The influence of the field orientation on physical demands in soccer small-sided games

The aim of this study was to compare the physical demands of SSG with either greater length (SSGlength) or width (SSGwidth) with official soccer matches. Sixteen Brazilian U-20 national-level soccer players participated in two sessions with SSGlength (4v4, 40 m length and 26 m width) and two sessions with SSGwidth (4v4, 26 m length and 40 m width). External and internal load variables were monitored and compared to official games (12.8 ± 8.9 games per player). Data were standardized to the time and compared between the experimental conditions by a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures (level of significance set at p < 0.05). The effect size was calculated by the partial ETA squared (ɳ p2). Results showed that the total distance covered during SSGlength was significantly higher compared to official matches (8.1%; p = 0.001) and SSGwidth (5.2%; p = 0.049). Highest values were registered in the matches when compared to SSGlength and SSGwidth for high-speed distance, sprint distance, maximal speed and number of sprints. The number of accelerations was significantly lower during official matches than SSGwidth (36.5%; p = 0.002) and SSGlength (45.0%; p < 0.001). The number of high-speed actions was higher in official games when compared to SSGwidth (47.1%; p < 0.001). No differences were found between matches and SSGlength ( p = 0.059). We concluded that the physical demands of the 4v4 SSGs adopted in this study were different from the physical demands of official match play. The use of a field with a greater width rather than length does not appear to make the physical demands of the SSG more similar to the official games.

Influence of contextual factors on physical demands and technical-tactical actions regarding playing position in professional soccer players

Background The aim of this study was to analyse the physical demands and technical-tactical actions for each playing position according to game location and final outcome in professional soccer players. Methods A convenience sample was obtained from twenty-one professional male soccer players, belonged to same soccer team of the Spanish Second Division. Players’ physical demands were monitored during each match using a portable 18 Hz GPS unit and 600 Hz triaxial accelerometer. These analysed demands were total distance, moderate speed running distance (>14.4 km·h-1), high-speed running distance (>19.8. km·h-1), sprint distance (>25.0 km·h-1), number of accelerations between 2 and 4 m·s-2 and above 4 m·s-2, and number of decelerations between 2 and 4 m·s-2 and above 4 m·s-2. The data related to technical-tactical actions were obtained from WyScout®, a computerized multiple-camera tracking system based on the OPTA® track analysis tool. The obtained indicators were general, defensive and offensive. Results For all players, higher total distance (p = 0.045; effect size [ES] = 0.24, small effect) was covered and greater deceleration 2-4 m·ss-2 (p = 0.001; ES = 0.68, medium effect) was performed when the team plays at home and lose and for all players, playing at home and winning demanded higher defensive volume (p =0.014; ES = − 1.49, large effect) and nº interceptions (p =0.031; ES = − 1.40, large effect) in comparison to playing at home and losing. Conclusions The physical demands and technical-tactical actions vary when contextual game factors (i.e., match location and final outcome) are considered. We can confirm that, although the training of physical demands does not influence the final result of the match, the training of technical tactical actions could help to achieve an optimal performance of the team to win matches.

Applying Wearable Technology and a Deep Learning Model to Predict Occupational Physical Activities

Many workers who engage in manual material handling (MMH) jobs experience high physical demands that are associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Quantifying the physical demands of a job is important for identifying high risk jobs and is a legal requirement in the United States for hiring and return to work following injury. Currently, most physical demand analyses (PDAs) are performed by experts using observational and semi-quantitative methods. The lack of accuracy and reliability of these methods can be problematic, particularly when identifying restrictions during the return-to-work process. Further, when a worker does return-to-work on modified duty, there is no way to track compliance to work restrictions conflating the effectiveness of the work restrictions versus adherence to them. To address this, we applied a deep learning model to data from eight inertial measurement units (IMUs) to predict 15 occupational physical activities. Overall, a 95% accuracy was reached for predicting isolated occupational physical activities. However, when applied to more complex tasks that combined occupational physical activities (OPAs), accuracy varied widely (0–95%). More work is needed to accurately predict OPAs when combined into simulated work tasks.

‘I Find it Daunting . . . That I’m Gonna Have to Deal with This until 60’: Extended Working Lives and the Sustainable Employability of Operational Firefighters

While operational firefighters in the UK fire and rescue service traditionally retired in their 50s, their working lives are now extending. However, external pressures and the emotional and physical demands of firefighting work, lead to questions about whether operational firefighters will be able to extend their working lives. In this article, we engage with Van der Klink et al.’s sustainable employability model, which focuses on situations that allow individuals to make valuable contributions through their work and reveal how working lives can be extended. We consider implications of the characteristics of operational firefighting work, individual circumstances and contextual factors for the extension of working lives. Drawing on interviews conducted with firefighters, crew managers and watch managers working in a UK fire and rescue service, we highlight the unsustainability of many future working lives because of wellbeing and organisational pressures.

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.

Global Position Analysis during Official Elite Female Beach Volleyball Competition: A Pilot Study

The aim of this study was to quantify the physical demands of female beach volleyball competition with reference to player position, set, and match outcome. Twelve professional players were equipped with a 10 Hz GPS device (Minimax S4, Catapult Sports, Australia). Data collection occurred over 30 official matches, with a total of 50 sets. GPS output variables were related to position (e.g., Defenders and Blockers). Differences between players’ positions were found in Peak Player Load, the distance covered at different intensities, and acceleration and deceleration. Variations during the match were more pronounced for Defenders than for Blockers, with the former increasing the intensity of acceleration and deceleration, and decreasing the velocity of displacements and lower jumps. For Blockers, main variations occurred between the first and second set, with a reduction in velocity displacements and an increase in the intensity of jumps. Defender variables that contributed to victory were high deceleration, velocity, acceleration, and Peak Player Load. The characteristics of Blockers that contributed to victory were maximum velocity and high jumps. Female beach volleyball players seem to have different physiological requirements according to their position. The analysis of these variations throughout the game suggests that a specific player’s position output may be determined by proper and/or opponent tactical schemes.