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ABSTRACT Introduction: Overtraining in football is caused by an imbalance between body load, stress, and recovery. High-volume non-scientific physical training and continuous high-intensity football matches are often the main reasons for the overtraining of athletes. Objective: This article explores the characteristics of the changes in physical function of football players during a complete training cycle. Methods: We use experimental methods to analyze the changes in the physical load characteristics of football players during high-intensity training. Results: Creatine kinase, urea nitrogen, and oxygen transport indicators did not change significantly during football training. Testosterone and cortisol will gradually increase with an increase of exercise load. Conclusion: In football training, we need to reasonably arrange the total exercise volume, exercise intensity, and exercise interval time of the athletes according to the trainer’s physical adaptability and athletic ability, supplemented with nutrition and enthusiasm recovery measures. These methods can improve or enhance the physical function of football players. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment results.

Previous studies have shown that enjoyment is one of the key predictors of dropout from organized sport, including organized football. However, prospective studies, particularly studies focused on long-term dropout, are largely lacking. Drawing on the basic principles of interdependence theory, in the present prospective study among 1,762 adolescent and young adult football players (27.1% women, mean age 17.74 years, SD = 1.35), we tested the predictive value of sport enjoyment, perceived alternatives, and restraining forces on football players' short-term (6 months) and long-term (4 years) dropout from organized football. As anticipated, the results of the logistic regression and follow-up analyses indicate that players' enjoyment was the main predictor of (short-term and long-term) dropout. In addition, relative to remainers, dropouts perceived more alternatives in terms of other sports, had fewer family members involved in their football club, and were older at the time they started playing organized football. We conclude that particularly measures aimed at enhancing sport enjoyment may prevent players from dropping out from organized football in both the short and long term. In addition, dropout rates may be reduced by attracting and engaging youth at a very young age (from 6 years), and their siblings, parents, and other family members as well.

Set pieces are important for the success of football teams, with the corner kick being one of the most game defining events. The aim of this research was twofold: (1) to analyze the corner kicks of a senior football amateur team, and (2) to compare the corner kicks of successful and unsuccessful teams (of the 2020/21 sporting season). In total, 500 corners were observed using a bespoke notational analysis tool, using a specific observational instrument tool (8 criteria; 25 categories). Out of the 500 corner kicks, 6% resulted in a goal. A greater number of direct corners using inswing trajectories were performed (n = 54%). Corners were delivered to central and front post areas most frequently (n = 79%). Five attackers were most predominantly used for offensive corners (n = 58%), but defenders won the ball more frequently (n = 44%). Attempts at goal occurred following a corner most commonly from outside of the box (n = 7%). Goals were scored most frequently with the foot (n = 16%) and head (n = 15%). Successful teams are more effective at reaching the attackers and score more goals directly from corners. Unsuccessful teams deliver more corner kicks out of play, the first touch is more frequently from the opposition defenders, and fewe goals are scored from corner kicks. The study provides an insight into the determining factors and patterns that influence corner kicks and success in football matches. This information should be used by coaches to prepare teams for both offensive and defensive corner kicks to increase team success and match outcomes.

This study investigated the differences in external and internal load during pre-season training sessions carried out with different SSGs and a friendly match in top-class professional football players. The study was conducted over a full pre-season. Participants were 9 male top-class professional football players (25 ± 5 years; 74 ± 8 kg; 177 ± 8 cm). The following variables were measured: training session duration (min), average heart rate (bpm), total distance (m), distance covered per minute (m/min), the total number of accelerations > 2.5 m/s2, number of accelerations > 2.5 m/s2 per minute, average distance of accelerations (m), the average value of acceleration (m/s2). One-way ANOVA was performed to analyze the variance of all evaluated variables. No differences were found in the average accelerations (m/s2) (0.128) among all the training formats. Moderate differences were found in number of accelerations > 2.5 m/s2 per minute (η2 = 0.396, moderate effect) and average distance of accelerations (η2 = 0.545). Strong differences were found in HR (η2 = 0.788, large effect), total distance (η2 = 0.797, strong effect), distance per minute (η2 = 0.775 strong effect), total number of accelerations > 2.5 m/s2 (η2 = 0.699 strong effect). Significant correlations were found just for the number of accelerations > 2.5 m/s2 and the number of accelerations > 2.5 m/s2 per minute with the 4v4, 8v8 and the FM (r = 0.828–0.890, r2 = 69% – 79%; p < 0.01). External and internal loads differ across different SSGs and a FM during the pre-season training sessions.

The appropriate level of coordination motor skills (CMS) in a football player is one of the factors determining the effectiveness of their actions. Adaptability and complex reaction time are of particular importance in models of coordination requirements in football. The lead aim of this study is to determine the relationship between two selected coordination motor skills and the offensive, defensive and comprehensive effectiveness of an individual player’s actions. The study was conducted on a group of 91 Polish male football players aged 20 to 31 years, all in the senior age category. The research tools included: a test assessing motor adaptation (research by dribbling the ball with the dominant leg), psychomotor test of complex reaction time (tested with an S-10.2 measuring device) and a test of the effectiveness of an individual player’s actions (one-on-one simulation game). The conducted research indicated that adaptability and complex reaction time are both important abilities for success when attacking in an individual game, and in the assessment of a comprehensive index of individual competences in a one-on-one football game. However, the most significant factor influencing the effectiveness of a player’s defensive action is solely the complex reaction time.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the isokinetic characteristics of knee extensors and flexors with selected motor abilities: Speed, agility, and explosive power of lower extremities of professional football players in the preparation period of a yearly training cycle. Twenty-one players (age: 24.5 ± 3.9 years; body mass: 76.7 ± 4.7 kg and body height: 183.5 ± 5.5 cm) playing in the highest Polish soccer league participated in the study. The isokinetic concentric torque of the knee extensors and flexors was measured at 300°/s, 180°/s, and 60°/s velocities. Sprint performance was assessed in the 30 m sprint test (standing start). The forward, lateral, and backward movements were assessed using the T-Test of agility. Explosive power was quantified by performing the squat jump (SJ) and countermovement (CMJ), using the force platform. Due to sport-specific demands of soccer activities measured in this experiment, the relationships between peak torque (PT) and the 30 m sprint, T-Test of agility, and power of vertical jumps (SJ and CMJ) were low or medium at speeds of 60°/s and 300°/s. One of the main reasons for the lack of high dependence of the above-mentioned factors are that the measurements were performed during the initial training period where the level of individual abilities is at a low level. Additionally, this experiment may also indicate that the measurement of isokinetic knee flexion and extension peak is effective when performed at the correct angular velocity in relation to the evaluation of the intended motion structure.

In football, having greater acceleration ability may decide the most important moments within matches. Up to now, commonly used acceleration variables have typically been investigated in isolation, with each variable suffering from unique limitations. Subsequently, any findings may provide a limited representation of what specific acceleration demands had actually occurred. Without gaining a comprehensive understanding of acceleration demands in football, it appears difficult to identify how to best monitor and maximize the long-term development of acceleration ability in footballers, all whilst doing so in a safe, sport-specific manner. Moving toward a more comprehensive analysis of acceleration profiles addresses this, as it can provide a more robust, informative understanding of the unique acceleration demands of competitive match-play. This perspective article aims to discuss the benefits of adopting a more comprehensive analysis of the acceleration demands during competitive matches for football players, by simultaneously analyzing high-intensity accelerations, repeated high acceleration ability (RHAA), and average acceleration. We discuss examples of the calculation and application of a more comprehensive acceleration profile at a team level throughout the course of an entire elite youth football season, as well as on an individual level. Monitoring acceleration profiles more comprehensively not only appears important from a training load/injury prevention perspective, but also, equips coaches and conditioning staff with the specific information necessary to develop and prescribe individualized, acceleration-emphasized training protocols that are replicable to the demands of match-play. Examples of such protocols are provided.