Effects of Contextual Variables on Match Load in a Professional Soccer Team Attending to the Different Season Periods.

This study aimed to analyze the effects of contextual variables (i.e., match location and match outcome) and season periods on match load (i.e., internal and external load) in professional Brazilian soccer players. Thirty-six professional players from the same soccer team participated in this study. The season was split into four phases: matches 1-16 (i.e., Phase 1 = P1); matches 17-32 (i.e., Phase 2 = P2); matches 33-48, (i.e., Phase 3 = P3); matches 49-65 (i.e., Phase 4 = P4). Considering match outcome, when the team wins, Cognitive load, Emotional load, and Affective load were significantly higher in away vs. home matches (p < 0.05). Considering season phases, in P3, Mental Fatigue was significantly higher in drawing than in losing matches (p < 0.05). Additionally, considering the match outcome, when the team lost, Total Distance (TD)/min and TD > 19 km·h-1/min were significantly lower in P1 than P2 (p < 0.001), P3 (p < 0.001), and P4 (p < 0.001). These results suggest to strength and conditioning coaches the need to consider the outcome and location of the previous game when planning the week, as well as the phase of the season they are in to reduce fatigue and injury risk.

Using the Conceptual Framework for Examining Sport Teams to Understand Group Dynamics in Professional Soccer.

(1) Background: The aim of this study is to propose a model of the interactions of group dynamics using the conceptual framework to examine sports teams; (2) Methods: The hypothesized model includes measures of group structure (authentic leadership, perceived justice, coaching competency, role clarity/ambiguity, and role conflict), group cohesion (cohesion and team conflict), and group processes (collective efficacy and transactive memory systems). Participants were 581 professional soccer players (M = 24.51, SD = 3.73; 356 males and 225 females) who completed a multisection questionnaire assessing group dynamics variables; (3) Results: The results show that coach leadership predicts coaching competency and perceived justice, and both competency and justice predict role ambiguity and role conflict. Furthermore, role ambiguity and role conflict predict group cohesion and team conflict, whereas group cohesion and team conflict both predict the transactive memory system. Finally, collective efficacy is predicted by the transactive memory system; (4) Conclusions: The results suggest the importance of coach behavior (leadership, justice, and competency) and group processes to improving team functioning in a professional sports context.

The Effect of the Video Assistant Referee System Implementation on Match Physical Demands in the Spanish LaLiga.

The present study aimed to analyze the influence of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) on match physical demands in the top Spanish professional football league. Match physical demand data from all the matches for two seasons (2017/2018 and 2018/2019) in the First Spanish Division (n = 1454) were recorded using an optical tracking system (ChyronHego®). Total distance, relative total distance covered per minute, distance covered between 14-21 km·h-1, distance covered between 21-24 km·h-1, and distance covered at more than 24 km·h-1 were analyzed; also, the number of sprints between 21-24 km·h-1 and more than 24 km·h-1 were taken into consideration. The times the VAR intervened in matches were also taken into account. Results showed that total distance and relative total distance significantly decreased in seasons with VAR compared to seasons without VAR. Finally, distance covered between 21-24 km·h-1, distance covered at more than 24 km·h-1, and the number of high-intensity efforts between 21-24 km·h-1 and more than 24 km·h-1 increased in seasons with VAR compared to seasons without VAR, but the differences were nonsignificant. Thus, these findings help practitioners to better understand the effects of the VAR system on professional football physical performance and to identify strategies to reproduce competition demands.

Does coaches' satisfaction with the team determine their interpersonal style? The mediating role of basic psychological needs.

The purpose of the present study was to examine how coaches' satisfaction with the team could be related to their reported interpersonal style towards young athletes, and to analyze the mediating role of basic psychological needs (i.e. need satisfaction and need frustration) in this relationship. Participants were 352 coaches (16-67 years old; Mage = 32.88, SD = 11.14) from 48 clubs, who had between 1 and 52 years of training experience (M = 23.23, SD = 15.02). Structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed to test the relationships between variables. Results showed that satisfaction with the team is positively related to coaches' need satisfaction, and negatively to their need frustration. Need satisfaction positively predicted coaches' need-supportive style, and need frustration predicted their need-thwarting style. Regarding indirect effects, need satisfaction positively mediated the relationship between coaches' satisfaction with the team and their need-supportive style, and need frustration negatively mediated the relationship between coaches' satisfaction with the team and their need-thwarting style. These findings are a first step to highlight satisfaction with the team as an antecedent of coaches' self-reported need-supportive and need-thwarting behaviours towards athletes, and the mediating role of coaches' psychological needs (need satisfaction and need frustration) in this relationship.HighlightsWe examined the satisfaction of the team as antecedent of coaches' interpersonal style.We tested the mediating role of coaches' psychological needs in this relationship.Satisfaction with the team was positively related to need-supportive style.Satisfaction with the team was negatively associated with need-thwarting behaviors.Coaches' psychological needs mediated the relationship between team satisfaction and their interpersonal style.

The Influence of Time Winning and Time Losing on Position-Specific Match Physical Demands in the Top One Spanish Soccer League.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of time winning and time losing on position-specific match physical demands with and without ball possession in the top Spanish professional soccer league. All matches played in the First Spanish soccer league over four consecutive seasons (from 2015/16 to 2018/19) were recorded using an optical tracking system (i.e., ChyronHego), and the data were analyzed via Mediacoach®. Total distance (TD), and TD > 21 km·h-1 covered with and without ball possession were analyzed using a Linear Mixed Model, taking into account the contextual variables time winning and losing. Results showed that TD and TD > 21 km·h-1 covered by central midfielders (0.01 and 0.005 m/min, respectively), wide midfielders (0.02 and 0.01 m/min, respectively), and forwards (0.03 and 0.02 m/min, respectively) significantly increased while winning (p < 0.05). By contrast, TD and TD > 21 km·h-1 covered by central defenders (0.01 and 0.008 m/min, respectively) and wide defenders (0.06 and 0.008 m/min, respectively) significantly increased while losing (p < 0.05). In addition, for each minute that teams were winning, total distance with ball possession (TDWP) decreased, while, for each minute that teams were losing, TDWP increased. Instead, TDWP > 21 km·h-1 obtained opposite results. Total distance without ball possession increased when teams were winning, and decreased when teams were losing. Therefore, the evolution of scoreline significantly influences tactical-technical and physical demands on soccer matches.

The Relationship between Students' Physical Self-Concept and Their Physical Activity Levels and Sedentary Behavior: The Role of Students' Motivation.

This study aimed to analyze the association between specific dimension (i.e., fitness, appearance, physical competence, physical strength, and self-esteem) of students' physical self-concept (PSC) and their physical activity (PA) levels (i.e., intentions to be physically active and out-of-school PA levels perceived by students) and sedentary behavior (SB) (i.e., total sitting and screen time perceived by students). We also tested the role of students' motivation (i.e., intrinsic motivation and amotivation) towards PA in these relationships. A total of 1998 Spanish male (n = 1003) and female (n = 995) secondary students, aged between 13 and 17 years (M = 14.92, SD = 0.87) from 22 schools, enrolled in third grade (n = 1081) and fourth grade (n = 917), completed the self-reported questionnaires. Five independent structural equation modeling (SEM) adjusted by students' sex was used to examine the association between specific dimension of students' PSC (i.e., fitness, appearance, physical competence, physical strength, and self-esteem) and self-reported PA and SB variables, and to test the role of students' motivation in these relationships. Overall, most of students' PSC dimension positively predicted students' PA outcomes, and were negatively associated with SB. In addition, most of students' PSC dimension were positively associated with intrinsic motivation, and negatively predicted amotivation. In turn, intrinsic motivation was a positive predictor of PA outcomes, and a negative predictor of SB, whereas amotivation was a negative predictor of PA outcomes and sitting time, and a positive predictor of screen time. Finally, from PSC dimensions, sex as a covariate was a positive predictor of intrinsic motivation and PA outcomes, and was a negative predictor of amotivation and sitting time. These findings suggest the importance of the specific dimensions of PSC perceived by adolescents on their motivational processes, and in turn, on their PA and SB outcomes.

Validación al español de la Escala de Comunicación Efectiva en el Fútbol

El objetivo de la presente investigación era traducir al español y validar la Escala de Comunicación Efectiva en Deportes de Equipo (SECTS-2S). Para ello, se realizaron dos estudios. El Estudio 1 contó con 276 jugadores de fútbol de género masculino (88.40%) y femenino (11.60%) con un rango de edad de 16-42 años (M = 18.42; DT = 2.71). Los resultados mostraron una estructura factorial con tres factores de primer orden (aceptación, conflicto negativo y distinción) y con adecuada consistencia interna (α y ώ = .70-.79). En el Estudio 2, participaron 453 jugadores de fútbol de ambos géneros (89.40% masculino y 10.60% femenino) con edades en el rango de 16-39 años (M = 20.86; DT = 3.56). Nuevamente, se obtuvieron índices de ajuste aceptables con una estructura compuesta por tres factores de primer orden y con valores adecuados de consistencia interna para cada factor (α y ώ = .75-.83). Además, se comprobó que la SECTS-2S mostraba una adecuada validez discriminante y nomológica con la variable de cohesión de grupo (p < .05). Por último, se encontró que la escala SECTS-2S es invariante con respecto al nivel competitivo de los jugadores. Se concluye que la SECTS-2S es una herramienta válida y fiable para medir la comunicación intra-equipo en el fútbol.

The aim of this investigation was to translate and validate the Effective Communication Scale in Team Sports into Spanish (SECTS-2S). In Study 1 participated 276 male (88.40 %) and female (11.60%) soccer players, with aged between 16-42 (M = 18.42; SD = 2.71). Results show a three first-order factors structure (acceptance, negative conflict, and distinctiveness) and adequate internal consistency were found. Study 2 involved 453 soccer players of both genders (89.40 % male and 10.60% female) and aged between 16-39 years (M = 20.86; SD = 3.56). Likewise, adequate values in the factorial structure with a three-factor structure and internal consistency were obtained (α and ώ = .75-.83). In addition, the SECTS-2S showed adequate discriminatory and nomological validity with the group cohesion variable (p < .05). Finally, it was shown that the instrument was invariant with respect to the competitive level of players. Thus, the SECTS-2S is a valid and reliable questionnaire to measure intra-team communication in team sports.

Validación al español de la Escala de Comunicación Efectiva en el Fútbol / Spanish validation of the Effective Communication Scale in Soccer

Resumen El objetivo de la presente investigación era traducir al español y validar la Escala de Comunicación Efectiva en Deportes de Equipo (SECTS-2S). Para ello, se realizaron dos estudios. El Estudio 1 contó con 276 jugadores de fútbol de género masculino (88.40%) y femenino (11.60%) con un rango de edad de 16-42 años (M = 18.42; DT = 2.71). Los resultados mostraron una estructura factorial con tres factores de primer orden (aceptación, conflicto negativo y distinción) y con adecuada consistencia interna (α y ώ = .70-.79). En el Estudio 2, participaron 453 jugadores de fútbol de ambos géneros (89.40% masculino y 10.60% femenino) con edades en el rango de 16-39 años (M = 20.86; DT = 3.56). Nuevamente, se obtuvieron índices de ajuste aceptables con una estructura compuesta por tres factores de primer orden y con valores adecuados de consistencia interna para cada factor (α y ώ = .75-.83). Además, se comprobó que la SECTS-2S mostraba una adecuada validez discriminante y nomológica con la variable de cohesión de grupo (p < .05). Por último, se encontró que la escala SECTS-2S es invariante con respecto al nivel competitivo de los jugadores. Se concluye que la SECTS-2S es una herramienta válida y fiable para medir la comunicación intra-equipo en el fútbol.

Abstract The aim of this investigation was to translate and validate the Effective Communication Scale in Team Sports into Spanish (SECTS-2S). In Study 1 participated 276 male (88.40 %) and female (11.60%) soccer players, with aged between 16-42 (M = 18.42; SD = 2.71). Results show a three first-order factors structure (acceptance, negative conflict, and distinctiveness) and adequate internal consistency were found. Study 2 involved 453 soccer players of both genders (89.40 % male and 10.60% female) and aged between 16-39 years (M = 20.86; SD = 3.56). Likewise, adequate values in the factorial structure with a three-factor structure and internal consistency were obtained (α and ώ = .75-.83). In addition, the SECTS-2S showed adequate discriminatory and nomological validity with the group cohesion variable (p < .05). Finally, it was shown that the instrument was invariant with respect to the competitive level of players. Thus, the SECTS-2S is a valid and reliable questionnaire to measure intra-team communication in team sports.