Sports Medicine Commons^™

Relationship Between Functional Movement Screen Scores And Postural Stability In Football Players: An Asymmetrical Approach, Yücel Makaracı, Kazım Nas, Kerem Gündüz, Mehmet İleri

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Introduction: Unilateral preference is dominant due to the intensive use of sport-specific movements in football. However, little is known about the possible correlation between unilateral functional movement and the center of pressure-based postural performance. The main aim of this study is to examine the correlation between functional movement screen (FMS) and postural stability in football players from an asymmetrical perspective. Materials and Methods: Fifty professional football players (male n = 25; age 21.40 ± 1.94 years; female n = 25; age 21.04 ± 1.24 years) volunteered for this study. All subjects completed a FMS test consisting of seven items and …

Adaptive Changes In Young Football Players Working In A Modified Tactical Periodization Model Based On The Example Of Endurance., Marta Szymanek-Pilarczyk, Michał Jakub Nowak, Jacek Wąsik

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Introduction: Adequate endurance is a critical element of success in football, both at professional and amateur levels. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effectiveness of training based on a modified wave (repeating) periodization model on the endurance of players aged 12–16 at the RKS Raków Academy in 2018–2022.

Material and Method: The analysis involved football players aged 12 to 16 with 4–8 years of training experience, involved in a program called "wave periodization". Two tests were performed each year, one in June (Test A) and the other one in December (Test B). Maximal Aerobic Speed (MAS) and Velocity Intermittent …

Relationships Between Technical And Physical Match Performance In Elite Soccer, Lukasz Radziminski, Andrzej Szwarc, Zbigniew Jastrzebski, Agata Rzeszutko-Belzowska

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential associations between physical and technical match performance and to compare these activities in relation to the match outcome. Materials and methods: The research was based on an analysis of 622 matches of the Polish Ekstraklasa during three consecutive seasons. Such variables as total distance, distance covered in different speed zones, effective playing time, ball possession, number of passes and passing accuracy were taken into account. Results: Effective playing time (E_t) was significantly and fairly correlated with total distance (r = 0.39, p < 0.001), ball possession (r = 0.50, p …

Side To Side Differences In Patellar Tendon Kinetics Of The Support Limb During Maximal Instep Soccer Kicking, Jonathan Kenneth Sonclair, Hannah Shore, Stephen Atkins, Sarah Jane Hobbs

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: Kicking actions have been implicated in the aetiology of soccer injuries, and the unilateral nature of kicking may influence this. The aim of the current investigation was to determine whether soccer players exhibit bilateral differences in support limb patellar tendon loads. Material/Methods: Fifteen male soccer players were examined whilst kicking a stationary soccer ball with both their dominant and non-dominant feet. Patellar tendon kinetics were obtained from each limb and then contrasted using paired samples t-tests. Results: Significant increases in patellar tendon kinetics were found when using the non-dominant limb.Conclusions: The findings from the current investigation have clinical significance …

The Set Of Test Tasks Assessing Special Physical Fitness Of 17-Year-Old Soccer Players, Andrzej Szwarc, Bartosz Dolanski, Patrycja Lipinska

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The objective of the research was to work out the set of test tasks assessing special physical fitness of 17-year-old soccer players. Material/Methods: At first, on the basis of the analysis of the said issue in literature and the authors’ own coaching experience, 13 test tasks were selected. Next, reliability and accuracy of the chosen test tasks were examined on the group of 16 athletes from the Centre of Sports training for youth in Gdansk. The reliability was assessed by the test-re-test method and the accuracy according to a criterion of internal accuracy tests. Except for one task, all …

Generic Versus Specific Sprint Training In Young Soccer Players, Zbigniew Jastrzebski, Lukasz Radziminski, Robert Dargiewicz, Ewelina Jaskulska, Wojciech Barnat, Pawel Rompa

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of two 8-week sprint training programs on the speed and sport-specific skills of young soccer players and to determine additional effects of 8 weeks’ whole body rotation. Material/Methods: Twenty-two Under-18 soccer players were divided into two groups: a running group (RG) and a ball group (BG). The RG completed sprint training without the ball, whereas the BG members trained with the ball. The 5-, 10-, 15-, 20- and 30-m sprint times and the level of soccer-specific skills were measured before and after completing the training programs. Results: A significant …

The Efficiency Model Of Goalkeeper’S Actions In Soccer, Andrzej Szwarc, Patrycja Lipinska, Michal Chamera

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The purpose of this paper was to present cognitive models illustrating efficiency of the goalkeeper’s actions in soccer based on observation of play in selected matches of the Euro 2008 finals. Material/Methods: The observation method was used in the study. The play of both goalkeepers was analysed in 7 soccer matches in a cup phase of the European Championships which took place in Portugal in 2008. The data was recorded on the authors’ observation forms. Activity, effectiveness and reliability during both offensive and defensive actions were subject to this examination. Results: It was revealed that most actions of the …

An Application Of Incremental Running Test Results To Train Professional Soccer Players, Lukasz Radziminski, Pawel Rompa, Robert Dargiewicz, Wojciech Ignatiuk, Zbigniew Jastrzebski

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The aim of this study was to lay out an incremental running test to determine anaerobic threshold and its usefulness as a predictability factor of the physiological load on professional soccer players during soccer training activities. Material/Methods: Subjects performed multi-stage incremental running test at three time points throughout the soccer season on a synthetic soccer pitch to determine the lactate threshold. The initial speed was set at 2.8 m/s and increased by 0.4 m/s after each stage until termination. HR was recorded at 5-second intervals by the Polar heart rate monitor (Polar Electro, FIN) at the end of each …

A Pattern Of Efficiency Of Actions In Soccer Based On Observations Of The European Championships 2008 Finals, Andrzej Szwarc

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The purpose of this work was to present a model which shows the efficiency of the actions in the game of soccer, based on observations of 7 final tournament matches during the European Championships in 2008. The successful teams were analyzed from the quarterfinals to the final match. Activity, effectiveness and reliability, during both offensive and defensive actions, were subject to this examination. Material/Methods: The material consisted of the audio-visual records gathered from 7 matches which had been played in the final tournament in the 2008 European Championships. The gathered data was put on the special observation sheet in …

Models Of Speed Development In Soccer, Roksana Krosta, Milosz Drozd, Robert Goralczyk, Maciej Kostrzewa, Patricia Fischerova, Angelina Ignatieva

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The main objective of this research was to determine a model of the Speed Abilities Development Index (SADI) in selected teams of the top league, the first and the second league in Poland. The indirect aim was to determine the most significant predictors that have the greatest effect on development of this model. Material and methods: The study examined a group of randomly selected 20 athletes (age 24 ± 3years) from four Polish premium league soccer teams, four teams of the first league and four teams of the second league, what amounted to 60 randomly selected players. The following …

Effects Of Mental Fatigue On Psychophysiological, Cognitive Responses, And Technical Skills In Small-Sided Games In Amateur Soccer Players, Yusuf Soylu, Ersan Arslan

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of mental fatigue (MF) on the psychophysiological and cognitive responses and technical skills in small-sided games (SSGs) in amateur soccer players. Material and Methods: 18 soccer players played 2vs2, 3vs3, and 4vs4 SSGs under 2 different playing conditions: MF+SSGs and SSGs. The Feeling Scale (FS), Felt Arousal Scale (FAS), Visual Analogue Scale-Anxiety (VAS-A) and Motivation (MTV) were determined after each SSGs bout. A Trail-Making Test (TMT) was also determined in the beginning and at the end of each SSGs. Technical performance was continuously recorded with a camera during all …

Evolution Of Physical Performance In Professional Soccer Across Four Consecutive Seasons, Lukasz Radziminski, Zbigniew Jastrzebski

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: Main purpose of this research was to investigate the changes of physical match performance in Polish Ekstraklasa across four consecutive seasons. Material and methods: A total of 949 official matches from season 2017/2018 to 2020/2021 were analyzed. Such match running performance variables as total distance, high-speed running, sprinting, and number of high-intensity runs were involved. Each season data were divided into two rounds (spring round and autumn round). Due to the pandemic of COVID-19 additional post-lockdown round (Spring I 2019/2020) occurred. Results: Comparison in the results between Spring 2017/2018 and Spring 2020/2021 indicated significant increases in total distance (2.1%, …

The Effect On Critical Velocity Of Runnings With Change Of Direction In Soccer, Erdal Ari, Hamit Cihan, Abdullah Çetindemir

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine relationships between Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 1 test (YYIR1T) performance and critical velocity determined by test protocols consisting of runs with a change of direction and straight runs. Material and Methods: Twelve young soccer players voluntarily participated in study (age: 17.07±0.24 years, training experience: 8.42±2.50 years, height: 178.58±5.76 cm, weight: 70.67±6.14 kg, body mass index: 22.16±1.59). To determine critical velocity, 6-, 9- and 12-minute runs were performed with maximum effort on a straight-line running track and a running track with a change of direction. The critical velocity was determined by two …

The Relationship Between Scapular Endurance And Core Endurance In Elite Amputee Football Players, Gurkan Gunaydin

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: Body structure constitutes a kinetic chain with thoracolumbar fascia and this chain may induce a relationship between scapular and spinal stabilizers. Amputee soccer players use crutches during the game and, considering that the crutch use may also activate different muscle groups, the possibility of the relationship between scapular and spinal stabilizers becomes important for organizing training programs. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between scapular endurance and core endurance in elite amputee players. Material and methods: Fifteen male amputee national football team players took part in the study. The players’ scapular endurance was evaluated by …