degree of concordance (0.61-0.80). The results show that there were significant variations depending on the game format, and the following study will present a description and analysis of the aspects that had considerable influence on attacking moves in different formats of sided games (5v5, 7v7 and 9v9). The study also presents various practical applications for the area of training and analysing both youth and professional soccer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on teaching offensive tactics in soccer. Attacking tactics are a key strategic aspect of play in this sport and, given the number of factors that need to be coordinated, they are highly complex moves. The aim here was to study the way in which attacks were constructed during 8-a-side training sessions at the under 8 level where the coach used a series of drills based on the problem-solving approach to teaching. The results revealed improvements in two techniques that were worked on as part of offensive strategies, namely 1) keeping the ball, and 2) moving the ball and players towards the opponent's goal and, more specifically, the transition from an advanced midfield position to the attacking zone. The first of these techniques was shown to have been learnt prior to the second. Teaching attacking tactics needs to be complemented with a third technique (shooting at goal), and an analysis must be made of the extent to which all these skills are transferred to more complex match situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of football players within game context can be analyzed based on their ability to break or (re)balance the attacker-defender dyad. In this context, the analysis of each sub-phase (e.g., 1v1, 2v2) presents a feature that needs to be taken into account in sports analysis. This study aims to investigate the interpersonal dynamics dyad formed by the attacker and the defender in 1v1 situations with a goalkeeper. A sample of 11 football male players (age: 17.91 ±1.04 years) with 8.6 ± 1.52 years of practice experience participated in the study. Analyzing the 1v1 sub-phase, results show that the distance, speed and angular amplitude between the attacker and the defender increases, especially when the attacker attempts to overtake the defender (i.e., score a goal). We conclude that decision-making emerges from the perception that players draw from the action, actively and consistently interacting to find solutions to emerging problems within the game context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to analyze the interaction and main effects of deliberate practice experience and small-sided game format (3 vs. 3 and 6 vs. 6 plus goalkeepers) on the offensive performance of young soccer players. Twenty-eight U-15 male players were divided into 2 groups according to their deliberate practice experience in soccer (i.e., years of experience in federation soccer): Non-Experienced (age: 12.84 ± 0.63 years) and Experienced (age: 12.91 ± 0.59 years; experience: 3.93 ± 1.00 years). The experimental protocol consisted of 3 independent sessions separated by one-week intervals. In each session both groups performed each small-sided game during 10 minutes interspersed with 5 minutes of passive recovery. To characterize the recorded offensive sequences we used the Offensive Sequences Characterization System, which includes performance indicators previous applied in other studies. No interaction effects on the offensive performance were found between both factors. Non-parametric MANOVA revealed that the factor "experience level" had a significant effect (p<0.05) on performance indicators that characterize the development of offensive sequences, especially in 6 vs. 6 + GKs. While experienced players produced longer offensive sequences with greater ball circulation between them, the non-experienced participants performed faster offensive sequences with a predominance of individual actions. Furthermore, significant differences were observed (p<0.05) in the development and finalization of offensive sequences within each group, when comparing small-sided game formats. Evidence supports that small-sided games can serve several purposes as specific means of training. However, the manipulation of game format should always consider the players' individual constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to study the effect of scoring first and its relationship with home advantage in professional Spanish football and indoor soccer leagues, in order to analyse the effect of scoring first on game outcome in relation to home advantage, whether home or away team scores first. Each league was first studied individually, and then results were compared between them. For this purpose, two new metrics were introduced: 'home advantage in scoring the first goal' and 'scoring first advantage'. Results showed a significantly lower advantage for local teams to score the first goal than home advantage in both football and indoor soccer leagues. Likewise, advantage in game outcome after scoring the first goal is found in the two leagues, both for local and away teams, with significant differences in favour of teams playing at home and higher values in football than in indoor soccer league. Distinct football and indoor soccer rules and game features must be considered to explain the observed differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Homo Sporticus is the property of University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Sport & Physical Education 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.)

When facing penalty kicks in football (soccer), goalkeepers frequently incorporate strategies that are designed to distract the kicker. However, no direct empirical evidence exists to ascertain what effect such visual distractions have on the attentional control, and performance, of footballers. Eighteen experienced footballers took five penalty kicks under counterbalanced conditions of threat (low vs. high) and goalkeeper movement (stationary vs. waving arms) while wearing eye-tracking equipment. Results suggested that participants were more distracted by a moving goalkeeper than a stationary one and struggled to disengage from a moving goalkeeper under situations of high threat. Significantly, more penalties were saved on trials when the goalkeeper was moving and shots were also generally hit closer to the goalkeeper (centrally) on these trials. The results provide partial support for the predictions of attentional control theory and implications for kickers and goalkeepers are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The broader measures of offensive effectiveness, such as scoring opportunities and shots at goal, are commonly used as an alternative to goals scored due to the naturally low probability of scoring (about 1%) in soccer match-play. These measures may enable soccer practitioners to objectively see behind single match results, which are often influenced by chance. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between broader measures (scoring opportunities and score box possessions) and the ultimate measure (goals scored) of offensive effectiveness. We analysed data from videotapes of 163 of 182 (90%) matches played in the Norwegian men's professional league during the 2004 season. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed very similar results when comparing the effectiveness of different offensive tactics, regardless of which outcome was used. For example, counterattacks were more effective than elaborate attacks in producing goals (odds ratio OR=2.07, 95% confidence interval: 1.40 to 3.05), scoring opportunities (OR=2.30, 95% confidence interval: 1.28 to 4.15), and score box possessions (OR=2.12, 95% confidence interval: 1.39 to 3.25). The receiver-operating characteristic function statistical procedure was used to examine the association between each of the three measures of offensive effectiveness: scoring opportunities, score box possessions, and goals scored. No significant difference was observed between the area under the curve (AUC) for the broader measures (scoring opportunities and score box possessions) and the ultimate measure (goals scored) of offensive effectiveness. The 95% confidence interval of the AUC for both scoring opportunities (0.74-0.84) and score box possessions (0.68-0.76) includes the AUC for goals scored (0.74). Thus, the results are very similar regardless of which outcome measure for offensive effectiveness is used. This indicates that scoring opportunities and score box possessions (shooting opportunities) can be used as a proxy for goals scored when comparing the effectiveness of different playing tactics in soccer. Compared with goals scored, using scoring opportunities or score box possessions requires smaller match samples for meaningful analyses, and may therefore be more feasible alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this retrospective study was to examine the effect of match location on soccer playing tactics by assessing opponent interaction. The sample included 203 goals and 1688 random team possessions ("controls"). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed significant differences in the odds ratio for goal scoring in the interaction between playing tactics and match locations. For the variable "team possession type" (χ²=5. 05, P=0.025), counter attack (24.5%) and elaborate attack (21.8%) produced goals in higher percentages of attempts at home than away (19.8% and 20.5%,), with counter attack being more effective than elaborate attack when playing against an imbalanced defence at home, but not away. Assessment of opponent interaction is critical to evaluate the effectiveness of playing tactics on the probability for scoring goals according to match location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methods that include an assessment of opponent interactions are thought to provide a more valid analysis of team match performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of playing tactics on goal scoring by assessing opponent interactions in Norwegian elite soccer. The sample included 203 team possessions leading to goals (cases) and 1688 random team possessions (control group) from 163 of 182 (90%) matches played in the men's professional league during the 2004 season. Multidimensional qualitative data using ten ordered categorical variables were obtained to characterize each team possession. The proportion of goals scored during counterattacks (52%) was higher than during elaborate attacks (48%), while for the control group the proportion using elaborate attacks (59%) was higher than when using counterattacks (41%) (P = 0.002). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that, for the main variable “team possession type”, counterattacks were more effective than elaborate attacks when playing against an imbalanced defence (OR = 1.64; 95% confidence interval: 1.03 to 2.61; P = 0.038). Assessment of opponent interactions is critical to evaluate the effectiveness of offensive playing tactics on the probability of scoring goals, and improves the validity of team match-performance analysis in soccer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methods of analysis that include an assessment of opponent interactions are thought to provide a more valid means of team match performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of playing tactics on achieving score-box possession by assessing opponent interactions in Norwegian elite soccer matches. We analysed a random series of 1703 team possessions from 163 of 182 (90%) matches played in the professional men's league during the 2004 season. Multidimensional qualitative data obtained from ten ordered categorical variables were used. Offensive tactics were more effective in producing score-box possessions when playing against an imbalanced defence (28.5%) than against a balanced defence (6.5%) (P < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression found that, for the main variable “team possession type”, counterattacks were more effective than elaborate attacks when playing against an imbalanced defence (odds ratio: 2.69; 95% confidence interval: 1.64 to 4.43) but not against a balanced defence (odds ratio: 1.14; 95% confidence interval: 0.47 to 2.76). Assessment of opponent interactions is critical to evaluate the effectiveness of offensive playing tactics on producing score-box possessions, and improves the validity of team match-performance analysis in soccer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of match location, quality of opposition, and match status on possession strategies in a professional Spanish football team. Twenty-seven matches from the 2005-2006 domestic league season were notated post-event using a computerized match analysis system. Matches were divided into episodes according to evolving match status. Linear regression analysis showed that possession of the ball was greater when losing than when winning (P < 0.01) or drawing (P < 0.05), and playing against strong opposition was associated with a decrease in time spent in possession (P < 0.01). In addition, weighted mean percentage time spent in different zones of the pitch (defensive third, middle third, attacking third) was influenced by match status (P < 0.01) and match location (P < 0.05). A combination of these variables and their interactions can be used to develop a model to predict future possession in football. The findings emphasize the need for match analysts and coaches to consider independent and interactive potential effects of match location, quality of opposition, and match status during assessments of technical and tactical components of football performance. In particular, the findings indicate that strategies in soccer are influenced by match variables and teams alter their playing style during the game accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a rule to determine the winner of a soccer match, which is different from the traditional penalty shoot-outs at the end of extra time. The author shows that games can be more attractive if penalties are shot before extra time and the outcome counts only if the tie is preserved during extra time. In general, this rule will promote offense by the team that loses the penalty shoot-outs, and it will promote defense by the team that wins the penalty shoot-outs. The author provides conditions on the marginal effect of offensive play in the probabilities of scoring and conceding a goal such that the proposed rule dominates the current one. Last, this study determines a class of functions that satisfies these conditions. More generally, the article shows how the ordering of tasks may affect the incentives to exert and allocate effort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was designed to investigate how television commentary during soccer matches affects children's judgments on aggressive fouls. Dutch children (N = 96) from grades 5 and 6 watched a series of fouls on video with three types of commentary: disapproving, neutral, or approving. When the commentator disapproved of the players' aggressive actions, children rejected the fouls more strongly than when the commentator approved of the actions. The commentary effect was found with fouls among two foreign players, fouls by foreign players against Dutch players, and fouls by Dutch players against foreign players. The commentary effect appeared to apply not only to children who did not particularly like soccer matches on television but even to children who fancied the genre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the offensive behavior among elite soccer teams. Reasons for defeat in games; Method for measuring performance in soccer; Role of defenders and goal-keepers in the game.

The penalty shoot-out is used to break tied games in the knock-out stages of soccer competition. The shoot-out, which consists of an alternating series of penalty kicks, is won by the team with the highest goal tally after n kicks per team (n = 5). In the event of a tie after five penalty kicks each, the shoot-out progresses to 'sudden death' by increasing n in iterative fashion (i.e. n = n + 1) until one team obtains a higher goal tally than the other after an equal number of kicks per team. The team to strike first is determined at the end of extra time by the toss of a coin. As each on-field player can be awarded only a single penalty kick, the line-up order in which the penalty kicks are taken allows for the possibility of tactical influence on the final outcome. Consequently, we report a probability analysis of the penalty shoot-out in soccer from which we identify the following pre- and post-game strategies. The best five ranked penalty takers from the on-field players should be assigned to the first five penalty kicks in their reverse order of ability. That is, the fifth best penalty taker should take the first penalty kick, the fourth best penalty taker should take the second penalty kick, and so on. In the event of sudden death, the next highest ranked on-field player should be assigned to the next penalty kick until the shoot-out ends. For this tactic to be successful, players should be ranked a priori on their penalty-taking ability. Similarly, goalkeepers should be ranked a priori on their penalty-stopping ability. These findings indicate that the tactical substitution of on-field players for higher ranked penalty takers, including higher ranked penalty stoppers (i.e. goalkeepers), with a view to an impending penalty shoot-out should be given due consideration. These results are of practical importance in that they are shown to maximize the likelihood of winning the penalty shoot-out under certain initial conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A landmark-based statistical method, morphological variation analysis, for the quantification of the repeatability in the arrangement of body segments during the execution of sport actions has recently been developed. A two-dimensional shape is produced and its morphology is studied. The method was used to measure the within-team variability of the relative positions of players during the execution of offensive schemes in soccer. Two junior soccer teams of different technical abilities (semi-professional vs amateur), each playing two standardized offensive schemes of different difficulty (easier: throw-in; more difficult: wing attack) were filmed. Each scheme was repeated 25 (semi-professionals) or 10 (amateurs) times. For each repetition, the position of the players in a single significant frame was analysed using morphological variation analysis. The reproducibility of both schemes was higher among the semi-professionals than among the amateurs (two-way analysis of variance, P<0.005). The repeatability of the players' relative positions was related to the difficulty of the scheme and the technical level of the team. Among the amateurs, the throw-in was more reproducible than the wing attack (Student's t-test, P<0.005). The method not only allows the quantification of collective (team) coordination, but also the separation of the influence of individual players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]