Goal scoring frequency in soccer in diff erent age groups / Frequência de gols marcados no futebol em diferentes faixas etárias

Scoring goals is the main objective and a key factor to success in soccer. Therefore, all the aspects of this important performance indicator must be studied. Many authors have proposed to study diff erent aspects related to goal scoring in soccer. However, most of these studies include adult players from professional or amateur teams. The aim of the present study was to analyze the goal scoring frequency in 388 soccer matches of Professional, Under-20 and Under-17 competitions from Brazil. The impact of the fi rst goal scored on the match outcome was also studied. The frequency of 1100 goals was analyzed by dividing the game in two (fi rst and second half) and six equal periods of time. Data showed a greater number of goals scored over time with a higher percentage of goals scored in second half in Professional, Under-20 and Under-17 competitions, respectively, 55.9% (P=0.036), 59.5% (P=0.000) and 55.6% (P=0.020), especially in the last period of the game, respectively, 21.5% (P=0.084), 26.2% (P=0.000) and 22.1% (p=0.009). It was also found that scoring the fi rst goal had an important infl uence on the match outcome with a percentage of 65.3% (P=0.000), 71.5% (P=0.000), and 75.4% (P=0.000), respectively, of the matches won by the team scoring fi rst. It was concluded that, despite diff erences in age and expertise among the players of the three age brackets, the results regarding the goal scoring frequency and the infl uence of the fi rst goal on the match outcome were similar in all competitions....(AU)

Marcar gols é o principal objetivo e a chave para o sucesso no futebol. Portanto, todos os aspectos relacionados a este importante indicador de desempenho devem ser estudados. Diversos autores se propuseram a estudar diferentes aspectos relacionados à marcação de gols no futebol, tratando-se, contudo, na sua maioria, de estudos com adultos em equipes profissionais ou amadoras. O presente estudo se propôs a analisar a frequência dos gols marcados em 388 partidas de futebol em competições Profissional, Sub-20 e Sub-17 no Brasil. O impacto do primeiro gol marcado no resultado final das partidas também foi estudado. A frequência de 1100 gols foi analisada dividindo-se as partidas em dois (primeiro e segundo tempo) e seis períodos iguais de tempo. Os dados apontaram um maior número de gols marcados com o passar do tempo com um percentual maior de gols marcados no segundo tempo nas três competições, respectivamente 55.9% (P=0.036), 59.5% (P=0.000) e 55.6% (P=0.020), e, especialmente, no último período do jogo, respectivamente, 21.5% (P=0.084), 26.2% (P=0.000) e 22.1% (P=0.009). Além disso, os resultados mostraram que marcar o primeiro gol teve uma importante influência no resultado final das partidas com um percentual de 65.3% (P=0.000), 71.5% (P=0.000), e 75.4% (P=0.000), respectivamente, dos jogos vencidos pela equipe que marcou o primeiro gol. Concluiu-se que, apesar das diferenças de idade e expertise dentre os jogadores das equipes de diferentes categorias, os resultados relacionados à frequência de gols marcados e à influência do primeiro gol no resultado final das partidas foram semelhantes nas três competições....(AU)

Building an urban park increases the intention of adults to practice physical activity

Abstract Physical activity levels in adults are low and strategies should be put in place to change this. The aim of this study was to investigate whether building an urban park can increase adult neighborhood residents' intentions to partake in physical activity. In total, 395 adults living near where the park was being built participated in the study. The following information was collected: sociodemographic characteristics, current physical activity levels, and intention to use the park for physical activity. Around 80% of the subjects intended to use the park for physical activity. This frequency was higher among those who were classified as physically active and gradually higher as the distance between the home of the subject and the park decreased (p < 0.05). The offer of a public leisure space can contribute positively to changing population behavior related to regular physical activity.

Number of steps per day and the screening of cardiovascular disease risk factors in adolescents

Pedometers have been used in some studies to measure physical activity in adolescents. However, cutoff points of steps per day that classify physical activity levels are not yet fully established. The aims of this study were to identify the possibility the number of steps/day to predict cardiovascular disease risk factors in adolescents and to propose cutoff points to the number of steps/day for adolescents. METHOD: 1,045 adolescents (51.7 % girls) aged 11-17 were randomly selected. The number of steps/day was measured using pedometers. The risk factors considered were total cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, skinfold thickness and body mass index. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was used to analyze data. RESULTS: ROC curve results indicated that the number of steps/day was able to predict increased systolic blood pressure in boys (<16,134 steps/day; p=0.006), increased diastolic blood pressure in girls (<12,399 steps/day; p=0.023) and increased total cholesterol in both sexes (<11,788 steps/day for boys; p=0.016 and < 9,400 steps/day for girls; p=0.001). CONCLUSION: It is possible to identify adolescents that are more likely to have increased total cholesterol and blood pressure by the number of steps/day

Aptidão física relacionada ao desempenho motor de adolescentes de Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul / Motor performance related physical fitness in adolescents from Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil

A aptidão física dos jovens vem sendo amplamente estudada. A principal justificativa é a associação das variáveis que há compõem com indicadores de saúde. Outro conjunto de variáveis da aptidão física se relaciona com a capacidade de execução de tarefas, estas variáveis são denominadas aptidão física relacionada ao desempenho motor. Neste caso, há uma escassez de estudos comprometendo a indicação de um perfil para a aptidão física relacionada ao desempenho motor de adolescentes. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever o nível de aptidão física relacionado ao desempenho motor em adolescentes. Foram avaliados 1.463 alunos entre 10 e 17 anos de ambos os sexos, estudantes de escolas públicas (municipais e estaduais) do município de Uruguaiana-RS. Para avaliar a aptidão física relacionada ao desempenho motor utilizou-se a bateria de testes (corrida de 20 metros, teste do quadrado, arremesso de medicine Ball, salto horizontal) e os critérios de classificação sugeridos pelo Projeto Esporte Brasil (PROESP-Br). As maiores frequências, para todas as variáveis, foram na classificação "fraco", tendo a agilidade a maior frequência em ambos os sexos. Mais de 50% dos alunos tiveram seus desempenhos classificados como "fraco" ou "razoável", sendo que as variáveis agilidade e força de membros inferiores foram as que obtiveram as maiores ocorrências desta classificação. A partir dos resultados encontrados, o nível de aptidão física relacionada ao desempenho motor de adolescentes de Uruguaiana-RS foi considerado baixo. Intervenções para o aumento da participação esportiva e em atividade físicas em geral devem ser elaboradas.(AU)

The physical fitness of young people has been widely studied. The main rationale for it is the association of their variables with health indicators. Another set of physical fitness variables relates to the task execution capacity. These variables are called motor performance related physical fitness. In this case, there is a lack of studies compromising the indication of a profile for the motor performance related physical fitness in adolescents. The aim of this study was to describe the level of physical fitness related to motor performance in adolescents. We evaluated 1,463 students between 10 and 17 years of both sexes, attending public schools (state and local) in the city of Uruguaiana-RS. To evaluate the motor performance related physical fitness we used the battery of tests (running 20 meters square test, throwing medicine ball, standing long jump) and the criteria of classification suggested by Brazil Sport Project (PROESP-Br). The highest frequencies for all variables were the "weak" classification, having the agility the higher frequency in both genders. Over 50% of adolescents had their performance classified as "weak" or "reasonable", and the agility and strength of lower limbs variables were the ones that had the highest frequencies of this classification. From the results found, the level of motor performance related physical fitness of adolescents from Uruguaiana-RS was considered low. Interventions for increasing sport participation and physical activity in general are to be compiled.(AU)