Rationale and Practical Recommendations for Testing Protocols in Female Soccer: A Narrative Review

Data analytics practices and reporting strategies in senior football: insights into athlete health and performance from over 200 practitioners worldwide

Despite the rise of data generation in football, the expertise of data analytics within the sport is relatively underdeveloped. To further understand the landscape, a cross-sectional, observational study design was used to survey practitioners in senior, professional, or semi-professional football. Areas of interest included the personnel involved (the 'who'), the data collected (the 'what'), and the analytical techniques employed (the 'how'). A total of 206 practitioners completed an online survey, with representation from all six FIFA confederations. Of the 206 respondents, 86% were male, 13% female, and 1% preferred not to disclose their gender. Respondents were categorised as working in either the performance (73%), data (18%), or medical (9%) department. Heterogeneity was observed in responses across all departments regarding training load metrics, outcome metrics, methodological attributes, and measurement properties. Evidence sources used prior to implementing a new metric varied between departments, with performance (63%) and medical (67%) staff relying on professional industry and/or community, while data staff (57%) utilised more in-house projects. The analytical approach used most frequently was exploratory data analysis (90%), with modelling, forecasting, and predicting the least frequent (54%). Respondents reported using a mix of solutions for data storage, aggregating and analysing, and reporting and visualising data. Spreadsheets were cited as a popular solution for data wrangling and reporting tasks. The findings provide an overview of current data ecosystems and information systems in modern football organisations. These results can be used to improve data analytics service provision in football by helping identify areas for development and progression.

An Educational Review on Machine Learning: A SWOT Analysis for Implementing Machine Learning Techniques in Football

PURPOSE

The abundance of data in football presents both opportunities and challenges for decision making. Consequently, this review has 2 primary objectives: first, to provide practitioners with a concise overview of the characteristics of machine-learning (ML) analysis, and, second, to conduct a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis regarding the implementation of ML techniques in professional football clubs. This review explains the difference between artificial intelligence and ML and the difference between ML and statistical analysis. Moreover, we summarize and explain the characteristics of ML learning approaches, such as supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning. Finally, we present an example of a SWOT analysis that suggests some actions to be considered in applying ML techniques by medical and sport science staff working in football. Specifically, 4 dimensions are presented: the use of strengths to create opportunities and make the most of them, the use of strengths to avoid threats, working on weaknesses to take advantage of opportunities, and upgrading weaknesses to avoid threats.

CONCLUSION

ML analysis can be an invaluable tool for football clubs and sport-science and medical departments due to its ability to analyze vast amounts of data and extract meaningful insights. Moreover, ML can enhance performance by assessing the risk of injury, physiological parameters, and physical fitness, as well as optimizing training, recommending strategies based on opponent analysis, and identifying talent and assessing player suitability.

Small-Sided Soccer Games Promote Greater Adaptations on Vertical Jump and Change-of-Direction Deficit and Similar Adaptations in Aerobic Capacity than High-Intensity Interval Training in Females

The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of both small-sided games (SSG) and short interval running-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT) programs over an 8-week period in fostering adaptations in aerobic capacity, change-of-direction abilities, and jumping performances of youth female soccer players. The study involved 48 female youth participants under the age of 19, competing at the regional level, who took part in a randomized controlled trial. Participants were assigned to either the SSG group, the HIIT group, or a control group, which involved regular in-field sessions. Assessments were conducted at baseline and after the 8-week training intervention, measuring aerobic capacity using the 30-15 intermittent fitness test (VIFT), change of direction (COD) using the 5-0-5 test, and jumping performance using the countermovement jump test (CMJ). Time 5 group analysis revealed significant interactions in CMJ (p = 0.005; ηp2= 0.213) and VIFT (p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.433), although no significant interaction were found in COD deficit (p = 0.246; ηp2 = 0.060). Within-group analysis revealed that SSG significantly improved CMJ (p < 0.001), COD deficit (p < 0.001), and VIFT (p < 0.001). HIIT group also significantly improved CMJ (p = 0.029), COD deficit (p = 0.001), and VIFT (p < 0.001). As conclusion, the study revealed that SSG promoted significantly improvements in VIFT, CMJ and COD deficit, being significantly better than control group, while HIIT was only significantly better than control in VIFT. SSG revealed to be effective approach for favoring key physical attributes of female soccer players, being an interesting and recommended training approach to increase the ecology of the training practice, while favoring physical positive adaptations.

A survey into the current fitness testing practices of elite male soccer practitioners: from assessment to communicating results

This study provides insight into the current fitness testing practices in elite male soccer. One hundred and two practitioners from professional soccer leagues across 24 countries completed an online survey comprising 29 questions, with five sections: a) background information, b) testing selection, c) testing implementation, d) data analysis, and e) data reporting. Frequency analysis was used to evaluate the responses to fixed response questions and thematic analysis was used for open-ended questions to generate clear and distinct themes. Strength (85%) and aerobic capacity (82%) represent the most frequently assessed physical qualities. Scientific literature (80%) is the most influential factor in testing selection and practitioners conduct fitness testing less frequently than their perceived ideal frequency per season (3.6 ± 2 vs. 4.5 ± 2). Time and competitive schedule were the greatest barriers to fitness testing administration. Practitioners mostly used a 'hybrid' approach (45%) to fitness testing, blending 'traditional' (i.e., a day dedicated to testing) and 'integrated' (i.e., testing within regular training sessions) methods. Microsoft Excel is the most used software for data analysis (95%) and visualization (79%). An equal use of the combination of best and mean scores of multiple trials (44%) and the best score (42%) was reported. Comparing a player's test performance with previous scores (89%) was the most common method for interpreting test results. However, only 38% considered measurement error. Digital displays and verbal feedback are the most common data reporting methods, with different data reporting processes for coaches and players. Practitioners can use data and findings from this study to inform their current testing practices and researchers to further identify areas for investigation, with the overarching aim of developing the field of fitness testing in elite male soccer.

Monitoring Readiness to Train and Perform in Female Football: Current Evidence and Recommendations for Practitioners

PURPOSE

Monitoring player readiness to train and perform is an important practical concept in football. Despite an abundance of research in this area in the male game, to date, research is limited in female football. The aims of this study were, first, to summarize the current literature on the monitoring of readiness in female football; second, to summarize the current evidence regarding the monitoring of the menstrual cycle and its potential impact on physical preparation and performance in female footballers; and third, to offer practical recommendations based on the current evidence for practitioners working with female football players.

CONCLUSIONS

Practitioners should include both objective (eg, heart rate and countermovement jump) and subjective measures (eg, athlete-reported outcome measures) in their monitoring practices. This would allow them to have a better picture of female players' readiness. Practitioners should assess the reliability of their monitoring (objective and subjective) tools before adopting them with their players. The use of athlete-reported outcome measures could play a key role in contexts where technology is not available (eg, in semiprofessional and amateur clubs); however, practitioners need to be aware that many single-item athlete-reported outcome measures instruments have not been properly validated. Finally, tracking the menstrual cycle can identify menstrual dysfunction (eg, infrequent or irregular menstruation) that can indicate a state of low energy availability or an underlying gynecological issue, both of which warrant further investigation by medical practitioners.